No matter what time of year it is, it’s always great to know all of the pet holidays that dog owners and potential dog owners can experience with their special companion.
The dates may change each year, but the events will remain the same, so make sure to mark your calendars and make each day with your pup the best day ever!
January
- Walk Your Dog Month - A month to start a new routine of walking with your pooch. Even a short walk can make a huge difference in your dogs health as well as yours.
- National Train Your Dog Month - A month for trainers, dog experts and owners to celebrate their love of dog training.
- Unchain a Dog Month - A month was created to bring awareness to all of the dogs who are chained up either outside or in small spaces and are dealing with extreme weather.
- January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day - A day dedicated to reminding pet owners to make sure their pets are safe when traveling (i.e. long or short trips, airplanes or cars/trucks).
- January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day - A day to make your pet amazing. Dress them in a great costume or fashion. Best yet, get matching outfits for you and your pooch.
- January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day - Need a day to make a difference in a pet’s life, this is the day. Adopt a pet or donate necessities to an animal shelter.
February
- Pet Dental Health Month - Humans get their teeth checked and cleaned. Well, dogs need to have this done as well. This is the month to get started taking care of your pooch’s teeth.
- Dog Training Education Month - Dog training is time consuming and expensive. This month is to learn about training your dog and making others aware of training their pets.
- Responsible Pet Owners Month - Owning a pet is an amazing experience. However, owning a pet takes a lot of responsibility. This is the month to recognize and educate people about being a responsible pet owner.
- Beat the Heat Month - This month has nothing to do with hot weather. It is the month to spay or neuter your pooch. This the perfect time for affordable prices to have your pet fixed.
- February 3 - National Golden Retriever Day - Golden owners spoil their dogs every day but this is the day to spoil them extra.
- February 7-14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week - During this week, Dogs Deserve Better send out Valentines to continuously chained dogs. This includes a brochure explaining why this is a form of abuse and includes a coupon for dog food or treats.
- February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day - This day is to recognize getting your pooch micro-chipped. It is also remind people to have current ID tags so if your pet gets out someone can contact you.
- February 20: Love Your Pet Day - This day is to celebrate something that makes us special, our love of pets.
- February 22: National Walk Your Dog Day - This day celebrates dogs and exercise. Humans love to go for walks and so do their pets.
- February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day - Does your pooches love treats? They definitely want to celebrate this day dedicated to yummy baked dog biscuits.
- Last week of February: National Justice for Animals Week - This week is dedicated to raising awareness of animals who are abused. Information of how to report animal abuse as well as helping your community and law enforcement solve this issue.
March
- Poison Prevention Awareness Month - This month brings awareness to keeping your pets safe from items that are harmful to them (i.e. medications, foods, & insecticides)
- March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day - Have you ever wanted your pet to feed themselves or get their own treat? This is the day dedicated to wondering what it would be like if your pooch had thumbs and could do daily tasks by themselves.
- March 13: K-9 Veteran’s Day - Just like military veterans are honored, so should their K-9 counterparts. This day to honor those pooches who have helped defend and protect us.
- March 23: National Puppy Day - Need a dose of cuteness. A day for celebrating those cute little puppies who capture our hearts. It is also a day to raise awareness about puppy mills and to consider adopting.
- March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day - Take your pooch to the park for a walk today instead of the normal walk around the block.
- 1st Full Week of March: Professional Pet Sitters Week - A day to honor those who take care of your pets when you are unable to. They care for them as if they are their own.
April
- Heart-worm Awareness Month - A month to raise awareness about heart-worm. Learn how to prevent it, identify it and treat it.
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month - This month is also dedicated to teaching pet owners how to attend to their pets in emergency situations.
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month - A month to remind dog owners of the risk of Lyme disease. April was chosen because Lyme disease is more prevalent during the spring and summer months.
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month - This month is also the month to bring awareness of animal cruelty.
- April 1–7: International Pooper Scooper Week - A week dedicated to educating pet owners of the importance of cleaning up after their dogs.
- April 1–7: National Raw Feeding Week - A week dedicated to making people aware of raw food diets and the benefits for their pets.
- April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day - Dog fights give bad names to certain breeds of dogs. This day brings awareness to dog fighting.
- April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day - Hugging your dog releases oxytocin in both humans and pooches. Hug Your Dog Day is a day dedicated to hugging your pooch.
