Although all dog lovers (and, no doubt, their four-legged family members) know that every day should be National Spoil Your Dog Day, August 10th is a date set aside to pamper your pup even more than the other 364 days of the year!
To mark the occasion, we’ve fetched a few ideas for celebrating National Spoil Your Dog Day, based on your pooch’s personality!
For The Canine Connoisseur of Cuisine
Pack a picnic for you and your pup!
Dine on the patio of a restaurant that welcomes Rovers.
Nothing says “I love you” quite like something made from the heart, so why not tap into your inner Wolfgang Puck or Julia Child and create tasty dogs treats for your tail-wagging chum! (Be sure to check out our dog treat recipes archives for inspiration!)
For The Couch Potato with Paws
Did you know that our tail-wagging chums have their very own channel (DOGTV https://www.dogtv.com/), with programs aimed at keeping boredom at bay and keeping canines calm?
Watch a Fido-themed film! If you and your dog are in the mood for a canine comedy, try Beethoven, The Secret life of Pets, Hotel for Dogs or Cats & Dogs. If you want to cheer on the canines on screen, watch Homeward Bound, Air Bud or One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Does Fido like fright flicks? Peer through your fingers (or paws) at the scares on screen during Cujo. If you want to watch a movie that will have you hugging your dog while the plot tugs at your heartstrings, watch Old Yeller, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale or Where The Red Fern Grows.
Curl up on the couch and read out loud to Rover! Books about our barking buddies range from children’s fare, like Clifford the Big Red Dog and The Poky Little Puppy to contemporary classics for the canine-loving adult, such as The Art of Racing In The Rain and Marley & Me.
For the Athletic Dog
Play fetch or Frisbee!
Take your dog out for a jog.
Take your tail-wagging chum out to the old ball game! Many major and minor league teams welcome four-legged fans during special Bark in the Park games, often offering dog-themed swag, the chance to walk the bases with your barking buddy in a pre-game parade, and the opportunity to help homeless animals through ticket sales.
For the Creative Canine
Whether your dog is the canine equivalent of Gene Kelly or Leslie Caron, or your four-legged fur baby has two left paws, why not give dog dancing lessons a whirl!
As it takes two to tango, both you and your dog will benefit from a workout that combines training and tricks to a choreographed tune. If a musical canine freestyle class is unavailable in your area, you and Rover can cut a rug at home with help from online videos or instruction books, such as Dancing with Dogs by professional dog trainer Mary Ray.
Croon a tune with your canine companion! Turn up the volume and belt out (or bark along) to:
- “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley
- “Who Let The Dogs Out” by Baha Men
- “I’m Gonna Buy Me A Dog” by The Monkees
- “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?” by Patti Page
- “Me and You and A Dog Named Boo” by Lobo
- “Martha My Dear” by The Beatles
- “Hey Bulldog” by The Beatles
- “Diamond Dogs” by David Bowie
Teach your talented tailwagger a trick! Just a simple “shake hands,” “wave,” or “roll over” offers both mental stimulation for your dog and a bonding moment between pet parent and pup.
For The Furry Fashionista
Buy your trend-setting dog a fancy collar or sweater (or get craftsy and make a dog bandana or knit/crochet a pullover for your pup!)
For the Rover Who Love To Roam
If the mere mention of travel gets your dog’s tail wagging, why not embark on an excursion! Truly adventurous pup/pet parent pairs may want to pack their bags for a stay at a dog-friendly national park (of which there are many, including Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado and the Padre Island National Seashore in Texas).
For those who want to stay closer to home, a day trip to a nearby town can be just as much fun for Fido, or simply explore the city where you live… you’ll see the sites with new eyes when you tour the streets of your home town with your barking buddy by your side!
You and your canine companion can check out dog sculptures in your area. Throughout the United States there are statues that salute the work of military working dogs, K9 officers, seeing eye dogs and other courageous canines.
There are chiseled tributes to fictional Fidos as well, such as Ribsy the dog from author Beverly Cleary’s children’s books (which can be found at the Beverly Cleary sculpture garden in Portland, Oregon) and Old Yeller, whose state stands guard over author Fred Gipson’s hometown of Mason, Texas.
If your canine companion loves culture, embark on a dog-friendly walking tour of a winery that welcome tail-waggers, a dog-friendly ghost tour that adds a touch of mystery to a town’s history , or a botanical garden that allows furry family members to stop and smell the roses.
Stay at a pet-friendly hotel or bed and breakfast! (Check out our “Tips for A Tail-Wagging Hotel Stay” before checking in!)
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