The Best Ways to Celebrate National Dog Day, From Adoption to Spoiling Your Pup
Attention all dog lovers -- National Dog Day is right around the corner! The holiday is marking its 22nd year this upcoming August 26. Animal advocate and dog trainer Colleen Paige, who founded this special day, has urged dog enthusiasts to consider adopting a furry friend to celebrate.
On her website, the author of The Good Behavior Book for Dogs: The Most Annoying Dog Behaviors... Solved!, Paige noted that “Millions of dogs are killed each year because they're simply unwanted.”
“All a dog wants to do is love you and be loved by you. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing what was once considered "unwanted love" into your heart and home on National Dog Day!” continued Paige, who picked the date of August 26 as National Dog Day to honor the day her childhood rescue dog, Sheltie, came into her family’s life.
Photo by Wade Austin Ellis on Unsplash
For those who are able, consider heading over to a shelter and adopting one of the many pups who have not yet found their forever families. According to the ASPCA, 2.8 million dogs were taken to shelters in 2025, and unfortunately, only 2 million of those sweet pups were adopted.
However, we totally understand if it’s not feasible to adopt! It’s a big lifestyle change, with a lot of emotional and financial responsibility.
But if you want to change a dog’s life (and have the opportunity to hang out with an awesome pup for a while), you could always take the steps to become a foster pup parent. By fostering, you’ll be helping an adoptable dog get socialized, which increases their adoptability.
Another way that my dog really approves of to celebrate National Dog Day is to totally spoil your furry friend if you already have one! I’m talking about going on their favorite walk, giving them a treat or two, and giving them a brand new toy!
How are you planning on celebrating National Dog Day? Let us know in the comments below!