Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Anyone who is the current owner of a dog will want to pay attention to Responsible Dog Ownership Day—a holiday observed annually on the third Saturday in September. This day encourages people to educate themselves on their responsibilities as pet owners and to forge a tighter bond with their pets.

When a person purchases a dog, they are not only responsible for providing them with adequate housing, clean water, and food, but they are also responsible for their grooming, training, veterinary care, and socialization. Owning a dog isn’t easy, but as this holiday shows us, it can be very rewarding.

The History of Responsible Dog Ownership Day

This holiday was originally created by the American Kennel Club. They created it to coincide with the 119th anniversary of the AKC on September 17, 2003. Since then, it has been held on the third Saturday in September each year.

Some Fun Facts About Dogs

Okay, let’s keep this short and simple. Below are some facts we’ve uncovered about dogs that we would like to share with everyone.

  • A dog’s nose print is unique—just like a human fingerprint.
  • Approximately 45% of dogs sleep in their owner’s bed.
  • About 70% of people include their dog’s name on holiday cards they mail to friends and family.
  • There are almost 80 million pet dogs in the United States.

Observing Responsible Dog Ownership Day

This holiday is celebrated every year by the AKC when they host their annual event in Raleigh, North Carolina. The only exceptions to them holding this event every year were in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, they hosted a virtual event, but in 2021, they canceled their annual Responsible Dog Ownership Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals can also observe this holiday by learning what they can do to become better dog “parents” and to ensure that their dogs are healthy, happy, and well cared for. While observing this holiday, people can also use the hashtag #ResponsibleDogOwnershipDay to spread the word about it far and wide.

When is it?
This year (2024)
September 21 Saturday
Next year (2025)
September 20 Saturday
Last year (2023)
September 16 Saturday
Topic
Animals