2021 Dog Holidays

With the New Year upon us, many of us are looking forward to all the things that 2021 will bring. Holidays throughout the year are always something to look forward to, but did you know there are dozens of dog holidays to celebrate all things dog throughout the year, too? Chances are you’ll want to add several of these to your calendar. Better yet, you can download our 2021 Dog Holiday Calendar we made just for dog lovers!

Lets take a look at all of the fun dog holidays 2021 has in store for us. Click the text below to jump to each month, or scroll though to find them all.

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Download the full 2021 Dog Holidays Calendar here.

January Dog Holidays

Train Your Dog Month

Unchain a Dog Month

Walk Your Dog Month

Pet Travel Safety Day
January 2 – A day to remember how to keep our dogs safe while we travel with them.

Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 14 – A fun day to indulge in dressing up your pup.

National Peanut Butter Day
January 24 – A human holiday also perfect for one of Fido’s favorite treats!

Change a Pet’s Life Day
January 24 – A day to encourage people to adopt pets from shelters.

Seeing Eye Dog Day
January 29 – A day dedicated to seeing-eye dogs.

February Dog Holidays

Dog Training Education Month

National Pet Dental Health Month

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week
February 7-14 

National Justice for Animals Week
February 20 – 26 

Doggy Date Night
February 3 – Take your dog out to your fave local dog-friendly restaurant, or cook them up a steak dinner at home. 

National Golden Retriever Day
February 3  

Puppy Bowl XVIII
February 13

Pet Theft Awareness Day
February 14 

National Boston Terrier Day
February 19

Love Your Pet Day
February 20  

Walking the Dog Day
February 22 

World Spay Day
February 22  

Dog Biscuit Day
February 23

March Dog Holidays

PAWS to Read Month

Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 6 – 12 

If Pets Had Thumbs Day
March 3 

K9 Veterans Day
March 13 – A day dedicated to dogs who’ve served in the military. 

Napping Day
March 14 – Another human holiday befitting every nap-loving dog. Monday after daylight savings. 

National Puppy Day
March 23 – A day to celebrate the cute cuddliness of puppies everywhere

April Dog Holidays

Adopt a Greyhound Month

National Heartworm Awareness Month

National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Canine Fitness Month

Active Dog Month

International Pooper Scooper Week
April 3-9 

National Raw Feeding Week
April 1-7

National Dog Bite Prevention Week
April 10-16 

National Animal Control Appreciation Week
April 10-16 

National Pet ID Week
April 17-23 

National Hug Your Dog Day
April 10  

National Pet Day
April 11  

Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
April 11 

Dog Friendly San Antonio’s 4th Birthday
April 15 – Our website went live this day four years ago, cheers!

Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
April 21 

National Lost Dog Awareness Day
April 23 

National Pet Parent’s Day
April 24 

National Kids & Pets Day
April 26

National Guide Dog Day
April 27 

National Little Pampered Dog Day
April 27 

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
April 30 – Learn everything you need to know about adopting a dog in San Antonio. 

Therapy Animal Day
April 30 

World Veterinary Day

April 30

May Dog Holidays

National Pet Month

Chip Your Pet Month

Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Responsible Animal Guardian Month

Be Kind to Animals Week
May 1-7

Dog Anxiety Awareness Week
May 3-9 Learn How to Calm Overstimulated Dogs

National Pet Week
May 1-7 

Puppy Mill Action Week
May 1-7

National Purebred Dog Day
May 1

Mayday for Mutts
May 1

National Specially-abled Pets Day
May 3

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 8

German Shepherd Day
May 10 

National Dog Mom’s Day
May 14

International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 14 

National Rescue Dog Day
May 20  

International Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Day
May 28

June Dog Holidays

National Foster a Pet Month

National Pet Preparedness Month

National Microchipping Month

Pet Appreciation Week
June 5-11

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
June 18-22 – Rescheduled from the original February dates.

Animal Rights Awareness Week
June 12-18

Take Your Pet to Work Week
June 20-24

International Sheltie Day
June 1

World Pet Memorial Day
June 14 

Ugliest Dog Day
June 20

National Dachshund Day
June 21 – Celebrating the longest dog on the longest day of the year. 

