Why is there a duck on the dashboard of that Jeep?

The history of Jeep Ducking.

You’re pulling into a parking lot at your local grocery store and staring at you from the space ahead is a lineup of rubber ducks on the dash of a Jeep. Maybe one is dressed like a cowboy or a mechanic? Maybe they vary in size. Maybe it’s your dashboard covered in these little rubber duckies.

If you’ve ever wondered how this trend started, look no further.

Back in July 2020, Allison Parliament -- a dual Canadian-American citizen – had an unfortunate stressful event with a stranger at a gas station in Ontario. Later, she purchased a pack of rubber ducks with the intention of leaving one, with a cheerful note, on a friend’s car to brighten everyone's day.

Before stopping at her friends, she placed one on a stranger’s Jeep with a note saying, “nice Jeep.” She shared it on Instagram with the hashtag #duckduckjeep and went viral!

This single, random act of kindness spread during a time of social isolation. Now, Jeep Ducking has gone beyond North America and is practiced all across the world. Tragically, Allison passed away in 2024, and the Jeep community has kept this tradition going as a symbol of positivity and friendship.

The "Rules" of Ducking

While there is no formal governing body, the community generally follows a consistent set of unspoken guidelines:

• The Act: A Jeep owner places a small rubber duck on the door handle, side mirror, or hood of another Jeep.
• The Message: Ducks are often accompanied by a tag or a note featuring a kind message or the #duckduckjeep hashtag.
• Reciprocity: The recipient can choose to keep the duck (often displaying a "collection" on their dashboard, known as a duck pond) or "pay it forward" by placing it on another Jeep.
• Target Models: Traditionally, the practice was exclusive to Wranglers, but it has since expanded to include Gladiators and other Jeep models.

Do you Duck, Duck, Jeep?

See if the Stuckey CDJR team knows where this tradition started!