Celebrate National Dog Week: Fun Facts, Ideas and Activities!
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Clifford and Emily, Dorothy and Toto. What do all of these have in common? They are all famous bonds between humans and dogs. Throughout our lives “man’s best friend” has permeated through our screen and into our hearts, but did you know dogs weren’t always the staple of American homes the way they are now?
Dogs have assisted firefighters, police, and the military, contributing greatly to the health of our country for many years. In 1928, Captain Will Judy recognized this contribution when others overlooked it. He created National Dog week with the goal of raising awareness, but it was a very slow start. However, things began to improve during the 1940s when dogs were on the rise in entertainment and being painted into the American Dream. National Dog Week evolved into raising awareness about the role dogs play in our society and Homelife, and to encourage dogs owners to become better guardians.
If you are lucky enough to share your life with a dog (or many, like us at The Perfect Pooch NYC!) you’ll probably be wanting to do something special with and for your fur-friends! Here are some of our favorite ideas…
Adopting a dog from a credible shelter: If you are currently pup-less, or looking to add to your dog family, this week may give you some extra motivation to get the ball rolling! And the best way to do that is adopting through a registered shelter or rescue. Established shelters provide their homeless pets with staff that actually care about their needs, proper medical support, and comfortable housing which can only be done with financial support from purchasing and donating.
Volunteering at a dog-related organization: Some people can’t own dogs, but that doesn’t exclude them from the party! Here are some organizations that accept volunteers with open arms.
https://www.nycacc.org/get-involved/volunteer
https://www.animalalliancenyc.org/wanttohelp/volunteer/index.htm
https://www.aspca.org/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-aspca-adoption-center
Organizing a dog-friendly event in your community: Community events can be so much fun! Bring some friends, some dogs, some food and you’ll be the talk of your neighborhood. Dog friendly community events are a great way for you and your dog to create new relationships. And if you’re lucky enough to live in an area with an established dog community (We LOVE the Great Hill aka Great DOG Hill group here on the Upper West Side https://www.facebook.com/groups/214165963718433/), go ahead and join up!!
Educating yourself on your dog’s breed: We love our pets, but how well do we really know them? Some breeds are bred for a specific purpose and others just have a very interesting history. Maybe you’ll discover something new about your own pet!
Upgrading your pet care tool kit: With all the hustle and bustle of life it can be easy to forget to replace old toys and clothing. This week is about being a better pet-parent, so take the time to look through your dog’s toys, clothes, and even food to see if anything could be or should be replaced.
Spa day: An at-home spa is a great idea for both you and your pet! Massages, soothing sounds, and a warm bath is the perfect way to show you care.
Fun Facts About Dogs:
Dalmatians are born without spots! They are born with plain white coats with their first spots appearing after they are 1 week old.
Dogs sweat through their foot pads to help keep them cool. They also keep cool by panting.
Greyhounds are the world’s fastest dogs with the ability to reach up to 45 mph.
Every dog has a unique nose print with no two alike.
The Basenji, an African wolf dog, does not bark in a normal way but may yodel or scream when excited!
Snoopy, from Charles M. Schultz’s “Peanuts” comic strip, is a beagle.
A dog’s sense of smell is 1000 times greater than a human!
Nine percent of dog owners will have a birthday party for their pet.
Dogs have 28 baby teeth and 42 permanent teeth.
Let’s face it, every day is a reason for us to step up our pet care game, but we are human and sometimes things can get away from us! That’s why special weeks such as these are very important - they remind us to take care of our pets because they never miss a day of being there for us. Excited to join in the fun? We would love to see how you choose to celebrate this week! Share and follow us on our Instagram and Facebook @ThePerfectPoochNYC.