The well-known Outdated English Sheepdog marks a brand new milestone, fronting one among Britain’s new finest beloved advert campaigns
Certainly one of Britain’s most recognisable model icons is getting a brand new main girl. Because the Dulux Canine celebrates its sixty fifth anniversary, main paint model Dulux is unveiling Dorothy, the most recent Outdated English Sheepdog to step into the position.
The Dulux Canine is again on our screens this month in a brand-new promoting marketing campaign, wanting as iconic as ever, however with a brand-new furry face within the starring position. For 65 years, the Dulux Canine has been a trusted presence in houses, marking trendy life milestones throughout UK households, from particular household moments, turning into a brand new pet dad or mum or shopping for your first residence. The canine has been fixed over generations of decorators and ever-evolving inside tendencies.
Now, 20-month-old Dorothy is taking on the mantle, carrying ahead a proud household legacy in a brand new TV marketing campaign.
Making her TV debut this March, Dorothy stars alongside six puppies aged between eight weeks and 6 months, plus two grownup canine – all prolonged family members by Dorothy’s dad – in a heartwarming new advert celebrating the position our houses play in life’s greatest moments. And in a nod to their star standing, every canine even had its personal understudy on set!
From new beginnings to significant milestones, color and paint assist mark the recollections that matter most. And thru all of it, the Dulux Canine stays the center of the house, at all times being by our facet. Dorothy brings a splash of color, consolation and pleasure, by the great occasions and the dangerous.
A Legacy Spanning Generations
Dorothy comes from a prestigious line of Outdated English Sheepdogs and represents the most recent chapter in a unprecedented household story. Her mum, Vienna, beforehand held the starring position, whereas her grandmother Olivia additionally fronted Dulux campaigns for a number of years. In actual fact, each Dulux Canine seen in adverts within the final decade has come from the identical exceptional household line. Dorothy’s great-grandmother Madison was proprietor and breeder Ellen Wheeler’s, very first Dulux Canine in 2017!
From left to proper, Dorothy, her mum Vienna and grandmother Olivia
For Ellen, it’s a multi-generational legacy constructed on love, dedication and care, with each canine turning into a treasured member of the household. Ellen knew from the very starting that Dorothy, affectionately generally known as ‘Dot’, was particular.
“She is such a delicate sweetheart who had such a traumatic begin to life. We struggled to maintain her alive for the primary three to 4 days after beginning. She was so tiny we named her Dot as a result of she weighed lower than half the opposite puppies.
“We needed to preserve her heat with sizzling water bottles and ensure she fed by holding her in opposition to her mum, as she wasn’t sturdy sufficient to remain on herself.
“We couldn’t let her go to a brand new residence – no person would realise how a lot battle she needed to survive. She was our particular little lady.”
At this time, that when tiny pet takes centre stage as the brand new face of Dulux. A strong image of resilience, continuity and the enduring enchantment of a British icon.
From Blissful Accident to Family Title
The Dulux Canine story started with a cheerful accident. In 1961, throughout the filming of an advert, a canine named Sprint, who belonged to a member of the manufacturing crew, wandered into shot. When the footage was examined with audiences, Sprint stole the present. The response was so overwhelmingly constructive that the director determined to maintain him within the last minimize, marking the start of one of many longest-running model icon tales in British promoting historical past.
Over six and a half a long time, the Dulux Canine has change into synonymous with the Outdated English Sheepdog breed, a lot in order that the canine are sometimes affectionately known as “the Dulux Canine”.
Supporting a Susceptible British Breed
Regardless of their fame and affectionate status, Outdated English Sheepdogs have been listed by The Royal Kennel Membership as a weak breed. In 2020, simply 227 puppies have been registered within the UK – a six-decade low – highlighting the chance of this much-loved British breed disappearing from our shores.
A Royal Kennel Membership Spokesperson mentioned: “The panorama of Britain’s favorite canine has continued to shift in recent times, with some historic native breeds now so uncommon that they could possibly be liable to disappearing from our streets and parks – struggling to compete with newer, extra modern breeds. The Outdated English Sheepdog peaked because the UK’s ninth favorite breed in 1979 and 1980 however then numbers started to say no with the breed at present on our weak breed listing.
