Purina’s Alpo brand wants to hear from your dog—as long as he or she doesn’t go in for pet spa vacations, drinks regular tap water rather than bottled, and comes no closer to a doggy massage than a good old-fashioned tummy rub.
Owners can enter their down-to-earth dogs in the “Alpo Real Dogs Tell It Like It Is” essay contest by writing an essay—in their dog’s own voice—describing his or her favorite “real dog” behavior.
“Real dogs drool and dig,” the entry materials say at the contest Web site. “They strut their stuff, mark their turf, chew things up and roll in dirt…It’s what we love about them. And we think they should be celebrated.”
Entrants who register at the site with their e-mail can then upload an essay of 300 words or less describing some form of these “real dog” behaviors from the canine point of view, along with a color photo. Contestants must actually own the dog they describe and can enter up to three essays per household.
After Monday Sept. 28, the entries received will be judged by dog expert and author Brian Kilcommons and an independent judging panel. Up to twenty winners will be selected based on originality and authentic “real dog” behavior, and those essays and photos will be included in the Alpo “Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook”, a first-ever “how-to manual for real dogs” slated for publication in 2010.
The owners of the dogs whose ghost-written essays are selected will also receive coupons for a free year’s supply of Purina Alpo brand dog food. Applicants at the contest Web site also receive a manufacturer’s coupon simply for registering to enter.
Alpo, part of the nestle Purina PetCare company, points to a recent poll it commissioned from Ipsos that indicates that only 2% of dog owners have ever pampered their pets with a stay at a doggie day spa, while only 1% have bought their dog a professional massage. On the flip side, 79% of owners say they reward their dogs with special treats, while 73% report giving belly rubs, and 69% simply pamper their pets by taking them for walks.
“It’s time to let dogs be dogs again,” says Kilcommons in a release. “they are happiest when they can express their true inner dogness—instinctual behaviors including sniffing, digging, eating, playing and sleeping that are in their DNA and define what it means to enjoy a dog’s life.”
Network
