For the last day of July, which happened to be National Baked Beans Month, I thought it’d be fun to profile a dog associated with beans. Specifically, Bush’s Best Beans.
Perhaps you’ve seen the commercials with Duke, the scheming Golden Retriever who’s always trying to sell the Bush family’s secret recipe?
I get a kick out of Duke’s antics. The newest commercial has him leaning out an upper-story window ready to launch a pig off the roof. The pig’s on a skateboard with “wings” strapped around his back and flying goggles on ready for take-off. All because earlier in the commercial Duke asked Jay when he was ever going to let him sell the secret family recipe and Jay laughs, “When pigs fly.”
In an effort to find out more about Duke, I went to the Bush’s site and found they have a whole section devoted to Jay & Duke. I learned some interesting things, such as:
• The idea of Duke helping Jay promote the family’s beans was inspired by Jay’s family’s Golden Retriever, Duffy “Duke” of Castlebury. (The Duke in the commercials is a professionally trained animal actor.)
• Duke has been appearing in TV commercials with Jay since 1993. (I was surprised by this. I hadn’t realized it was that long.)
• Duke’s marketing work isn’t just limited to TV spots –he also goes on the road with Jay to make personal appearances and meet fans.
Under the Jay & Duke section they also have two other TV commercials you can watch:
• The one where Jay’s talking about their baked beans and how only he and Duke know the secret family recipe but Jay says something to the effect of how he’s keeping Duke busy so he won’t tell. They show Duke with a flock of sheep and Jay says confidentially, “He’s a good herder.” Then it cuts to an aerial shot where Duke’s made the sheep form the phrase “Secret Family Recipe For Sale Contact Duke” and he ends the commercial saying, “And a good speller.” (This is one of my personal favorites.)
• The other commercial doesn’t promote their baked beans –it promotes their chili and introduces “Cousin Drew.” He’s created a complex vault system to keep Duke out, but when he takes Jay through it and they come to the last vault where the recipe’s kept, they find Duke. Cousin Drew asks how he got in and Duke says how he had doggie doors installed.
Which is your favorite? Either leave a comment below or visit the Pets Forum to cast your vote in the poll.
For tasty recipe ideas using baked beans, make sure to visit the Families.com Food Blog.