Dogs Trust issues warning after the release of the John Lewis Christmas TV advert featuring a pet dog
The Dogs Trust has issued a warning to pet owners following the release of John Lewis’ Christmas TV advert, which shows a pet dog bouncing around on a trampoline. The welfare charity says dogs should never be allowed onto such playthings…
A spokesperson said: “The sentiment behind John Lewis’ advert is a reminder that Christmas is a time that brings people together and the charity knows only too well the joy a dog can bring to a family.
“Whilst dogs will thoroughly enjoy playing with their families, we advise owners to exercise caution and not allow their dog onto a trampoline, in case of injury.”
The Christmas TV advert focuses on Buster the Boxer dog’s Christmas Eve and morning.
The two-minute campaign, set to a cover version of One Day I’ll Fly Away by British band Vaults, tells the make-believe story of Buster the Boxer dog and his family.
The advert opens to a Christmas Eve scene of a little girl, called Bridget, bouncing on her bed as Buster looks on.
As Bridget sleeps, her parents assemble her Christmas present – a trampoline.
That night, Buster observes a cast of wildlife – including a pair of foxes, a badger, a squirrel and a hedgehog – discover the trampoline and begin to play on it.
On Christmas morning, as Bridget runs outside to see the trampoline, Buster leaps in front of her to bounce on it first, as she and her parents look in astonishment.
The advert has launched on social media, with the hashtag #BustertheBoxer, and on Sky TV.
Its first terrestrial TV screening will be aired this evening (Thursday) at about 9.15pm on ITV.
It was directed by Dougal Wilson, who also directed the previous John Lewis Christmas ads – 2011’s The Long Wait, 2012’s The Journey, and 2014’s Monty’s Christmas.
As the advert features some of Britain’s most well known wildlife, John Lewis has chosen The Wildlife Trust to be its Christmas campaign charity partner, and will donate a portion of its sales from the soft toy characters of the advert to the charity.
John Lewis customer director Craig Inglis said: “2016 has certainly been quite a year, so we hope our advert will make people smile. It really embraces a sense of fun and magic, reminding everyone what it feels to give the perfect gift at Christmas.
The retailer’s flagship store on London’s Oxford Street will offer a virtual-reality Oculus Rift experience, while a 360 experience will also be available using 3D-viewer Google Cardboard.
On social media, John Lewis will partner with Snapchat to create a lens, available until midnight tonight, that will transform users into Buster the Boxer.
Throughout December, customers visiting any John Lewis store will be able to apply a Snapchat Buster the Boxer filter to any of the pictures they take in store.
And until this Sunday, Twitter users will be able to use bespoke stickers to customise photos.
