This article outlines all of the National Dog Holidays throughout the year. This includes the holidays we’ve already celebrated in 2022 and those coming for 2023.
My list of National Dog Holidays is a spin-off from this comprehensive calendar of national pet holidays. However, I realized that readers may be most interested in dog holidays than pet holidays in general.
National Dog Holidays
So, read on for a month-by-month list of national dog holidays this year. You’ll find at least one dog holiday in each month of the year.
January Dog Holidays
National Train Your Dog Month
Jan. 29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Birthday.
February Dog Holidays
Dog Training Education Month.
Unchain a Dog Month.
2nd week in February: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week.
Second week of February: Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show. Held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden annually. This national dog event, which is televised, is a holiday all of its own.
Feb 3: Golden Retriever Day.
Feb. 19: National Boston Terrier Day.
Feb. 22: Walking the Dog Day.
Feb. 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
March Dog Holidays
March 13: K-9 Veterans Day.
March 23 National Puppy Day (encourages adoption)
April Dog Holidays
National Greyhound Adoption Month.
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month.
April 1-7: International Pooper Scooper Week.
April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day.
April 11: National Pet Day.
April 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day.
May Dog Holidays
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month. The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists hosts this annual event when over 200 veterinary ophthalmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada.
May 1: Mayday for Mutts.
May 1: National Purebred Dog Day.
May 1-7: National Pet Week. Always held the first full week of May by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
May 2-8: Puppy Mill Action Week. An initiative of the HSUS, this week is always scheduled to begin the Monday before Mother’s Day.
Second Sunday of May: National Dog Mom Day (yes, it’s the same as Mother’s Day in the U.S.)
Looking for a gift? Etsy has a great collection of dog mom shirts.
May 15-21: Dog Bite Prevention Week. This event by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) along with the United States Post Office (USPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) focuses attention on preventing dog bites. 3rd full week in May.
June Dog Holidays
June 4: International Corgi Day (including National Welsh Corgi Day).
June 8: National Pet Day
June 20-24: Take Your Dog to Work Week.
June 21: National Dog Party Day.
June 21: National Dachshund Day
June 24: Take Your Dog to Work Day.
July Dog Holidays
Dog House Repair Month.
July 31: National Mutt Day. Also see Dec. 2.
August Dog Holidays
Aug. 1: DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs. The North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, declared August 1 as a birthday for all the shelter animals whose birthdays are unknown. Happy DOGust!
Aug 1: National Yorkie Day.
Aug. 5: Work Like a Dog Day.
Aug. 7-13: International Assistance Dog Week.
Aug. 26: National Dog Day.
September Dog Holidays
Last full week in September: National Dog Week.
Sept. 13: National Hug Your Hound Day.
Last full week in September: National Deaf Dog Awareness Week.
Sept. 19, 2016: Puppy Mill Awareness Day.
Sept. 19: Responsible Dog Ownership Day.
Sept. 23: Dogs in Politics Day (also known as Checkers Day). This national holiday recognizes the dogs of politicians, such as those dogs that have lived in the White House with presidents. Some presidents that have had first dogs include President Biden (two German Shepherds–Champ and Major), President Obama (Bo and Sunny, Portuguese water dogs) and President George W. Bush (Barney the Scottish Terrier)
Sept 25: National Schnauzer Day.
October Dog Holidays
Adopt-A-Dog Month. By American Humane Association.
Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month. By ASPCA.
National PitBull Awareness Month.
National Service Dog Month.
1st Week of October. National Walk Your Dog Week.
Oct. 1: National Fire Pup Day.
Oct. 1: National Black Dog Day.
October 15: Dog Film Festival, New York City.
October 22: National Make a Dog’s Day, Subaru’s holiday
Last Saturday in October: National PitBull Awareness Day. However, if Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date will be chosen.
November Dog Holidays
National Dog Show. Always broadcast in the US on Thanksgiving, this event is held at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania and is hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, the event features 2,000 dogs.
December Dog Holidays
Dec. 2: National Mutt Day. Also see July 31.
Be careful with dogs around foods that can be poisonous to them at the holidays.
Final thoughts on National Dog Holidays
Brands, good causes and personalities are always coming up with new pet holidays. This includes national dog ones.
So, if I hear of additional National Dog Holidays for 2023 and beyond, I’ll be sure to update this list. Finally, if you’re aware of a canine-specific holiday that I haven’t included here, please post a comment to let me know.