Web Business Woman

Here’s a new user-generated promotional marketing contest that is for all of us dog lovers out there. I know we many of them that read this blog since Yvonne DiVita, our fearless Lipsticking leader, also writes the Scratchings & Sniffings pet blog which is sponsored by Purina.

Purina’s Alpo brand is inviting dog owners to enter their down-to-earth dogs in the Alpo Real Dogs Tell It Like It Is contest by writing an essay—in their dog’s own voice—describing his or her favorite “real dog” behavior. Winning submissions will be featured in the first ever Real Dogs Eat Meat Handbook, scheduled for publication in 2010, and the dog owner will also receive a year’s supply of ALPO brand dog food!

“You’ve got a Real Dog. Help him Tell It Like It Is. A dog. A voice. A way of life. And no funny dog clothes.” is what the promotional contest microsite tells visitors. “Real dogs drool and dig. They strut their stuff, mark their turf, chew things up and roll in dirt…It’s what we love about them. And we think they should be celebrated.”

“It’s time to let dogs be dogs again,” says Kilcommons in a release.
“they are happiest when they can express their true inner
dogness—instinctual behaviors including sniffing, digging, eating,
playing and sleeping that are in their DNA and define what it means to
enjoy a dog’s life.”

Essays can be uploaded on the contest website and need to describe “real dog” behaviors from the canine point of view in 300 words or less.  A color photo of the dog exhibiting the “real dog” actions or mannerisms described
in the essay should also be uploaded. No more than one dog per photo and no humans allowed either. Purina’s is also requesting that entrants must actually own the dog they describe and can enter up to three essays per household.

After Monday Sept. 28, the entries received will be judged by dog expert and author Brian Kilcommons and an independent judging panel. Up to twenty winners will be selected based on originality and authentic “real dog” behavior.

Visitors to the website can now view the Gallery to see those dogs that have been submitted to the contest. As of today there are 28 pages in the Gallery, 12 to a page, so it appears as if there are already over 300 entries.

This is a great photo of our dog, Shadow, sitting behind the wheel of our old Toyota Land Cruiser. He jumps in the vehicle whenever he thinks we’re going someplace. I think I should write an essay on this. What do you think? I’m sure there’s a few good other dog stories out there as well.

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