As part of a new campaign promoting adoption, Pedigree is suggesting that parents of teenagers adopt a dog.
As anyone who’s ever raised a teenager – or been a teenager themselves – will know, they don’t almost make the most rational decisions. The frontal lobe, which looks after decision, risk, and judgment, isn’t fully developed until later on.
The Campaign
So, the new Pedigree campaign takes a look at some of the less rational teenage behaviors. It then suggests that the “only option is adoption”. The idea is that, when a teen’s brain switches off, adopting a dog will “turn their heart back on”.
“Our PEDIGREE® brand purpose is to feed the good that dogs bring to the world, by helping every dog find a loving home,” said Joe Lanham, marketing manager at Mars. “This campaign reminds us that dogs can bring out the best in anyone. Even irrational teenagers. Ultimately, we’re excited to encourage parents to adopt a dog, and help more dogs find a loving home to call their own.”
Parents can visit pedigreeteenagers.com to fill out a questionnaire and find a local shelter dog that’s a good fit for their teenager. They’ll be asked how much exercise they can offer a pup, whether any children or seniors live at home and how much experience the family has with dogs, among other questions, to be matched with a pooch nearby.
Adopting Dogs for Teenagers
Research shows that dogs improve teens’ social development significantly, and they can reduce stress too. If a new pet is right for your family, that’s great!
However, you shouldn’t adopt a pet on a whim. It’s something that should always be discussed by the whole family, with rules and expectations outlined beforehand. And, of course, the sort of dog you’re looking for. This will make life easier for both the human and the canine members of the family!
