Asics has recruited Felix the Samoyed, one of Instagram’s favorite dogs, with 1.2 million followers.
Many studies show that humans who are close to a pet are calmer and happier. Adopting this idea, Asics has come up with a new marketing campaign centered on mental health and well-being, a longtime focus of the company’s.
According to a study conducted for Asics, dog owners are more active and happier than people who do not own dogs. Asics is therefore the first sports equipment manufacturer to include a dog among its ambassadors, recognizing the influence of man’s best friend in promoting mobility.
According to the research, 79 percent of dog owners say they feel less stressed and 83 percent even feel happier after exercising with their pet.
To highlight this, Asics has recruited Félix le Samoyède, one of Instagram’s favorite dogs, with 1.2 million followers. He’ll be representing the brand in campaigns promoting physical activity.
This partnership follows an analysis by Prof. Brendon Stubbs of King’s College London of data from the State of Mind Index, which measures overall mental well-being. Among the many findings, he highlights the fact that four out of five owners (81%) say that exercising with their dog improves their mental well-being.
“Asics’ latest research reveals the significant influence dogs have on our level of physical activity and overall state of mind,” Stubbs said. “It shows that dog owners are much more likely to meet physical activity guidelines and be in a better mood. In fact, 84 percent of dog owners feel their mood improves after exercising with their dog.”
Asics encourages the community to share these special moments with their dogs for a good cause. For every post shared with the hashtag #MindsBestFriend before July 12, donations will be collected for charities working in mental health.
