The Dulux Dog Story from Start to Finish

The Dulux Dog was a beloved advertising mascot for Dulux paint, a well-known brand in Australia and the UK.

He was created in 1958 by a team of advertising executives at George Patterson Advertising in Australia.

The original Dulux Dog was a lovable, scruffy little terrier with a distinctive underbite and a big personality.

The character's popularity soared in the 1960s and 1970s, with the Dulux Dog appearing in countless advertisements and becoming a cultural icon in Australia.

The very first Dulux dog was Shepton Daphnis Horsa, affectionately known as Dash, who belonged to the advertising director responsible for the 1961 campaign.

Dash was a natural on set, and his adorable nature led to him becoming a star in the ad. He proved so endearing that the ad team decided to keep him in, and Old English Sheepdogs have remained part of the Dulux brand ever since.

Dash's retirement sparked a grand competition at London's Cafe Royal, where 450 other Old English Sheepdogs auditioned to take his place.

Shepton Daphnis Horsa, affectionately known as Dash, was the original Dulux dog. He belonged to the advertising director responsible for the 1961 campaign.

Dash was a natural on set, and his playful antics caught the attention of the ad team. He kept running across the set to play with the child actors, and when it came time to edit, a star was born.

Dash proved so adorable and eye-catching that the ad team decided to keep him in, and Old English Sheepdogs have remained part of the Dulux brand ever since.

The Old English Sheepdog is a breed that was once extremely popular, thanks in part to a successful advertising campaign that featured the breed as the "Dulux Dog".

This campaign, which ran during the 1970s, was incredibly effective and helped to create a surge in demand for the breed.

As a result, Old English Sheepdogs became a common sight in many neighborhoods, including my own, where my neighbor had two of them, Deano and Barnie.

However, I soon realized that these dogs weren't always suited to every home, especially smaller ones like my neighbor's two-up/two-down terraced house in London.

The breed's large size, boisterous nature, and high intelligence made them a challenging fit for many households.

Many owners, including my neighbor, struggled to provide the necessary stimulation and care for their Old English Sheepdogs, leading to problems like skin issues and destructive behavior.

The breed's popularity also led to indiscriminate and wanton breeding, which resulted in many dogs being re-homed and displaying uncharacteristic aggression.

The Dulux dog has been a beloved fixture on our TV screens for decades, and it's great to see it's still going strong. The iconic dog has been a part of our lives for 50 years, first introduced in 1961.

The Dulux dog has had many different actors play the role over the years, with 14 dogs taking on the part. Most famous of them all was Fernville Lord Digby, who reigned supreme throughout the 1970s and even starred in a film called Digby: The Biggest Dog in the World.

The Dulux dog is an old English sheepdog, and it's been a permanent fixture on our TV screens for over 30 years. It's a testament to the brand's commitment to quality and family-friendly advertising.

The Dulux dog has recently made a comeback, starring in a new ad for the brand's stain-repellent paint. The ad, called Introducing New Dulux Easycare, was created by BBH and directed by Ninian Doff for Pulse Films.

The ad shows the Dulux dog shaking itself dry in the lounge, with large globules of mud hitting everything from photoframes to toy soldiers. Luckily, the dog's owners had invested in Dulux's new paint, which can be wiped clean without causing damage to the wall surface.

The ad is part of a multi-million pound investment by the brand to reach over 29 million homeowners. It will launch on TV in March and will be accompanied by a print campaign for Easter.

Here are the key details of the ad: