Sometimes the celebrity in an advertisement isn’t the actor.
It’s the dog sitting beside them.
Animals have been helping brands become memorable for decades, and a few advertising pets became so recognizable that they essentially turned into living logos.
Bullseye: Target’s four-legged brand ambassador
One of the clearest examples is Bullseye, Target’s white English Bull Terrier.
Target says Bullseye debuted in its 1999 “Sign of the Times” advertising campaign.
The response was strong enough that the dog quickly expanded from television into print, web, direct marketing and eventually appearances at major events.
There’s also a fascinating production detail.
Bullseye isn’t always the same dog.
Target has historically maintained multiple trained Bull Terriers capable of playing the character, allowing Bullseye to attend shoots and appearances without relying on a single animal.
Even the famous Target logo around the dog’s eye is applied using non-toxic vegetable-based paint by a professional makeup artist.
The Taco Bell Chihuahua
Then came one of the defining advertising animals of the 1990s.
The tiny Chihuahua associated with “Yo Quiero Taco Bell” became a pop-culture phenomenon.
The star was a female Chihuahua named Gidget, despite the character being portrayed as male. The campaign began regionally in 1997 before the dog’s popularity turned it into a much larger advertising concept.
The campaign became so recognizable that Gidget later appeared in other entertainment and advertising work after the Taco Bell campaign ended.
One small dog had become a nationally recognized brand character.
Morris the Cat and 9Lives
Cats have done it too.
The original Morris the Cat was adopted from Hinsdale Humane Society before being selected for a 9Lives campaign.
The shelter’s history recounts how Morris’ outgoing personality caught the attention of professional animal trainer Bob Martwick before the cat eventually landed the commercial role.
Morris went on to become synonymous with the brand for generations.
Again, the lesson isn’t simply that Morris was attractive.
He had presence.
Regular pets can land major campaigns too
Not every commercial animal begins as an established Hollywood performer.
The AKC has documented dogs entering entertainment after owners responded to casting calls.
One example is Miss Pickles, a Pug whose owner heard about a casting looking specifically for a fawn Pug that could wear clothing, tolerate hats and bark on cue.
Her owner submitted videos demonstrating those behaviours.
Miss Pickles got the job.
Only when they arrived did her owner discover the advertisement was destined for the Super Bowl.
Why advertisers love animals
Animals can communicate ideas incredibly quickly.
A Labrador beside children immediately suggests family.
A fashionable French Bulldog can make a brand feel urban and contemporary.
A fluffy cat relaxing on a couch communicates comfort without saying anything.
A muddy dog bounding through a backyard can sell everything from vehicles to cleaning products.
And sometimes an unusual-looking animal simply makes people stop scrolling.
That’s why commercial casting needs pets of every conceivable appearance, not just conventional “show dogs.”
The right animal can help turn a 30-second advertisement into something audiences remember for twenty years.
Could yours be that animal?
Purr & Bark Talent represents dogs and cats for consideration across advertising, television, film, photography and digital media.
Sources:
Target — The History of Bullseye
Los Angeles Times — The Taco Bell Chihuahua Campaign
AKC — Miss Pickles and Commercial Acting
