“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
Another Super Bowl is almost here, and as millions will tune in to watch their favorite teams battle it out on the field, guess what we’ll be looking out for?
That’s right, commercials featuring dogs!
Seriously lacking in last year’s lineup of $4.5 million, 30-second commercial spots were new ads featuring our favorite four-legged friends (Seriously, Budweiser… where was the puppy?!) and our sources tell us dogs aren’t the big stars in this year’s lineup either (boo!) So, since you’re surely feeling the same doggy-withdrawal that we are, here are a few of our favorite Super Bowl commercials from years past…all featuring dogs, of course!
Do you remember these?
2020: When veterinarians at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine began treating 7-year old Scout in 2019, they could never have imagined their efforts would land them a $6 million ad spot during Super Bowl LIV. Scout’s human dad is David MacNeil, founder and CEO of WeatherTech, a manufacturer of automotive accessories and home and pet care products and Scout famously starred in the company’s 2019 Super Bowl ad.
2019: What if humans participated in dog shows? What if they were expected to ignore some seriously tempting distractions in the ring, too? Avocados from Mexico hilariously demonstrated what that might look like in their 2019 spot.
2016: Easily one of our favorite Super Bowl commercials of all time, the Heinz Weiner Stampede featured a pack of adorable Dachshund hot dogs running toward their favorite Heinz condiments.
2015: In this emotional spot, the Budweiser Clydesdales – who never disappoint on Super Bowl Sunday – help the puppy learn the true meaning of friendship by reminding us that #BestBuds always have your back.
2014: Budweiser’s heartwarming 2014 Super Bowl commercial (in which a puppy befriends a horse) has been ranked the most popular ad ever to air in the 51-year history of the NFL’s premier event.
2012: Watch Quiggley, the pudgy French Bulldog who (with the help of his Sketchers running shoes, of course) win a greyhound race. This commercial stirred up a lot of controversy, even before it was released, because it was shot on location at a greyhound racing facility that animal rights activists claimed had a bad reputation. The location and name of the park were not revealed in the commercial itself.
2012: “The Dog Strikes Back” by Volkswagen was, according to several sources, one of the most well-liked commercials of 2012. And we can see why – it’s pretty inspiring!
2012: Bud Light seems to have mastered the recipe for a successful ad campaign. Beer, humor, and animals. Especially when the animal is a well-trained rescue dog named Weego! (And Kudos to Bud Light for campaigning for rescue dogs!)
2011: Bud Light dazzled us with another commercial featuring dogs! Hilarity ensues when a friend dog-sits with a house full of “party-animals” and a fridge full of beer…
2010: It stinks when someone steals your parking space, especially when that someone is a cat! Check out this ad from Subaru that puts a dog in the driver’s seat. Subaru typically has several ads featuring dogs, but last year chose to spend their advertising dollars on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl instead of the Super Bowl.
2009: Budweiser is known for their Clydesdales. In this adorable Super Bowl commercial, a Clydesdale raises the ante on his Dalmatian friend. Whoa!
2007: In this 2007 Budweiser commercial, an all-white dog walks somberly around town, gets shooed away from a butcher shop, and chased off my angry strays. When he sees a regal Dalmatian starring in the local parade, he longs to be that adored. Another bout of bad luck, however, ultimately gives him the confidence he needs.
Which commercial was your favorite? Do you remember any great Super Bowl commercials featuring dogs that we missed? Let us know!