- April 11: National Pet Day - Just like human’s have Valentines Day, this day is to recognize your pets and the special bond that humans have with them.
- April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day - Need a break from your daily life. This day is for you to send your pet to work in your place and stay home to do what you want for the day.
- April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day - A day to bring awareness to pooches who have been lost. It also is a day to celebrate lost pooches who have been reunited with their humans.
- April 25: International Guide Dog Day - A day to celebrate the pooches who give independence to their visually impaired owners. Guide dogs are an important part of some visually impaired individual's lives.
- April 26: National Kids and Pets Day - Is your child’s best friend your pooch? A day to recognize the bond between children and their pooches.
- April 27: World Veterinary Day - Veterinarians are an integral part of keeping our pets living long and health. A day celebrating those who help our pets when they are in need.
- April 28: National Pet Parents Day - A bond between a pet and their human is a special one. A day celebrating the other members of the family that are not human.
- April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day - Lots of dogs are given up to shelters every day. A day to bring awareness of adopting a dog that is in need instead of buying one from a breeder.
- April 30: National Therapy Animal Day - A day to raise awareness of the healing qualities in pooches. They bring comfort and joy to humans that need it.
- 2nd Week of April: National Dog Bite Prevention Week - Dog bites are a horrible event for both dogs and humans. Learn how to prevent dog bites this week.
- 3rd Week of April: National Pet ID Week - This week is for making sure you will get your pooch back to you if they are lost. Make sure they have current up-to-date tags to ensure they are found if lost.
May
- Chip Your Pet Month - Chipping your pet helps them come back to you if they have been lost or stolen.
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month - Just like their human counterparts, animals can have cancer as well. A month to bring awareness to cancer and how it affects your pet.
- National Pet Month - This month celebrates the bond between humans and animals and all the joy they bring to our lives. Need joy in your life, adopt a pet.
- National Service Dog Eye Examination Month - This month brings awareness of how important a service dogs sight is. Bring your service dog in to have their eye exam to make sure they are in good condition to help you live independently.
- Lyme Disease Prevention Month - A time to learn about Lyme disease and its symptoms and treatments.
- May 1: National Purebred Dog Day - A day to celebrate the lineage of dogs. It brings awareness of the purpose of purebred dogs including the way they impact humans daily.
- May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day - A day to celebrate and educate humans about disabled pets. It encourages people to adopt dogs with disabilities.
- May 5–11: National Pet Week - A week to celebrate your pet and all that they do for you.
- May 5–11: Be Kind to Animals Week - A week to commit to improving and protecting all of the animals in the world.
- 1st Sunday in May: Mayday for Mutts - A day to celebrate your pets who are not purebred. It brings awareness that a dog's personality is what makes them a good dog and not their pedigree.
June
- National Pet Preparedness Month - A month to bring awareness to making sure your family’s emergency plans include you as well as your pets.
- National Micro-chipping Month - Micro chipping your pet could save their lives. A month to bring awareness to getting your pet micro-chipped.
- June 8: National Best Friends Day - Is your best friend your pooch? If it is this is the day to celebrate the bond you have with your best friend.
- June 9: World Pet Memorial Day - Just like we as humans remember our family & friends on Memorial day, this day is to remember those pets that have passed away.
- June 21: Take Your Dog to Work Day - Your pet anxiously awaits your return home after your day of work. This day is the day you can bring your dog to work with your.
- June 21: Dog Party Day - Does your dog need to let loose? Today is the day fro your pooch to let loose and party with other pooches.
July
- Dog House Repair Month - Does your pooch have a dog house? This is the month to do all of the repairs that may need to be done.
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month - This month is to bring awareness to all of the lost pets in the world. It brings light to getting your pet micro-chipped to help with the reunion of lost pets.
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month - A pet’s body is made up of 80% water. A month to bring awareness to keeping your pets hydrated especially in hot weather.
- July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day - A day to share your favorite photos of your pet.
- July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day - Your pets should be on the list of things to get out when a fire occurs. This day is a reminder to include them in your fire drills and evacuation plans.
- July 21: No Pet Store Puppies Day - A day to educate people about puppy mills and not to buy puppies or supplies from pet stores that sell puppies.
- July 31: National Mutt Day - A day to celebrate and embrace mixed breed dogs.