It’s due to this fact nice to see Dulux persevering with to shine a lightweight on this explicit breed which brings pleasure to so many individuals.”
By sharing Dorothy and her exceptional household’s story, Dulux hopes to remind the nation why it first fell in love with the Outdated English Sheepdog 65 years in the past, whereas highlighting the significance of discovering accountable breeders, corresponding to these recognised by The Royal Kennel Membership.
Dulux’s dedication to the breed extends past the display screen. For over 40 years, the model has proudly supported Outdated English Sheepdog Rescue & Welfare, serving to to boost funds that present shelter, care, medical remedy and loving houses for Outdated English Sheepdogs in want.
Sam Balloch, Head of UK Shopper Manufacturers at AkzoNobel mentioned, “The Dulux Canine has at all times represented greater than paint. For 65 years, the canine has been a part of the moments that form our lives – from adorning a baby’s bed room to marking a contemporary begin in a brand new residence.
“Over the a long time, the Dulux Canine has mirrored how we reside, symbolising the ability of color to remodel not only a room, however how we really feel inside it.
“Throughout generations, households have invited the Dulux Canine into their residing rooms by our adverts, and in return the canine has change into a part of their very own residence tales. Reaching this 65-year milestone is extremely particular for us, and introducing the subsequent chapter in that journey looks like celebrating a member of the household.”
Life Behind the Lens
When she’s not filming or being the centre of consideration, Dorothy loves enjoying tug of warfare along with her mum Vienna (a lot to the annoyance of Grandma Olivia). She has infinite power for chasing balls, and is at all times eager to befriend the household cat, who’s considerably much less enthusiastic. After a busy day, she might be discovered stress-free on the couch, having fun with tummy tickles or climbing onto a lap for a cuddle.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE DULUX DOG
It takes over 2 hours to groom Dorothy to perfection
She’s extremely nosy and loves watching the world go by from the window
She will get particularly excited when she meets different Outdated English Sheepdogs
In case you cease paying consideration, she’ll gently poke you along with her nostril to remind you she’s there
65 Years of Dulux Canine:
1961-1969: Sprint (Shepton Daphnis Horsa)
1969-1974: Fernville Lord Digby – he was the star of ‘Digby Greatest Canine within the World’
1974-1979: King Hotspur of Amblegait – he appeared in over 50 TV adverts in addition to public appearances for ICI/Dulux
1980-1981: Gambit – he famously moulted excessively on set
1981-1986: Duke – had 3 understudies: Tania, Polly and Cassie
1986: Tanya Jedforest Magic Flute – our first ever feminine canine to take the position
1986: ‘Pickle (Dreamweaver Lorien’s Lament Pickle)
1990-1996: Queenie (Hurstbank Queenie Woman)
1995-2002: Mash (Hurstbank Monster Mash) – who can also be Queenie’s son
1999-2008: Cedric (Stourvale The Wishmaster at Hurstbank)
2007-2015: Spud (Krisendaw King Edward of Hurstbank) and
Don – Canine of the North – who was the primary Dulux Canine
2011-2018: Herbert (Bovaron Simply William) – Canine of the South – initially an under-study earlier than he then took over from Spud
Lewis (Molyneux Smoother Operator) – Canine of the North
2018-2019: Mr Chips (Ladamis Captain Morgan) – under-study for Herbert
2012-2016: ‘Willow’ (Molyneux Uptown Woman) – under-study for photoshoots and TV work
2016-2020: Willow grew to become official ‘Dulux Canine [of the South]’ – she is well-known for the Dulux Easycare TV advert marketing campaign (‘muddy and moist Willow’!)
2020–2025: Madison and her daughter Olivia
2025–2026: Dorothy (Olivia’s daughter)
The brand new Dulux promoting marketing campaign premieres on the finish of March. For extra enjoyable information in regards to the Dulux Canine, go to: www.dulux.co.uk/en/dulux-dog
