Trampolining dog from iconic John Lewis advert has died

Biff the adorable boxer who appeared in the 2016 John Lewis Christmas advert has sadly died aged 12.

The sweet advert centred on a little girl whose parents bought her a trampoline for Christmas and set it up during the night. But as the night went on, and snow began to fall, numerous animals took it in turns to have a go on the trampoline including her pet boxer - played by Biff.

You can see the ad here:

Biff’s owner, Jen Patten, shared the sad news on social media writing: “Fly high our beautiful, special boy, we shall miss you forever.”

In another post she included a snap of the dog, alongside the words: “One of our last photos. People say, he had a wonderful life with us, but in reality, we had a wonderful life with him.”

As well as being in one of the biggest adverts of the year, Biff and his owners used his fame to raise cash for good causes.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Patten said: “Biff was a very much loved family member, and everyone that met him loved him too.

“His fame gave us the opportunity to raise funds for animal charities.

John Lewis

“Biffy and I had a really special bond, and no matter what I asked of him, whether it would be new tricks, displays, meet and greets, or photos with children, adults, and animals, he would happily oblige, with the patience of a saint.

“At home, he was pure joy, making us smile every day. I don’t know if you are aware but boxers are known as the clowns of the canines, and even though Biff would be professional at the right time, he never ever lost the ability to make us laugh. We shall miss him so much.”

The heart-broken owner went on to explain that Biff had experienced ‘seizures’ in the early hours of yesterday (Monday 21 November) morning and sadly ‘couldn’t bring him back’.

Twitter/John Lewis

The John Lewis Christmas advert has become an annual marker of the festive period, with the company known for creating adverts that pull at the heart-strings.

This year’s advert was no exception - as it follows a man who is determined to learn how to skateboard, despite the fact he’s pretty rubbish at it.

However, he goes on to reveal that he and his partner are fostering a young girl, who just so happens to be into skateboarding.