National Dog Party Day
June 21 Find the best spots to take your dog swimming in and around San Antonio

Take Your Dog to Work Day
June 24

July Dog Holidays

Dog House Repair Month

National Lost Pet Prevention Month

National Feed a Rescue Pet Week
Third weekend in July

ID Your Pet Day
July 1

All-American Pet Photo Day
July 11

National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 15 – A day to bring awareness to keeping your pet fire-safe at home. 

National Craft for your Local Shelters Day
July 21 

No Pet Store Puppies Day
July 21

National Mutt Day
July 31

August Dog Holidays

Rawgust
Celebration of feeding pets a raw food diet. 

International Assistance Dog Week
August 7 – 13

Give a Dog a Bone Week
Third week in August

DOGust 
August 1 – Universal birthday for shelter dogs.

Assistance Dog Day
August 4 

Work Like a Dog Day
August 5

Spoil Your Dog Day
August 10

Snoopy’s Birthday
August 10 – A day to celebrate Charles Schulz’s beloved comic dog

National Check the Chip Day
August 15 

Saint Roch’s Day
August 16 – A day celebrating the patron saint of dogs. 

International Homeless Animals Day
August 20

International Blind Dog Day
August 23 

National Dog Day
August 26 – Annual holiday to celebrate man’s best friend. 

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
August 28 – A day to remember our beloved pets who’ve passed away.  

National Holistic Pet Day
August 30 

September Dog Holidays

National Service Dog Month

National Pet Insurance Month

Responsible Dog Ownership Month

Pet Sitter Education Month

Animal Pain Awareness Month

Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
September 18-24

National Deaf Dog Awareness Week
September 18-24

National Dog Week
September 18-24

Boykin Spaniel Day
September 1 – A South Carolina observance honoring the South Carolina state dog.

National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
September 8

National Pet Memorial Day
September 11

National Hug Your Hound Day
September 11

Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day
September 13

Scooby-Doo Day
September 13

Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 17 

Responsible Dog Ownership Day
September 17

National Walk ‘n’ Roll Dog Day
September 22 –  A day honoring dogs in wheelchairs and with mobility challenges.

Dogs in Politics Day
September 23 

Remember Me Thursday
September 23 – A date dedicated to remembering the pets waiting for a forever home. 

World’s Largest Pet Walk
September 25

Old Yeller Day
September 24

World Rabies Day
September 28

October Dog Holidays

National Animal Safety and Protection Month

Adopt-A-Dog Month

Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month

National Pit Bull Awareness Month

National Pet Wellness Month

National Walk Your Dog Week
October 2 – 8

Animal Welfare Week
October 2 – 8

National Veterinary Technician Week
October 16-22 

National Fire Pup Day
October 1

National Black Dog Day
October 1

Poodle Day
October 2

World Animal Day
October 4 

World Pets Day
October 4

National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 12 

National Fetch Day
October 15

National Pets for Veterans Day
October 21

National Pit Bull Awareness Day
October 29 

November Dog Holidays

Adopt a Senior Pet Month

National Senior Pet Month

Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Pet Diabetes Month

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
November 6 – 12

National Cook for Your Pets Day
November 1

International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
November 1  

National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 7

National Slobber Appreciation Day
November 16

National Take a Hike Day
November 17 – The perfect day to take your dog on a hike. 

National Dog Show
November 24 – Always on Thanksgiving Day

December Dog Holidays

Celebrate Shelter Pets Day

December 1 

National Mutt Day

December 2

International Day of Veterinary Medicine

December 9

National Bacon Day

December 30 – Every dog’s favorite treat!

READ MORE: 

San Antonio Dog-friendly Events Calendar

Dog Adoption in San Antonio

The 15 Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in San Antonio

Author: Amy Lynn

Amy is the founder of The Dog Guide, and was inspired to start the first one right here in San Antonio after adopting her first dog. In addition to being a dog mom to Texas and Terry, she's also a mom of four, and has lived in San Antonio for over 25 years.