• by P.J. Bednarski  @pjbtweet, March 2, 2020

Sometimes it seems the whole advertising world is going to the dogs.

Today Early Times Kentucky Whisky announced its second annual “All American Dogs” contest, from which 10 fortunate Fidos or lucky Ladys will be featured in the brand’s 2020 “hometown” advertising campaign. The winners will also be included in the 2021 Early Times calendar and be gifted a whisky-barrel-shaped doghouse.

The winners of the Brown-Forman Company-owned Early Times contest must be sponsored by their owners -- who must be at least 21 years old, and will be required to write an essay explaining why their best friend “embodies the All-American spirit.”

Last year, over 10,000 dog owners entered the contest.

Dogs are all over the place. They are, in fact, as all-American as heart-tugging marketing ploys.

They sell Subarus and Hyundai SUVs. Dean Winters, the guy who plays Mayhem, stars as Tina Fey’s troublemaking dog in a memorable Allstate ad. For decades Jim Beam produced special dog decanters.  And for 15 years until 2018, Jack Daniel’s was a sponsor of the Iditarod dog race.

Dogs are man’s best friends, and male and female marketers must agree.

 “When we started talking about what being ‘All-American’  means, we immediately thought of the loyalty and dependability that dogs bring to our own lives. It felt natural to connect with our Early Times drinkers bycelebrating their amazing dogs,” said  Dallas Cheatham, senior brand manager, in a statement