We all love to include our dogs in major holidays like Christmas, but there’s no need for us to stop celebrating with our precious pups during the rest of the year. Here’s a list of all the dog and dog-related holiday observances throughout the year ranging from funny celebrations like Doggie Date Night and Ugliest Dog Day to observances for raising public consciousness such as Puppy Mill Awareness Day and Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. While you certainly don’t have to have a specific excuse for spoiling your pooch, these annual pet holiday celebrations provide us all with a good excuse to celebrate our dogs’ special occasions in 2023.
January 2023 Dog Holidays
Set goals and resolutions for both you and your doggie plus ring in the New Year in January.
Month Long Observances:
- National Train Your Dog Month
- Walk Your Dog Month
- Unchain a Dog Month
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- January 1: New Years Day
- January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
- January 6: National Cuddle Up Day
- January 6: National Standard Poodle Day
- January 7: National Alaskan Malamute Day
- January 8: National Labrador Retriever Day
- January 9: National Australian Shepherd Day
- January 13: National French Bulldog Day
- January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
- January 15: National American Eskimo Dog Day
- January 17: National Boxer Day
- January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
- January 29: Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
February 2023 Dog Holidays
We’re going to celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving our dogs some extra attention, but we’ll also be celebrating other pet-related holidays throughout the month of February.
Month Long Observances:
- Dog Training Education Month
- Pet Dental Health Month
- Responsible Pet Owners Month
- Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
Week Long Events:
- February 7 – 14: Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
- February 13 – 17: Veterinary Assistant Appreciation Week
- February 19 – 25: National Justice for Animals Week
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- February 3: National Golden Retriever Day
- February 3: Doggy Date Night
- February 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
- February 19: National Boston Terrier Day
- February 19: International Tug of War Day
- February 20: National Love Your Pet Day
- February 22: National Walking the Dog Day
- February 23: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
- February 28: World Spay Day
March 2023 Dog Holidays
The only one to love peanut butter more than me is my puppy dogs!
Month Long Observances:
- National Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Week Long Events:
- March 6 – 12: National Professional Pet Sitters Week
- March 19 – 25: National Poison Prevention Week (third full week in March)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- March 1: National Peanut Butter Lovers Day
- March 3: National If Pets Had Thumbs Day
- March 8: International Akita Day
- March 13: National K9 Veterans Day
- March 23: National Puppy Day
- March 25: National Newfoundland Dog Day
- March 27: National Terrier Day
- March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
April 2023 Dog Holidays
Don’t play any April Fools jokes on your pets. They’re too cute! Instead, celebrate one of these four pet-friendly holidays in March.
Month Long Observances:
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
- National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
- National Heartworm Awareness Month
- Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
- Active Dog Month
- Canine Fitness Month.
- National Adopt a Greyhound Month.
Week Long Events:
- April 3 – 9: International Pooper Scooper Week
- April 9 – 15: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week
- April 9 – 15: National Dog Bite Prevention Week (second full week in April)
- April 17 – 23: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (third week in April)
- April 17 – 23: National Pet ID Week
- April 23 – 29: National Scoop the Poop Week
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- April 1: International Bull Terrier Day
- April 4: World Stray Animal Day
- April 8: National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
- April 10: National Hug Your Dog Day
- April 11: National Pet Day
- April 11: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
- April 11: Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
- April 18: Pet Owners Day
- April 21: National Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
- April 22: National Beagle Day
- April 23: World Veterinary Day
- April 23: National Lost Dog Awareness Day
- April 25: National Kids and Pets Day
- April 27: International Guide Dog Day
- April 27: National Little Pampered Dog Day
- April 30: National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day
- April 30: National Therapy Animal Day
- April 30: National Pet Parents Day (last Sunday in April)
May 2023 Dog Holidays
May means extra love for dogs of every kind: Chihuahuas, purebreds, mutt breeds, special needs dogs, and even rescue dogs.
Month Long Observances:
- National Pet Month
- Chip Your Pet Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- National Service Animal Eye Exam. The American College of Veterinary Optholmologists hosts this annual event when over 300 veterinary ophthalmologists donate their services to provide eye exams to service dogs in the US and Canada during the month of May.
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Pet Cancer Awareness and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research. (Also see November events.)
- Arthritis Awareness Month
- Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Week Long Events:
- May 1 – 7: Be Kind to Animals Week
- May 1 – 7: Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
- May 7 – 13: Puppy Mill Action Week (starts the Monday before Mother’s Day)
- May 7 – 13: National Pet Week (first full week of May starting on a Sunday)
- May 7 – 13: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week (first full week of May starting on a Sunday)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
- May 1: International Samoyed Day
- May 3: Specially-abled Pets Day
- May 7: Mayday for Mutts (first Sunday in May)
- May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
- May 10: German Shepherd Day
- May 13: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day (second Saturday in May)
- May 14: National Dog Mom Day
- May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
- May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
- May 20: World Dog Day
June 2023 Dog Holidays
Make sure your pooch is ready and prepared to hit the town and celebrate all the holidays June has to offer.
