Is it National Puppy Day? Yes! Today, March 23, 2020 is National Puppy Day.

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Dogs are awesome. They just are. They bring unconditional love and affection into our lives in a way that no one else can. And puppies are the cutest, fuzziest, make-us-smile creatures God ever created. Every year we take time to stop and celebrate National Puppy Day, but if you have a dog every day is puppy day, right? The actual holiday was started in 2006 by author Colleen Paige, and it has now spread across the globe. Her intention was to focus attention on puppy adoption and on the abuses in puppy mills. But she also just wanted us to celebrate these loving little fur balls we call puppies. According to the Center for Disease Control, owning a pet decreases blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. People who own at least one pet also have increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and more opportunities for socialization. All the more reason to celebrate National Puppy Day!

Here Are 10 Fun Ideas To Help You Celebrate Puppies on National Puppy Day or Any Day

1. Buy Your Puppy Some New Toys

Buy some new toys for your puppy. As their new teeth come in puppies love to chew everything, so give them plenty of safe chew toys. Our puppy Layla loves to pull the stuffing out of all the toys and “conquer” the squeaker inside. So we quickly learned to give her sturdier toys made especially for teething puppies and to supervise her play. I think I enjoy seeing how happy toys make her as much as she does playing with them! We have found that filling a Kong Toy with healthy food then freezing it keeps Layla occupied for hours.

2. Throw a Virtual National Puppy Day Party!

Since we are currently social distancing, use Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or some other program to connect with other dog owners and celebrate together. You can eat, drink, dress your dogs in costumes, dress yourselves in costumes, have balloons, whatever you find festive and have a perfectly posh puppy party!

3. Have a Puppy Photo Shoot

And you want to make sure you take pictures at that party, right? You don’t have to hire a professional photographer for this. You can just use your phone and set up several backgrounds or situations to show off your pup in all his cuteness. You could send your digital photos off to a service like Shutterfly and have a calendar made and have your own personalized Cute Puppies Calendar on the wall with a different version of cuteness each month!

4. Teach Your Pup a New Trick

Puppies learn quickly and are eager to please. Use small treats to teach your puppy to sit, stay, and come. And maybe try some other fun tricks like shake or roll over. Layla learned “sit” quite easily, and now whenever she sees me near the treat jar she just automatically sits and looks at me expectantly. Use positive reinforcement. Never yell at or hit your puppy. They will not understand and will learn to be afraid of people. You might also want to consider hiring a professional to help you train your puppy.

5. Walk Your Puppy

Puppies are high energy and thrive on exercise. And the bonus is that when your puppy is tired she will just take a nap instead of chewing your furniture! And let’s face it – walking outdoors is good for us humans too! Because of coronavirus some people are avoiding dog parks temporarily, but you can easily and safely walk alone or with a partner outside. In fact, when you adopt a puppy you will never have to walk alone again! My dogs get so excited when they see me grab the leash and put my shoes on.

6. Keep Your Puppy Safe

Make sure to get your puppy a microchip and I.D. tag in case your puppy ever gets out. The AKC website explains how. It is also a good idea to check your yard and fence for any place that your puppy might be able to get out and secure it for safety. Try to eliminate chemical cleaners and buy non-toxic ones instead. Try to keep toxic plants out of your garden or fence that part off to keep your puppy out. Never chain your puppy to a tree, fence, or doghouse. Your puppy is a member of your family!

7. Donate to a Local Shelter

If social distancing makes it difficult to volunteer right now, you can always donate money or things to a local adoption shelter. You can even make a donation in your pet’s name. Shelters can use items such as blankets, toys, and cleaning supplies. You can also make a donation to organizations such as ASPCA. Here’s an idea: Share pictures of adoptable dogs and puppies from the local shelter or rescue group to help them find forever homes. Both of my dogs are rescue dogs, and I think rescue dogs are the best!

8. Make Them Homemade Treats

There are lots of simple recipes out there for delicious and healthy homemade dog treats. See what you have in your pantry at home and let your creativity take over! Feed your puppy only all natural food and treats. Make sure your brand of puppy food is healthy. And if you haven’t already, try Chewy‘s automatic delivery service so you don’t have to get out to go buy more dog food when it runs out. For now you can get 30% off your first Autoship. No coupon needed!

9. Arrange a Play Date With a Friend’s Puppy

Socialization is important for puppies. Dogs are pack animals and do not like to be left alone. Once the vet says your puppy is old enough to meet new dogs, arrange a play date where your puppy can meet a neighbor dog or offer to pet sit a friend’s puppy to give them a short break. Puppies can be quite a handful! Make sure to adhere to CDC guidelines though to keep yourself safe and healthy.

10. Shower Your Puppy With Extra TLC

It’s a given that you would want to give your puppy extra love and special attention on National Puppy Day, but I have to say it anyway. Young puppies especially may miss their mother and siblings from the litter. Make sure to help them feel safe and loved by giving them lots of affection.

How will you celebrate National Puppy Day?

Let’s see how many comments I can collect below. And remember, you can comment any day – even if you read this post past the actual National Puppy Day. Happy National Puppy Day America!