The famous Old English Sheepdog marks a new milestone, fronting one of Britain’s new best loved ad campaigns
One of Britain’s most recognisable brand icons is getting a new leading lady. As the Dulux Dog celebrates its 65th anniversary, leading paint brand Dulux is unveiling Dorothy, the latest Old English Sheepdog to step into the role.
The Dulux Dog is back on our screens this month in a brand-new advertising campaign, looking as iconic as ever, but with a brand-new furry face in the starring role. For 65 years, the Dulux Dog has been a trusted presence in homes, marking modern life milestones across UK households, from special family moments, becoming a new pet parent or buying your first home. The dog has been constant over generations of decorators and ever-evolving interior trends.
Now, 20-month-old Dorothy is taking up the mantle, carrying forward a proud family legacy in a new TV campaign.
Making her TV debut this March, Dorothy stars alongside six puppies aged between eight weeks and six months, plus two adult dogs – all extended members of the family through Dorothy’s dad – in a heartwarming new advert celebrating the role our homes play in life’s biggest moments. And in a nod to their star status, each dog even had its own understudy on set!
From new beginnings to meaningful milestones, colour and paint help mark the memories that matter most. And through it all, the Dulux Dog remains the heart of the home, always being by our side. Dorothy brings a splash of colour, comfort and joy, through the good times and the bad.
A Legacy Spanning Generations
Dorothy comes from a prestigious line of Old English Sheepdogs and represents the latest chapter in an extraordinary family story. Her mum, Vienna, previously held the starring role, while her grandmother Olivia also fronted Dulux campaigns for several years. In fact, every Dulux Dog seen in adverts in the last decade has come from the same remarkable family line. Dorothy’s great-grandmother Madison was owner and breeder Ellen Wheeler’s, very first Dulux Dog in 2017!
From left to right, Dorothy, her mum Vienna and grandmother Olivia
For Ellen, it’s a multi-generational legacy built on love, dedication and care, with every dog becoming a treasured member of the family. Ellen knew from the very beginning that Dorothy, affectionately known as ‘Dot’, was special.
“She is such a gentle sweetheart who had such a traumatic start to life. We struggled to keep her alive for the first three to four days after birth. She was so tiny we named her Dot because she weighed less than half the other puppies.
“We had to keep her warm with hot water bottles and make sure she fed by holding her against her mum, as she wasn’t strong enough to stay on herself.
“We couldn’t let her go to a new home – nobody would realise how much fight she had to survive. She was our special little girl.”
Today, that once tiny puppy takes centre stage as the new face of Dulux. A powerful symbol of resilience, continuity and the enduring appeal of a British icon.
From Happy Accident to Household Name
The Dulux Dog story began with a happy accident. In 1961, during the filming of an advert, a dog named Dash, who belonged to a member of the production crew, wandered into shot. When the footage was tested with audiences, Dash stole the show. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that the director decided to keep him in the final cut, marking the beginning of one of the longest-running brand icon stories in British advertising history.
Over six and a half decades, the Dulux Dog has become synonymous with the Old English Sheepdog breed, so much so that the dogs are often affectionately referred to as “the Dulux Dog”.
Supporting a Vulnerable British Breed
Despite their fame and affectionate reputation, Old English Sheepdogs have been listed by The Royal Kennel Club as a vulnerable breed. In 2020, just 227 puppies were registered in the UK – a six-decade low – highlighting the risk of this much-loved British breed disappearing from our shores.
A Royal Kennel Club Spokesperson said: “The landscape of Britain’s favourite dogs has continued to shift in recent years, with some historic native breeds now so rare that they could be at risk of disappearing from our streets and parks – struggling to compete with newer, more fashionable breeds. The Old English Sheepdog peaked as the UK’s 9th favourite breed in 1979 and 1980 but then numbers began to decline with the breed currently on our vulnerable breed list.
It’s therefore great to see Dulux continuing to shine a light on this particular breed which brings joy to so many people.”
By sharing Dorothy and her remarkable family’s story, Dulux hopes to remind the nation why it first fell in love with the Old English Sheepdog 65 years ago, while highlighting the importance of finding responsible breeders, such as those recognised by The Royal Kennel Club.
Dulux’s commitment to the breed extends beyond the screen. For over 40 years, the brand has proudly supported Old English Sheepdog Rescue & Welfare, helping to raise funds that provide shelter, care, medical treatment and loving homes for Old English Sheepdogs in need.
Sam Balloch, Head of UK Consumer Brands at AkzoNobel said, “The Dulux Dog has always represented more than paint. For 65 years, the dog has been part of the moments that shape our lives – from decorating a child’s bedroom to marking a fresh start in a new home.
“Over the decades, the Dulux Dog has reflected how we live, symbolising the power of colour to transform not just a room, but how we feel within it.
“Across generations, families have invited the Dulux Dog into their living rooms through our adverts, and in return the dog has become part of their own home stories. Reaching this 65-year milestone is incredibly special for us, and introducing the next chapter in that journey feels like celebrating a member of the family.”
Life Behind the Lens
When she’s not filming or being the centre of attention, Dorothy loves playing tug of war with her mum Vienna (much to the annoyance of Grandma Olivia). She has endless energy for chasing balls, and is always keen to befriend the family cat, who is somewhat less enthusiastic. After a busy day, she can be found relaxing on the sofa, enjoying tummy tickles or climbing onto a lap for a cuddle.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE DULUX DOG
- It takes over 2 hours to groom Dorothy to perfection
- She’s incredibly nosy and loves watching the world go by from the window
- She gets especially excited when she meets other Old English Sheepdogs
- If you stop paying attention, she’ll gently poke you with her nose to remind you she’s there
65 Years of Dulux Dogs:
- 1961-1969: Dash (Shepton Daphnis Horsa)
- 1969-1974: Fernville Lord Digby – he was the star of ‘Digby Biggest Dog in the World’
- 1974-1979: King Hotspur of Amblegait – he appeared in over 50 TV adverts as well as public appearances for ICI/Dulux
- 1980-1981: Gambit – he famously moulted excessively on set
- 1981-1986: Duke – had 3 understudies: Tania, Polly and Cassie
- 1986: Tanya Jedforest Magic Flute – our first ever female dog to take the role
- 1986: ‘Pickle (Dreamweaver Lorien’s Lament Pickle)
- 1990-1996: Queenie (Hurstbank Queenie Girl)
- 1995-2002: Mash (Hurstbank Monster Mash) – who is also Queenie’s son
- 1999-2008: Cedric (Stourvale The Wishmaster at Hurstbank)
- 2007-2015: Spud (Krisendaw King Edward of Hurstbank) and
- Don – Dog of the North – who was the main Dulux Dog
- 2011-2018: Herbert (Bovaron Just William) – Dog of the South – originally an under-study before he then took over from Spud
- Lewis (Molyneux Smoother Operator) – Dog of the North
- 2018-2019: Mr Chips (Ladamis Captain Morgan) – under-study for Herbert
- 2012-2016: ‘Willow’ (Molyneux Uptown Girl) – under-study for photoshoots and TV work
- 2016-2020: Willow became official ‘Dulux Dog [of the South]’ – she is famous for the Dulux Easycare TV ad campaign (‘muddy and wet Willow’!)
- 2020–2025: Madison and her daughter Olivia
- 2025–2026: Dorothy (Olivia’s daughter)
The new Dulux advertising campaign premieres at the end of March. For more fun facts about the Dulux Dog, visit: www.dulux.co.uk/en/dulux-dog
