Ambassadog Wanted: Scotland Launches Hunt For A Dog Ambassador

Bark if you qualify.

Scotland’s national tourist board VisitScotland has launched a hunt for an “Ambassadog,” a dog ambassador who will promote tourism in Scotland this year, according to a report in The National.

The chosen Ambassadog and its owner will get to travel around Scotland, attend promotional events and walks, and if lucky, meet some “famous faces.”

The search has begun in earnest, and once the initial selection is done, six shortlisted dogs will be invited for an “interview” in Edinburgh this April or May.

The position is open only to dogs from Scotland, who are currently residents there. The applicant dog has to be “an outgoing, Scotland-loving and well-trained dog.” So this is primarily for extroverted dogs, who can easily mix with new people, and who are open to new life experiences. Moody, introverted dogs may not be the right fit for this job profile.

Here’s how VisitScotland’s Helen Campbell described their ideal Ambassadog.

“We are looking for an outgoing, sociable pooch who is able to capture the spirit of Scotland through their adventures and share them to inspire the world to visit.”

Does your dog have #ScotSpirit? ? We're looking for a canine friend to be our #Ambassadog! https://t.co/TDOjybsHj8 pic.twitter.com/NuVpSFYIje

— VisitScotland (@VisitScotland) March 9, 2016

The tourist board has already started accepting online applications from interested “candidates.” Those candidates who can’t type or are not quite internet-savvy are encouraged to take the help of their owners. In fact, the owner’s availability for this gig is as important as the dog’s.

The owner of the selected dog needs to have enough time on their hands to travel the country with the Ambassadog. They have to, along with Ambassadog, take part in all the programs organized by VisitScotland to promote tourism in Scotland.

Even if the dog is not internet-savvy, the dog owner has to be. Not only internet-savvy, they have to be social-media-savvy too.

The owner of the Ambassadog is expected to be comfortable with popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Since the Ambassadog may not be inclined to air its views electronically, the dog owner will have to do it in its stead. Which means religiously sharing the Ambassadog’s “travels and adventures” with followers and fans on social media platforms throughout 2016.

Scotland tourism board starts search for an official “Ambassadog” – https://t.co/7Xcp3B5AKg.

— BABC PNW (@babcpnw) March 10, 2016

The dog owner is also expected to be “happy to be involved in PR opportunities” set up by VisitScotland throughout the year. These include magazine interviews, appearances on live TV, travel outside Scotland for promotional activities, and so on.

Considering all these requirements, what kind of dog owner would be best suited for this outing?

Two points spring to mind immediately.

One, the dog owner has to be as extroverted as the dog. Two, the dog owner needs to have lots of free time. This is clearly not a gig for a 9-to-5 person (try asking your boss for a day off to spend quality time with your pooch). It will be more suitable for free-floating, adventurous individuals who are not constantly battling with time.

So this hunt is not only for a suitable dog, it is also for a suitable dog owner (Ambassadog Senior!), something the organizers may have missed out emphasizing. All the focus is on the dog. Which brings us to the best part.

The Ambassadog is an unpaid position. Meaning, the dog won’t be getting any money for its pains. But what about the dog owner? They won’t be getting any money either. Instead, the Ambassadog and its owner will win “an exclusive, inspirational and unique dog-friendly holiday to Scotland in 2016.” Which may be a bit of a bummer. As it is, the two would be holidaying the whole year as part of the program, does one extra holiday count as an actual prize? See it like this: If you get a job as a wine taster, the last thing you want as your salary is a bottle of wine.

However, for those dog owners for whom time and money are no issues at all, this may be an interesting opportunity.

[Image via Shutterstock/Javier Brosch]