August 26th is National Dog Day—a day where we celebrate how amazing our canine companions are and remember all the incredible things dogs have done to positively enhance our lives.
Whether you have your own dog, work as a vet/vet tech, are a dog sitter, or simply just love dogs, we hope you’ll take some time today so celebrate all the pups in your life!
Looking for some ideas on how to celebrate? We’ve got a few thoughts on what you can do to show your dogs (or the dogs in your community) just how much you love them.
Check it out…
#1 – Treat Your Dog to His Dream Day
Most of us have routine schedules, which means your pup probably also follows a pretty basic schedule.
For example, your pup likely gets up with you in the morning, has breakfast, goes out, hangs around the house when you go to work, excitedly greets you when you get home, enjoys dinner, goes on an evening walk, then goes to bed when you do.
There’s nothing wrong with this routine…however, there’s nothing in the world that your pup would love more than having this schedule shaken up a bit—especially if that means getting to spend extra time with you getting to do the things he loves.
What would be on your dog's dream day list? Check out our ultimate dog bucket list to get a few ideas!
#2 – Volunteer at a Dog Rescue Shelter
National Dog Day is a day about celebrating all dogs! And unfortunately, some pups are going to have to spend the holiday inside a shelter.
The best way to show your love to the dogs in your community is to volunteer some of your time at a local shelter. While volunteering, you’ll have opportunities to help clean cages, feed dogs, take a special dog for a walk, and simply spend time playing with pups who desperately crave your attention.
There’s always so much that needs to get done within a rescue. Any extra help you can give is always appreciated.
If your schedule doesn’t allow you to physically volunteer at a shelter, donating to a rescue in need is always a great way to give back!
We recommend donating…
- Food
- Blankets
- Collars/Leashes
- Toys
- Money
Or, pick up the phone and call a shelter near you to see what they need most!
#3 – Adopt, Don’t Shop!
While we are on the topic of shelters, I want to encourage you to always adopt and don’t shop!
Whether you’re looking for your first dog or are wanting to add a second (or third or fourth) furbaby into your home, I guarantee you can find the perfect pup at your local shelter.
If you can’t find a dog to adopt or a shelter just type ‘dog rescue or dog adoptions near me’ into Google!
So many dogs need homes, and no dog is more grateful for a home than a shelter dog!
The best part…
When you go to a shelter you can spend time getting to know different dogs to help ensure that you find the right fit for your home! Even if you leave the shelter without adopting, you got to spend time with dogs, and the shelter dogs got a little TLC, so it’s a win-win for everyone!
Remember…adopt, don’t shop!
#4 – Spend Quality Time with Your Pup
The thing your dog loves most in life is YOU.
For that reason, one of the best ways to celebrate National Dog Day is to simply spend time with your pup!
Of course, going on a walk or giving your pup some belly rubs is a great way to spend time with your pup. But today, we encourage you to mix it up and try something different.
What can you do to treat your pup? Here are a few ideas…
- Cuddle on the couch with a good book or movie.
- Set up the sprinkler/kiddie pool and play in the water with your dog.
- Cook a dog-friendly meal and share it with your canine companion.
- Take your pup out for ice cream! (Many places have plain frozen yogurt for dogs)
- Take a day trip to an agility park and test out your dog’s skills.
#5 – Treat your dog to something special
We all love surprises and dogs are no different…
Whether it's a new toy, a special treat, or some new dog food there are so many ways to say I LOVE YOU to your dog.
Here are three of the most loved specials to try with your dog that you can get right here from Chewy.com
Smart sticks for training – Think of them as doughnuts for your dog!
The Ultimate Dog Ball – No ball lasts forever, but this is as close as it gets!
A Taste of Premium Dog Food – Think of this as a meal from a TOP restaurant for your dog!
Of course, there are thousands of things to give your dog that will tell them how much you love them. Whatever you give them, do it with love 🙂
#6 – Give Your Dog the Gift of Calm
Now you might be thinking that the best thing you could ever give your dog is…
- Food/treats.
- A new toy.
- A trip to the beach/snow.
But in reality, for your dog to enjoy anything in life, he needs to be able to relax and remain calm.
For example, your dog’s not going to be able to sit and enjoy a nice bone if he’s all worked up about someone coming to visit your house. Or your dog isn’t going to be able to make the most of a trip to the beach if he’s too worked up about other people or dogs around him.
Over the years, I’ve used the techniques in my program, The Dog Calming Code, to train over 88,000 dogs.
Find out more about The Dog Calming Code in this post here.
Have a puppy? We've got a program for that too! Check out my Puppy Coach training program here!
Happy National Dog Day!
Cheers,
~Doggy Dan 🙂
4 Responses
enjoyed your info about Dog Training Academy
I’m really happy you enjoyed learning about our Dog Training Academy Sandra….enrolments will be opening again soon so if you’re interested in joining head to the DTA website at dogtraineracademy.org Best, Doggy Dan
Hello Dan.
Just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blogs. I have 2 dogs. A whippet Lurcher at 6 years old and a Rottweiler at 18 months old. Wish you were in the UK as I am sure I could benefit from your knowledge about dogs. The calming code is great.
Well done and keep up the good work.
Paul
Thanks for the feedback Paul, it’s always nice to know that readers are enjoying my Blogs. I’m not sure whether or not you were thinking about becoming a dog trainer/behaviourist, if so you may like to check out my Dog Training Academy (dogtraineracademy.org) …..our enrollments open up again in the next few weeks. Otherwise keep any eye out for my future Blogs! Best, Doggy Dan