We love our pets so much that we usually end up treating them like our own kids. Yet, when it comes to traveling by car, we forget to protect them and tie them up. Especially dogs. This means that our furry friends can easily morph into a one-ton projectile during an accident happening at only 50km/h. Still, the majority of dog owners admit that they are not buckling up their dog when it comes to riding in a vehicle. That means that lots of dogs can end up in a deadly accident if the owners are not careful enough.
But don’t you dog people worry, because car brand ŠKODA and creative agency Rosapark are here to give you a helping hand. The Czech automaker wants to showcase its new range of accessories that make life so much easier for its customers, including an unusual dog seat-belt, whilst the Paris-based agency is here to introduce this new feature of the car in a highly creative way.
Following “Ugly in the 90s,” “Station with a View,” and “Mission to Mars,” ŠKODA and its agency are teaming up again for a big and surprising campaign, suggestively titled “Doug the Dog.” Just like a regular dog, Doug is cute, endearing, and a fun-loving furry pal. Yet, he has a feature that you won’t see on any dog that’s around: He’s ten times bigger and weighs one ton. How did he get so big?
The ‘doggo’ represents the weight of a regular dog during such an accident. “This communication demonstrates, once again, ŠKODA’s dynamism and its ability to surprise, not to go where you’d expect. A DNA that can be found both in its new models and in its innovations,” explains further Sacha Lacroix, Managing Director of Rosapark in a press release.
The one-minute-long spot launched on March 13th along with a Twitter campaign. The social media channel’s users are invited to post pictures of their dog using the #DougTheDog hashtag, to see what their dog would look like if it weighed, well… a whole ton. Besides Twitter, the campaign will also be broadcast on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
With the recent releases of its SUVs, ŠKODA KODIAQ and ŠKODA KAROQ, and the 2019 innovations within ŠKODA SCALA and ŠKODA KAMIQ—which contain powerful design and fluid, modern lines—ŠKODA has managed to transform the brand while it has been increasingly attracting new consumers. The transformation of its latest models allowed the brand to increase its sales in France by 17.5% in 2018. So, maybe the automaker’s numbers will also be boosted this year, thanks to the dog seat-belt which will probably drive pet lovers crazy… But, at least, it will keep them safe!