Skip to Content

Budweiser Super Bowl commercial with Lab puppy

Here’s a peek at one of the Super Bowl commercials we’ll be seeing this weekend. I’m interested in hearing your take on it.

I think it’s a well-done ad by Budweiser, as always. The cute animal story will appeal to a lot of people’s emotions (including mine). Plus we have a cute guy and a pretty girl.

Only thing is, this “adoption center” in the ad looks more like a woman selling purebred Lab puppies on her farm. I’m not against responsible dog breeding, but Budweiser missed a great opportunity to truly promote dog adoption. Instead, it seems like it used the “puppy adoption” sign so no one could accuse them of promoting breeding.

Or, maybe Budweiser purposely used the purebred Lab puppies to start a controversy.

Personally, I like the commercial and I think it will get a good response.

What do you think?

*Update: Check out the preview of the new Budweiser ad Lost Dog and let me know what you think.

Have you seen anyone’s reaction to the commercial yet? How did he or she respond?

(click here for the video)

Get That Mutt’s newsletter in your inbox:

Colby

Monday 3rd of February 2014

I really enjoyed this commercial, but my take is I think they should have used a mixed breed puppy (perhaps a puppy from the shelter or rescue like they do with the Puppy Bowl) instead of a Lab. That could have stoked social media conversation as to what breed the puppy was in the Bud commercial. Their response could have been "We rescued this puppy from XXXX Shelter/Rescue".

By the way, you never know the Lab in the commercial may have been a rescue. It doesn't happen that often, but every once in a while the rescue I volunteer at has purebred puppies. Since 2006 I've seen a group of purebred black Lab puppies and purebred Great Danes puppies come through the rescue.

Lindsay Stordahl

Monday 3rd of February 2014

Yes, good point that of course there are tons of purebred Labs in rescues and shelters.

Kitti Scibelli

Friday 31st of January 2014

The ad is beautiful, as always. But, the word "adoption" is misleading....it should read "puppies for sale". I don't think they're trying to be controversial, I think they are trying NOT to be controversial. Maybe next year they'll actually have real "adoptable" puppies.....that would be the "perfect" ad. :)

Lindsay Stordahl

Sunday 2nd of February 2014

Agreed.

Dawn

Thursday 30th of January 2014

I noticed this too! I almost didn't share the video on my page because it looked more like she was a farm breeder than an adoption facility. However, I just LOVE that video. I get teary-eyed every time I see it.

Lindsay Stordahl

Sunday 2nd of February 2014

Me too. And I've watched it like 10 times.

Cathy

Thursday 30th of January 2014

Ha, I heard about this one, but hadn’t seen it.

Initial reaction: Aaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :-)

Additional reaction: If you “adopt” a purebred puppy then you can claim you rescued a dog. /sarcasm

People need to seriously grow up and take responsibility for their actions and stop worrying about what everyone else thinks is “cool". If you want to go buy a dog, fine, go buy a dog. If you want to get a shelter dog, fine, get a shelter dog. But don’t say you’re rescuing a dog if it’s purebred and you just handed money over the breeder.

Lindsay Stordahl

Sunday 2nd of February 2014

Oh, I know! Couldn't have said it better myself.

Natalie

Thursday 30th of January 2014

I really hope they did use shelter puppies.

Lindsay Stordahl

Thursday 30th of January 2014

I'm guessing not :(