The Story of Target's Iconic Dog Mascot

You might be surprised to learn that Target's iconic dog mascot, Bullseye, has been a beloved part of American retail for over 25 years.

Bullseye was introduced in 1999 as a key part of Target's marketing strategy, designed to appeal to families with young children.

The decision to create a dog mascot was a deliberate attempt to differentiate Target from its competitors and create a more welcoming atmosphere in its stores.

Bullseye's popularity quickly grew, with the mascot appearing in numerous advertisements, in-store promotions, and even a few high-profile celebrity endorsements.

Consider reading: What Kind of Dog Is the Browns Mascot

Bullseye the Dog is a white bull terrier, also known as a "bullie." These pups are medium-sized with muscular bodies and a rounded head.

Bullseye made her debut in 1999 as part of an advertising campaign called "Sign of the Times." The dog was a hit, and the Target marketing team responded by plastering her all over print, digital, and direct marketing.

There are currently six dogs who can step into the role of Bullseye if necessary. Bullseye has brought the Target brand to life, with thousands of mentions of the #TargetDog on Instagram alone.

Bullseye is a fitting name for the Target dog, considering the Target logo is, well, a target.

The name Bullseye is definitely fitting for the official mascot of the Target Corporation.

Bullseye is a female dog, which might be surprising given the typical connotations of the name.

Each version of Bullseye has been played by a female dog.

There are currently six versions of Bullseye in total.

Readers also liked: Name of the Target Dog

Bullseye is a white bull terrier, also known as a "bullie." She's a medium-sized dog with a muscular body and a rounded head.

Bullseye has been the official mascot of Target Corporation since her debut in 1999. She was part of an advertising campaign called "Sign of the Times" that featured a bull terrier set to a version of Petula Clark's "A Sign of the Times."

Bullseye has become a beloved figure in American pop culture, earning invitations to make appearances and strut the red carpet. She's also been featured in various marketing campaigns and commercials throughout the years.

There are currently six dogs who play the role of Bullseye if necessary. Each version of Bullseye has been played by a female dog.

Bullseye's signature target around her eye is created with Humane Society-approved vegetable-based paint. This paint is non-toxic to the dog and easily wipes off.

Here are some fun facts about Bullseye:

The Target marketing team responded quickly to the popularity of Bullseye by plastering the dog all over print, digital, and direct marketing in 1999.

Bullseye was featured in the campaign "Sign of the Times" that year, which helped launch her as a beloved brand ambassador.

In 2003, the marketing team expanded Bullseye's role to include value ambassador in the campaign "See. Spot. Save."

This campaign truly solidified Bullseye's place in American pop culture, earning invitations across the country to make appearances and strut the red carpet.

The Target mascot has been a huge success, with thousands of mentions of the #TargetDog on Instagram alone.

The marketing team has also made sure to include Bullseye in various product designs, such as the first-ever Target Gift Card design in 1999.

Bullseye made her debut in 1999 as part of an advertising campaign called “Sign of the Times.” The Target marketing team responded to guest interest by plastering the dog all over print, digital, and direct marketing later that year.

Bullseye's signature target around its eye has been created with Humane Society-approved vegetable-based paint. This paint is non-toxic to the dog and easily wipes off.

The Target mascot expanded her resume in 2003 to include value ambassador when she was included in the campaign, “See. Spot. Save.” This campaign truly solidified Bullseye’s place in American pop culture.

Bull terriers are medium-sized dogs with muscular bodies and a rounded head in the front. Despite their tough appearance, they are extremely affectionate and loving.

These dogs are known for their goofy personalities, which is evident in Bullseye's antics. She's even walked the red carpet and played with celebrities!

If you're interested in learning more about bull terriers, you can check out The Spruce Pets' "Bull Terriers (Bullies): Dog Breed Profile" for more information.

The campaign featured a bull terrier set to a version of Petula Clark’s “A Sign of the Times” and was a hit.

Guests were eager to see more of Bullseye, so the Target marketing team plastered the dog all over print, digital, and direct marketing later that year.

In 2003, Bullseye expanded her resume to include value ambassador in the campaign, “See. Spot. Save.”

This campaign truly solidified Bullseye’s place in American pop culture, earning invitations across the country to make appearances and strut the red carpet.

There are currently six dogs who are able to step into the role of Bullseye if necessary.

The first Bullseye “plush” hit the shelves in 1999 as a 15-inch stuffed animal, but quickly shrunk into a more suitable 7-inch toy.

Target began selling an array of styles and outfits in 2001.

All of these products became exclusively available at Target in 2004.

Target has brought its beloved dog mascot Bullseye to the Las Vegas Sphere, a massive digital out-of-home destination.

The Sphere ad emulates a snowglobe and features an 11-story Target made of gingerbread houses, with Bullseye standing at six-and-a-half stories tall.

This is the largest iteration of Bullseye to date, and the virtual Target is about three times larger than a typical brick-and-mortar store.

The ad promotes popular toy gifting ideas, including Squishmallows, and a real-life version of the gingerbread house is available for purchase.

The Sphere effort is part of Target's "However You Holiday, Do It For Less" campaign, which also includes in-store activations and a traveling winter wonderland pop-up.

Target is not the only brand to take advantage of the Sphere's massive digital space, with Coca-Cola and Heineken also running campaigns there.

Advertising on the Sphere comes with a hefty price tag, with a one-week campaign costing $650,000 and a one-day takeover running up to $450,000.