Having a dog can be a great motivator if you don’t feel like exercising. You might not feel like getting up and moving around, but your pup needs walking regardless.
If you like the idea of working out with your dog, you’ll like the look of ASICS’ new ambassador, Felix the samoyed.
A total of 69% of dog owners in the UK say their dog is their main motivator when it comes to exercise, over family members, celebrities, and personal trainers. Dog owners are 35% more likely to meet recommended physical activity guidelines compared to other people, too.
This is why Felix is set to act as Asics’ “spokesperson”, sharing his love of walks, runs, and zoomies.
Gary Raucher, Global Head of Marketing at Asics, said: “No one motivates us to move for body and mind more than our canine friends. Every day around the world, dogs motivate us to lace up, get out, and move. Our mission at Asics is to encourage as many people as possible to feel the uplifting power of movement.
“We are delighted to have signed Felix as our official Asics Mind’s Best Friend and share dogs’ infectious love for movement with the world to motivate us all to get out and move for our minds.”
Other dogs can get involved, too. The sportswear brand wants British dog parents to nominate their own dogs to become official Asics Mind’s Best Friend Ambassadors, sharing content that will showcase the power of exercise.
Each ambassador gets an ambassador kit that includes branded products, accessories, and ASICS shoes. If you’re a UK-based dog parent, or you know one, you can nominate them here.
Meanwhile, every post shared with the hashtag #MindsBestFriend before July 12 on public Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts will raise £5 apiece for mental health charity Mind.
Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at Mind, said: “At Mind, we have seen how regular physical activity can help support better mental health. However, finding the motivation to move can sometimes be challenging when you’re struggling with your mental health. Who better to help motivate people to move than our canine friends?
“Mind’s belief in the power of physical activity and celebrating our doggy pals aligns perfectly with Asics’ commitment. We’re proud to support this campaign and look forward to inspiring people to stay active and move for their mental wellbeing.”
If you’d like to learn more about exercising with your dog, try this vet’s guide to dog exercise
