John Lewis Xmas advert - poor, poor dog

[ScaredOfCows]

I know there was a thread about the JL advert generally, but how do other 'dog people' feel about the ad? Specifically about the poor dog left out in the cold, at night, with inadequate shelter. It makes me really cross every time I see it, and I wonder if any idiots out there might think it's ok for them to keep their dog like that. PS, I know that some dogs are outdoor dogs, and I guess that's ok if they have always been and have a good shelter etc.
Anyway, I have complained to the ASA about it.

Interested to know what others think??

It's highly unlikely to be cold WhereTheWildThingsWere. How do you work out it was sad?

My sister has a dog like that midori1999. My mum's collies prefer to sit out in the rain rather than go into their very expensive shelter (she brings them in at night).

The country may be on its knees, but the rise in animal abandonment makes me feel sick.

(Valhalla, you will know all about the amount of animals being dumped because of the recession.)

My cat prefers to be outside, whatever the weather, but it has the choice to come in for food, shelter and rest.

Good for you!

It hadnt crossed my mind TBH because I just cried the whole way throught the bloody thing. How wonderful life is when you're in the world? She fucking isnt.

But you are right. You are right to stand up for what you belive in. There are often things I get annoyed at and people poo poo them. But they are important to me so they matter.

I am glad people care about this sort of thing. I wouldve a few years ago and I still do but I dont have the motivation to do anything because my priorities have been seriously skewed IYSWIM. So its great that there are still people who bother.

Gay40 - mainly because people are forced to move and new landlords won't take animals. Just wait until the HB cuts come in - it's going to be horrific for people and their pets.

I've had to move with pets and I just wouldn't move into a place that wouldn't have them. They are animals, not toys to discard when you move.

That's something that has been discussed between my rescue pals recently earwicga. We are all in dread of it tbh.

I can see nothing but heartache, and have already seen an increase in dogs coming into rescue because their owners can't take them when they move house. God only knows how many we'll have waiting at the gates when this stupid, heartless legislation comes into effect.

Well said Vallhala - completely with you on this.

I think the dog may be an actor.

Actually, come to think of it, I think everyone in the advertisment may be actors......

I get the point that this ad doesn't hit the right notes and is probably ill-judged but I'm not sure about the level of reaction is entirely proportionate.

It's as if the BBC showed a dramatisation of the Little Match Girl, only to find themselves inundated with outraged letters demanding apologies for normalising child abuse.

I'm not sure on this one.

I can see both sides - I can see how people may think it's nomral to leave a dog outside all year round regardless of its breed. There are some rather daft people out there.

However, it's a deerhound, and even the deerhound club say that they can be just as happy living in kennels outside all year round as basking inside by the fire.

"Think"? Really?

Sorry but I think you are nuts. Do you also write to the makers of Tom and Jerry about their cruel portrayal of tiny furry creatures as killers and terrorists?

Unfortunately, Baroque, some of the type of people I deal with would be of the opinion that it's equally appropriate and normal behaviour to leave a Greyhound out in an open kennel in the snow.

The doubters and those who have obtusely missed or refuse to see the point are speaking from the basis of personal opinion.

I'm speaking from bitter experience.

Sorry to patronise but unless you are in some way involved in dog welfare you have no idea the depths to which people will sink and what awful conditions some people will consider to be normal. 7

Walk a mile in my shoes, as the saying goes...

Watching that maudlin advert makes me want to rescue wolfhounds. I get more incensed by women going orgasmic over cleaning products.

Well yes that is bloody patronising actually in insinuate that if I'm not in some way involved in dog welfare that I have no idea of the depths that people with sink too.

But Vallhala - the people thick enough to think dogs are okay out in the snow and who consider it to be normal are unlikely to be swayed one way or another by a JL ad.

Look I agree that it's a daft advert, but I really don't think that anyone will see it and say 'oh yes we should shove the dog outside when it snows' as a result of it - animal abusers do tend to be thick, but do you really think they are that malleable?

actually whomoved- it's apparently shown during X-factor (as I have just discovered on another website)...........so perhaps the chances of someone thinking that are more realistic

Well maybe they'd put Wagner in the kennel instead and make everyone's lives better

The thing is, they could have achieved exactly the same 'Ahhhh' factor that they wanted by getting the little boy to hang the dog's stocking up by its bed in the hall (or wherever) - they could have got the snowy scene in some other way - maybe the dog taking a ball from his stocking, and boy and dog racing outside to play together in the snow.

Adverts work. If they didn't influence people's behaviour, then companies wouldn't spend thousands of pounds on them. Dh works for the railways, and gets a similar burning rage whenever he sees adverts portraying people walking on railway lines. He has had to deal with the aftermath of people thinking it was OK to walk on the tracks, and after you have had to cover up a head and a body that were some yards seperate from eachother, you do tend to feel passionately about rail safety.

As Valhalla says, these adverts can normalise behaviour, and they are hugely powerful in affecting people's behaviour - which is why advertisers and companies should think carefully about the secondary messages that their adverts are sending.

Is it actually cruel though ? My neighbours boot their dog out at night and it ends up in our garden most morning rather than under the expensive kennel they've provided it with, it seems to prefer my kids playhouse

The mother of my two pups was found wandering the streets of Birmingham in the snow last winter. She had her pups in the rescue home

Luckily she found a home and we had the pups

I'm with you Vallhala and will also be complaining. I shall think of you as a Dog Centric Nutter from now on

It depends on what breed of dog you have. My two (fox terrier x and whippet) would likely freeze to death if left out in this weather for a long time. My fathers two (Lab and Akita) would be fine, in the right shelter.

But in that kind of kennel I'd say it is cruel for any dog to be left out, as there bedding wouldn't be protected and would therefore be wet.

DH is adamant that our fox terrier x should be allowed to sleep outside, as we have to fight him on a night to get him back in the house. DH thinks it's cruel making him come in when clearly he wants to be outside.

I have told him if he buys the dog

one of these

this

one of these

And a dog flap for the back door so he can come back inside if he wants to, then I will consider letting the dog sleep outside. DH does not think it that cruel after all making him sleep inside.

Perhaps it's the type of dog?

Lovely as the wolfhound is, he does look a bit 'spare us 50p for a cup of tea'.

If it were a Husky, say, things wouldn't look so bleak.

Though am questioning the logic of mummy and daddy sneaking the fake pet upstairs at the beginning (dead horse anyone?) and leaving the real one outside.

Like it or not, there's no doubt that collective campaigning can work. This email was sent to one of the campaigners today.

"The 60-second ad with the dog will not be repeated. Its last showing was on Sunday evening. The two 30-second ads are proving popular with viewers.

Best wishes
Louise

Louise Cooper
Senior Manager, Corporate, Digital & Branch PR
John Lewis"

:)

That's great news.

Although no one from JL took the time to email me back.

Still, don't suppose all of us dog centric nutters can receive a personalised reply.