August
- National Immunization Awareness Month - A month to bring awareness to not only immunizations for people but also for their pets.
- August 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs - When you get a dog from a shelter, you may not know exactly when they were born. This day was created to give all shelter dogs a birthday.
- August 4–10: International Assistance Dog Week - A day to recognize all the hardworking assistance dogs who help people with disabilities get through their daily life.
- August 10: Spoil Your Dog Day - As if we don’t all spoil our pooches everyday. This is a day to spoil them more. Buy them that expensive toy you said you would never buy.
- August 15: National Check the Chip Day - There have been days to remind people to get their dogs chipped. This is the day to have those chips checked to make sure they are still active in case your pet is lost.
- August 26: National Dog Day - A day to celebrate “man’s best friend” or in my case 'woman's best friend".
- August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day - A day set aside to remember all of the pets that have gone across the rainbow bridge.
- 3rd Saturday in August: International Homeless Animals Day - A day to bring awareness of the overpopulation of pets.
- 1st Sunday in August: International Assistance Dog Week - A day to recognize all the hardworking assistance dogs who help people with disabilities get through their daily life..
September
- Guide / Service Dogs Month - This month is to recognize and celebrate the dogs who help their owners get through their daily lives.
- Pet Sitter Education Month - A month to shine the spotlight on people who take care of our pets when we are unable to.
- September 28: World Rabies Day - A way to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention of disease.
- September 28: World’s Largest Pet Walk - A day to enjoy being healthy and active with your pets.
- 2nd Sunday in September: National Hug Your Hound Day - A day to observe your pooch from his point of view. Go around where your pooch goes to maybe find hazards or other dangers.
- 2nd Sunday in September: National Pet Memorial Day - A day to remember all of those pets who have passed away.
- 3rd Saturday in September: Puppy Mill Awareness Day - This day is to bring awareness about puppy mills. It is also a day to remind people to adopt not shop when looking for a new pooch.
- 3rd Week of September: Adopt a Less-Adoptable Week - A week to bring awareness of the less-adoptable pets (i.e. senior or special needs animals).
- Last Full Week of September: Deaf Pet Awareness Week - Dogs who are deaf in one ear are more common that people think. This is a week to be educated about deafness in dogs.
October
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month - A month to take time to protect and ensure that your pooch is healthy.
- National Pet Wellness Month - This is the month to promote year-round pet wellness. It brings awareness to year round pet care and not just at the time of vaccinations.
- October 1: National Fire Pup Day - This day recognizes those pooches (predominantly Dalmatians) who represent fire departments around the country.
- October 1: National Black Dog Day - Black dogs are sometimes passed over for adoption because people would like lighter colored dogs. This day promotes adopting those dark pooches.
- October 4: World Animal Day - A day to help improve the wellness of animals around the globe.
- October 9: Pet Obesity Awareness Day - A day to bring awareness to the issue of obesity in pets.
- 1st week of October: National Walk Your Dog Week - This week brings awareness to the importance of exercise for your canine companions to make sure they are healthy.
- 3rd week of October: Veterinary Technician Week - A day to celebrate those who help the vets keep our pets healthy. They are just as important as the veterinarians.healthy.
November
- Adopt a Senior Pet Month - Older dogs are often times overlooked at the shelters. This month is dedicated those older pets who need a fur-ever home.
- National Senior Pet Month - This month is also devoted to loving, caring for and adopting senior pets.
- Pet Diabetes Month - A common and sometimes deadly disease that affects pets. This month is about bringing awareness to pet diabetes.
- November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day - You cook for yourself daily. This day is a day to cook a good home-cooked meal for your pet.
- November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day - This day is to bring awareness of canine lymphoma. Lymphoma is a common cancer among dogs.
- 1st full week of November: National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week - A week to celebrate and honor animal shelters and rescues for what they do to be a safe haven for unwanted pets.
December
- December 2: National Mutt Day - A day to celebrate all of the mixed breed dogs in the world.
Family Holidays
And don’t forget family holidays - after all, your pet is part of the family! These are just a few listed below:
- New Year’s Day - January 1st
- Valentine's Day - February 14th
- St Patrick's Day - March 17th
- Easter - Changes yearly
- Independence Day - July 4th
- Labor Day - 1st Monday of September
- Halloween - October 31st
- Thanksgiving - 4th Thursday of November
- Christmas - December 25th
