Did you know that yesterday, Sunday, August 26, was National Dog Day? Did you miss it? Not to worry, we’re here with a little background on this pawsitively awesome holiday, and a few ideas of how you can celebrate! (Better late than never!)
National Dog Day was founded in 2004 by pet lifestyle and safety expert Colleen Paige. It’s a day reserved for appreciating man’s best friend and thanking our beloved canines for their unconditional love, bravery, and dedication.
According to Paige, “National Dog Day was created to honor dogs more than we currently do, to give them ‘a day.’ to show deep appreciation for our long connection to each other — for their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, for their work, their capacity for love and their ability to impact our lives everyday in the most miraculous ways. National Dog Day wishes to encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure — and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and ‘abuse-free life.'”
Now, that’s a holiday we can’t wait to celebrate. Even if we are a day late!
Just in case you’re short on ideas for how to commemorate the occasion (hint: bacon is a good start), here are 10 tips to inspire your belated dog-day event:
- Adopt a dog from your local shelter or pure breed rescue organization. Volunteer at your local shelter and offer to walk a dog or play with a dog, clean cages or anything else they need help with.
- Have a National Dog Day party and invite all your friends and their dogs!
- Join a fun, dog friendly community online and post pics of your pooch for the world to ooh and ahh over! Better yet, why not give your pup his own Facebook page?
- Assist an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog.
- Give your dog some exercise by taking him or her to a local park, beach or forest, and pledge to walk your dog every day for proper health and behavior management.
- Give your dog a beauty treatment: brush to eliminate excess fur, move on to a luxurious bath, and finish with a canine full-body massage.
- Take your dog on a pet friendly vacation with a new car safety harness to keep your dog safe during travel, and a travel-sized canine first aid kit in case of injury while away from home.
- Microchip & I.D. tag your dog so the shelter can locate you if he gets lost, and make sure your dog has all vaccines and a regular health exam.
- Teach your dog some obedience skills or take it to the next level by enrolling in an agility, Canine Good Citizen, or other dog-skills class.
- Finally, pledge to be patient and kind and give your dog lots of love and praise every day.
