25 Ways My Dogs Celebrate National Dog Week
TweetTime to celebrate National Dog Week!
“National Dog Week was started not to bring more dogs into the world but to make humans more responsible for the ones that are already here. It is a time for a collective national reflection on the roles dogs have played in our lives and to give them the honor they deserve.”
— Lisa Begin Kruysman, author of Dog’s Best Friend, the story of Captain Wm. Lewis Judy
In 1928, Captain William Lewis Judy, publisher of Dog World Magazine, and lover of all things dog, suggested a weeklong appreciation of dogs. Captain Judy was my kind of guy, famously known for saying, “Don’t call a man a dog. It’s unfair to the dog.”
Ahem.
Each year, a different aspect of the human-dog bond was featured, such as dogs’ roles in the military and policy, the connection between people and their dogs, or the importance of finding homes for all dogs.
Unfortunately, over the years, National Dog Week slipped from our calendars, until it was revived in 1960 by Captain Arthur J. Haggerty, and most recently by Lisa Begin Kruysman, who runs the official National Dog Week Facebook page.
This year’s theme is “Readers Unleashed: Promoting Literacy with K-9s.”
Though my dogs do write haiku, they’re not the best readers. And while it’s on our to-do list, we haven’t yet trained everyone to participate in a library reading program, like the dogs that volunteer at New Jersey’s Burlington County Library. We’re also fans of the Humane Society of Missouri who recruit youngsters to read to shelter dogs as a way of building trust in the animals and inspiring empathy in the children.
Thus, my dogs will honor National Dog Week in their own canine ways. And I’ll be there to celebrate with them.
Here’s a list of what Lilah, Jasper and Tucker will do for National Dog Week:
1) Sleep in.
2) Go for walk…
3) …or a run…
4) …or maybe go climbing.
5) Fly someplace.
6) Or just stay home and be a couch potato.
7) Catch some rays in the yard.
8) Watch something on the high-def 3D TV.
9) Curl up with a good book.
10) Plan some fun activities.
11) Like races…
12) Play some pool.
13) Put on some rock and roll…
14) …and get down!
15) Find some quiet time to reflect…
16) …or practice yoga.
17) Invite friends over.
18) Have a traditional meal.
19) …and in the spirit of the holiday, invite that one friend who wouldn’t normally celebrate.
20) Take a nap.
21) Dress up
22) Go out drinking.
23) If you drink too much, shake it off.
24) Stay up late.
25) Have a ball!
Actually, I think that’s how my dogs celebrate every day.
How are you and your pets celebrating National Dog Week?
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Love how you truly captured the serious, silly and soulful spirit of this holiday. Thank you!
Thank you! We tried!
awesum post two day guz…..we N joyed it..well….knot sew much de part bout eatin BURD for dinner ~~~~~~~ happee dawg week two ewe all ! ♥♥♥
You probably like fish better. 😉
Your dogs sure know how to celebrate! It is easy to see that they are happy with their lives. 🙂 I love that the cats are even helping them to celebrate!
Everyone in our house helps celebrate everyone’s holidays.
Such a lovely post! We love your photographs and descriptions. Your dogs sure do know how to celebrate!
Aw, thanks! Yes, they do know how to celebrate. That’s because they practice all year.;-)