National Dog Day

National Dog Day

National Dog Day is an annual event celebrated on August 26th.

National Dog Day was established in 2004 by animal advocate & pet and family lifestyle expert Coleen Paige. The aim of the awareness day is to raise awareness about the number of dogs that are currently in rescue centres and encourage the adoption of these animals.

Sadly, each year, millions of dogs become homeless because they are unwanted or their owners are unable to care for them. National Dog Day aims to encourage people to adopt dogs from shelters and rescue organisations.

Life in lockdown has not only allowed us to spend more quality time at home with our families (of the human kind), but also with our pets too! Whether your pet has become your new working from home buddy, or they’ve just been there keeping your spirits up…this precious time has given us the opportunity to witness all their cute quirks and funny personalities more than ever! 

How to Participate in International Dog Day

If you own a dog, this one’s easy! You can celebrate International Dog Day simply by spending time with your furry friend. But even if you’re not a dog owner, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

Adopt a dog. If you’re able, giving a dog a home is the best thing you can do on International Dog Day. The RSPCA has all the information you need on how to rehome a pet.

Play games with your dog. Go for a walk or run, create a doggy obstacle course, or even play a game of hide and seek. Teaching your dog some new tricks is also a great way to have fun and keep your dog mentally agile. Take some great photos so you can capture a memorable moment to frame, check out our funnycustom pet portrait canvases!

There are many ways in which you can make National Dog Day special:

1) Organise a playdate for your dog to get together with friends. Maybe gift your good friends with a  funny portrait  of them with their furry pet as a fun way to celebrate!

2) Give your dog a pet portrait gift within a hamper including a new toy, a massage, or a tasty treat. You can even bake your own dog-friendly snacks at home if you’re so inclined. 

3) Donate food, toys, or blankets to an animal rescue shelter. If you prefer to donate money,  Assistance Dogs UK  has a list of charity organisations.

4) Sponsor a dog  or volunteer with a local shelter or dog protection group.

5) Buy a gift for your dog, check out our beautiful  custom made pet portrait blankets  they can snuggle into. 

6) Pet a dog.  A recent study  shows that as little as 10 minutes of petting a dog can provide significant stress relief.

7) Hop on social media. You can follow the National Dog Day  account on Instagram, track the event on  Facebook,  and post (or just browse) dog pictures on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #InternationalDogDay

8) Think outside the box. Last year,  pet owners around Scotland  took advantage of National Trust properties re-opening to take photos of their dogs in photogenic surrounds.

Now that we’ve got some great ideas for you to get stuck into for National Dog day, choose your favourite memorable moments and turn them into memories that last forever with Paw and Glory. Have a great day with your furr friends!