Who’s ready for National Puppy Day?! At DOGTV we celebrate puppies and dogs all day, every day! March 23, though is a day set aside to celebrate puppies! We think your dog, no matter his or her age, can be celebrated on National Puppy Day.
Dogs and puppies enrich our lives. They give us unconditional love, they don’t care if we have bed head or if we haven’t gotten out of sweatpants. They just love us in any form we present ourselves in.
Remember, celebrate the bond with your puppy and your dog every day, all the time, but on March 23 let’s take it up a notch and try some of these!
Sure, you walk your puppy every day, but why not make it an adventure? Grab some water, some snacks (for both of you) and go somewhere new.
Let your puppy sniff and roll and run (safely on a leash) and thoroughly enjoy himself. You will also enjoy yourself in this new location and just watch your puppy have a blast — we can almost guarantee it!
If you have a new puppy she will be happier if she is socialized and can play with other puppies or dogs. If she is an “only child” set up a play date.
Check out our Dog Chef recipes — quick, easy and delicious!
Puppies need mental and physical stimulation and a new toy to play fetch or tug of war with or a food puzzle toy will engage his brain and body and you will have a happier, healthier puppy!
Training your dog — whether basic obedience like sit, stay or come — or tricks like fetch or roll over is a great way to bond with your puppy. Our dogs and puppies love to be with us, make us happy and enjoy the positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats.
Go beyond basic grooming to puppy spa day. Look for a groomer who understands how to work with new puppies to get them accustomed to grooming; this is especially important if your puppy is a breed that will require regular groomings (my poodles are an example of a dog in need of frequent grooming appointments.
If you don’t have the resources to adopt a puppy, contact your local shelter and see if there are puppies in need of fostering. There are times when shelters welcome a puppy being fostered — even for a weekend — to give the puppy a break from the shelter environment and being with a family will help them learn to be around other people and thrive in a home environment.
If you can’t foster or adopt a puppy yourself, talk with your local shelter and ask about sponsoring a puppy. This means you will pay for the puppy’s care — vet bills, food, treats and perhaps even pay for her adoption fee so she can find her forever home!
We love that this way to celebrate National Puppy Day doesn’t cost a thing — well unless you count all the time you’ll be getting puppy kisses!
Give your puppy a shirt or other item of clothing that you’ve worn and not just worn for an hour or so, but for a day or two. Sleep in the clothing item, make sure it truly smells like you. This is an ideal item to leave with your puppy when you have to leave her alone and if she might suffer separation anxiety. Having your scent will give your puppy comfort until you get back home.
After you have had your adventures and enjoyed a meal together, sit down and snuggle on the couch, turn on DOGTV and enjoy the scientifically-developed content. Sharing quiet time together is an ideal way to wrap up a day!