Month Long Observances:
- National Pet Preparedness Month
- National Microchipping Month
- National Foster a Pet Month
- Social PETworking Month
Week Long Events:
- June 4 -10: Pet Appreciation Week
- June 18 – 22: Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show
- June 19 – 23: Take Your Pet to Work Week®
- June 19 – 25: Animal Rights Awareness Week (third week in June)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- June 4: International Corgi Day
- June 13: World Pet Memorial Day (second Tuesday in June)
- June 20: Ugliest Dog Day
- June 21: National Dog Party Day
- June 21: National Dachshund Day
- June 23: Take Your Dog to Work Day
- June 24: World Day Against the Abandonment of Domestic Animals (last Saturday in June)
July 2023 Dog Holidays
Many pet-themed holiday celebrations in July focus on raising public awareness for animals who get frightened by fireworks. So as you prepare to celebrate Independence Day, don’t neglect to take care of your dog’s safety during the festivities.
Month Long Observances:
- Dog House Repair Month
- National Lost Pet Prevention Month™. Learn how to keep your pets from becoming lost in this month-long observance launched by PetHub.
- National Pet Hydration Awareness Month.
Week Long Events:
- July 17 – 23: National Feed a Rescue Pet Week
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- July 1: ID Your Pet Day
- July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
- July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
- July 21: National Craft for your Local Shelters Day
- July 26: National Dog Photography Day
- July 31: National Mutt Day
August 2023 Dog Holidays
While August may not be a busy month for most humans’ holidays, it’s packed with celebrations for our pups—especially their favorite day, National Dog Day!
Month Long Observances:
- National Dog Month. Launched in 2020, this observation held during the dog days of summer celebrates all the special joys of dogs.
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- Itchy Pet Awareness Month. Founded by Zoetis, this awareness month brings awareness to allergic skin diseases.
- Rawgust. Celebration of raw feeding for pets for the month of August.
Week Long Events:
- August 6 – 12: International Assistance Dog Week
- August 6 – 12: Give a Dog a Bone Week (first full week of August)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- August 1: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs
- August 4: Work Like a Dog Day (Assistance Dog Day)
- August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day
- August 15: National Check the Chip Day
- August 16: Saint Roch’s Day (patron saint of dogs)
- August 20: International Homeless Animals Day
- August 23: Blind Dog Day
- August 26: National Dog Day
- August 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
- August 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September 2023 Dog Holidays
Make the most of summer’s warm nights and celebrate them with your pets by going for walks outdoors.
Month Long Observances:
- National Pet Insurance Month
- National Guide/Service Dog Month
- National Pet Memorial Month
- Pet Sitter Education Month
- Responsible Dog Ownership Month
- Animal Pain Awareness Month
Week Long Events:
- September 17 – 23: National Deaf Dog Awareness Week (last full week in September)
- September 17 – 23: National Dog Week (last full week in September)
- September 17 – 23: Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week (third week in September)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- September 8: National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
- September 11: National Pet Memorial Day
- September 10: National Hug Your Hound Day (second Sunday in September)
- September 10: National Pet Memorial Day (second Sunday in September)
- September 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
- September 16: Puppy Mill Awareness Day (third Sunday in September)
- September 16: Responsible Dog Ownership Day (third Saturday in September)
- September 23: National Dogs in Politics Day
- September 23: Remember Me Thursday. (Remember Me Thursday is a campaign aimed at uniting individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world to be an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets in need of forever homes. An international social media awareness day that brings attention to the millions of adoptable pets waiting in shelters and remembers those pets who never got a second chance. Share your rescue pet using #RememberMeThursday)
- September 23: Dogs in Politics Day
- September 28: World Rabies Day
October 2023 Dog Holidays
October is the perfect time to adopt a new dog and find it the most awesome Halloween costume to wear.
Month Long Observances:
- Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
- Adopt A Dog Month
- National Pet Wellness Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- National Pit Bull Awareness Month
Week Long Events:
- October 1 – 7: National Walk Your Dog Week (first week of October)
- October 1 – 7: Animal Welfare Week (first week of October, starting on a Sunday)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- October 1: National Walk Your Dog Day
- October 1: National Fire Pup Day
- October 1: National Black Dog Day
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 12: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
- October 15: National Fetch Day
- October 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
- October 22: Make a Dog’s Day
- October 29: National Pit Bull Awareness Day (last Saturday in October—unless Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date is chosen)
- October 31: Halloween (dress up your dog in a costume)
November 2023 Dog Holidays
As you prepare for Thanksgiving celebrations throughout the month, remember that your pet’s health comes first, and don’t feed them any toxic treats.
Month Long Observances:
- National Adopt a Senior Pet Month
- National Prevent a Litter Month
- National Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and the Animal Cancer Foundation (Also see May events.)
- Pet Diabetes Month
- Peanut Butter Lovers Month
- National Pet Awareness Month
Week Long Events:
- November 5 – 11: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (first full week of November)
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
- November 7: National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
- November 23: Wolfenoot
- November 23: National Dog Show (always broadcast in the US on Thanksgiving)
December 2023 Dog Holidays
There aren’t many dog-specific holidays in December; therefore, include your dog in all the other family fun activities happening throughout the month.
Month Long Observances:
- Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Holidays and Awareness Days:
- December 1: National Twin With Your Dog Day. Created in the UK by Leo Charley & Me, this day encourages dog owners to match their outfits to their dogs! #twinwithyourdogday
- December 2: National Mutt Day
- December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
- December 10: International Animal Rights Day
- December 25: (your pups deserve toys and treats also)
- December 31: New Years Eve
