2021 Pet Holidays: Your Dog Will Love You for Putting These Days on Your Calendar

2021 Pet Holidays: 175+ Days, Weeks, and Months for Dog Lovers

There are so many fun national pet holidays! With more added every year, how do you keep track of them so your dog doesn’t miss out? (As a ball dog, Goldendoodle Chloe wouldn’t miss National Fetch Day. 🎾 In fact, what day isn’t a fetch day!?!)

Red Goldendoodle dog with her nose on top of a desk calendar as if reading the 2021 pet holidays, photo

Whether you’re a dog mom planning your dog’s Instagram feed or you simply love to celebrate pet holidays with your furry friend, you’ve come to the right place.

Your Dog Will Love You for Adding These Days on Your Calendar

With this ultimate list of pet holidays, pet awareness days, and vet appreciation days, you’ll save time and effort searching through national day calendars to find the holidays that are perfect for your furry pal. Our ultimate pet holidays calendar for 2021 includes:

Pet holidays, pet awareness days
Dog holidays
Veterinary appreciation days
Dog-friendly events

Plus, because we’re all about sharing happiness here at Happy-Go-Doodle, we’ve sniffed out fun and unique days that our dogs would circle on the calendar too!

We’ve included fun days that our doggos would love to celebrate like National Peanut Butter Day, National Go For a Ride Day, and National Squirrel Appreciation Day. 🐿

So let’s have some pet-friendly fun in 2021! That means taking every opportunity to celebrate and bond with our furry pals.

January Pet Holidays in 2021

Month-long celebrations in January:

Walk Your Dog Month
Train Your Dog Month

Days to celebrate in January:

January 2 ~ National Pet Travel Safety Day 🚙
January 6 ~ National Cuddle Up Day
January 12~ Kiss a Ginger Day 😘
January 14 ~ National Dress Up Your Pet Day 👕
January 21 ~ National Hugging Day
January 21 ~ Squirrel Appreciation Day 🐿
January 24 ~ National Peanut Butter Day (Safety first: Make sure peanut butter does not include xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.) 🥜
January 24 ~ National Compliment Day
January 24 ~ National Change a Pet’s Life Day
January 26 ~ National Plan for Vacation Day 🏖 (Need ideas? Read our article on dog-friendly Amelia Island, Fl.)
January 29 ~ National Puzzle Day

Adult Goldendoodle and Labrador puppy looking up at spoons of peanut butter, photo — January 24 is National Peanut Butter Day! (If you treat your dog, check the label to make sure your peanut butter does NOT include xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.)

February Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in February:

Pet Dental Health Month (Ready to brush up? Get a dog mom’s pearls of wisdom on how to brush your dog’s teeth.)
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month

Week-long celebrations and awareness events in February:

Professional Pet Sitters Week (7-13)
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week (7-14)

Events: Puppy Bowl, Kitty Bowl

Days to celebrate in February:

February 2 ~ Sled Dog Day ❄️
February 3 ~ Doggy Date Night
February 3 ~ National Golden Retriever Day
February 4 ~ National Thank a Mail Carrier Day 💌
February 6 ~ National Frozen Yogurt Day
February 11 ~ National Make a Friend Day
February 17 ~ National Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 19 ~ National Tug-of-War Day
February 20 ~ National Love Your Pet Day ❤️
February 22 ~ National Walking the Dog Day 🐾 (Have you taken your dog on a Sniffari? Find out how and get 29 more things to do with your dog. )
February 22 ~ Beagle Day
February 23 ~ National Dog Biscuit Day
February 23 ~ World Spay Day
February 27 ~ National Strawberry Day 🍓

Medium-sized Goldendoodle and Labrador puppy playing tug-of-war on the pet holiday called National Tug-of-War Day, photo — February 19 is National Tug-of-War Day! Who’s in?

March Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long awareness event in March: National Pet Poison Prevention Month

Events: Crufts (moved to March for 2021)

7-13 Professional Pet Sitters Week
20-26 Poison Prevention Week (3rd week of March)

Days to celebrate in March:

March 3 ~ National I Want You to Be Happy Day 😊
March 3 ~ National If Pets Had Thumbs Day
March 13 ~ National K9 Veterans Day
March 14 ~ National Learn About Butterflies Day 🦋
March 15 ~ National Napping Day 💤
March 16 ~ Everything You Do is Right Day
March 19 ~ National Let’s Laugh Day 🤣
March 21 ~ National Goof Off Day
March 23 ~ National Puppy Day 🐶
March 28 ~ Respect Your Cat Day 🐱
March 30 ~ National Take a Walk in the Park Day 🌳

April Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

HELPFUL TIP: Bookmark this page so you can refer to it throughout the year.

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in April:

Canine Fitness Month
Adopt a Greyhound Month
National Heartworm Awareness Month
ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Week-long celebrations and awareness events in April:

International Pooper Scooper Week (first week in April)
National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week (second week in April)
17 – 24 National Pet ID Week (starts April 17)
Dog Bite Prevention Week (second week)

Days to celebrate in April:

April 8 ~ Dog Farting Awareness Day 🐶 💨 🤣
April 11 ~ National Pet Day
April 21 ~ National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day
April 23 ~ National Lost Dogs Awareness Day
April 24 ~ National Sense of Smell Day 🐽
April 23 ~ National Picnic Day 🧺
April 25 ~ National Pet Parents Day (last Sunday in April)
April ~ World Veterinary Day (last Saturday in April) 🥼
April 26 ~ National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
April 26 ~ National Kids and Pets Day
April 28 ~ International Guide Dog Day
April 30 ~ National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Red goldendoodle dog licking her chops and wearing a blue dog bandana while sitting beside a picnic basket and personalized dog book and frosted dog treats — April 23 is National Picnic Day. Why not celebrate with a picnic with your furry bestie?

May Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in May:

Chip Your Pet Month
National Pet Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month

Week-long celebrations in February: National Pet Week (first full week)

Days to celebrate in May:

May 3 ~ National Garden Meditation Day
May 3 ~ National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May ~ National Dog Mom’s Day (second Saturday in May) 💜
May ~ National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day (second Saturday in May)
May ~ 9 National Lost Sock Memorial Day 🧦
May 15 ~ National Day of Families
May 15 ~ National Learn to Swim Day (Practice water safety for 🐶 too!)
May 16 ~ National Love a Tree Day 🐶 ❤️ 🌳
May 20 ~ National Pick Strawberries Day
May 30 ~ National Water a Flower Day 💦 🌸
May 31 ~ National Smile Day 😊

Curly-haired Goldendoodle wearing life vest by lake, photo — May 15 is National Learn to Swim Day. Make a splash with a life vest!

June Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in June:

National Pet Preparedness Month
Adopt-a-Cat Month

Week-long celebrations in February: Pet Appreciation Week (first full week of June)

Event: June 11 – 14 Westminster Dog Show (outdoors in 2021)

Days to celebrate in June:

June 1 ~ National Say Something Nice Day
June 2 ~ National Running Day 👟🐾
June 2 ~ National Leave the Office Early Day 🕓
June 4 ~ Corgi Day
June 4 ~ National Hug Your Cat Day 🐈
June 8 ~ National Best Friends Day
June 13 ~ National Weed Your Garden Day
June 14 ~ International Bath Day 🐶 🛁
June 15 ~ National Smile Power Day
June 17 ~ National Eat Your Vegetables Day (Dogs too! 🥕 🥦)
June 18 ~ Veterinary Appreciation Day (Use hashtag #veterinarylove)
June 22 ~ National Kissing Day 😘
June 25 ~ National Take Your Dog to Work Day 🐕

White labrador puppy and red Goldendoodle adult dog with tongues out for National Kissing Day, photo — Pooch smooch! June 22 is National Kissing Day!

July Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in July:

Lost Pet Prevention Month
Pet Hydration Month
National Doghouse Repairs Month

Events: July 15 -18 Crufts Dog Show 🏆

Days to celebrate in July:

July 3 ~ National Play Outside Day (first Saturday of every month)
July 10 ~ National Kitten Day
July 11 ~ All American Pet Photo Day 📷
July 15 ~ National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 19 ~ National Get Out of the Doghouse Day
July 30 ~ International Friendship Day
July 31 ~ National Mutt Day

August Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Week-long awareness events in February: International Assistance Dog Week (first week of August)

Days to celebrate in August:

1 Dogust 1st – Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs 🥳
August ~ National Friendship Day (first Sunday of August)
August 5 ~ National Work Like a Dog Day
August 6 ~ National Fresh Breath Day
August 8 ~ International Cat Day 😺
August 8 ~ National Happiness Happens Day 😁
August 8 ~ Odie Day
August 10 ~ National Spoil Your Dog Day 🐩
August 15 ~ Check the Chip Day
August 15 ~ National Relaxation Day
August 17 ~ National Black Cat Appreciation Day
August 21 ~ International Homeless Animals Day
August 22 ~ National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
August 23 ~ International Blind Dog Day
August 26~ National Dog Day 🐶
August 28 ~ Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 🌈
August 28 ~ National Thoughtful Day
August 30 ~ National Holistic Pet Day

September Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in September:

Pet Health Insurance Month
National Guide/Service Dog Month
Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Pet Sitter Education Month
Animal Pain Awareness Month

Days to celebrate in September:

September 9 ~ National Teddy Bear Day 🐻
September 12 ~ National Pet Memorial Day
September 12 ~ National Day of Encouragement
September ~ National Hug Your Hound Day (second Sunday in September)
September 17 ~ National Pet Bird Day 🐦
September 18 ~ National Dance Day 🩰
September 18 ~ National Responsible Dog Ownership Day
September ~ National Family Day (fourth Monday in September)
September 28 ~ World Rabies Day
September 30 ~ National Love People Day

Adult Goldendoodle dog leaning head on teddy bear, photo — September 9 is National Teddy Bear Day.

October Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in October: National Pet Wellness Month, Adopt-a-Dog Month, Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, National Animal Safety and Protection Month

Week-long celebrations and awareness events in October:

October 1-7 ~ Walk Your Dog Week
October 11-17 ~ National Veterinary Technician Week

Days to celebrate in October:

October 1 ~ World Smile Day 😁
October 1 ~ National Hair Day
October 1 ~ National Fire Pup Day 🚒
October 1 ~ National Black Dog Day 🐕‍🦺
October 5 ~ National Get Funky Day
October 5 ~ National Do Something Nice Day
October ~ National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work/School Day (second Wednesday in October) 🐻
October 13 ~ National Pet Obesity Day
October 16 ~ National Fetch Day 🎾
October 19 ~ National New Friends Day
October 22 ~ National Make a Dog’s Day 🐕‍🦺
October 21 ~ National Pets for Veterans Day
October 26 ~ National Pit Bull Awareness Day

November Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations and awareness events in November: National Senior Pet Month/Senior Pet Adoption Month, Pet Cancer Awareness Month, Pet Diabetes Month

Days to celebrate in November:

November 1 ~ National Cook for Your Pets Day 🥦
November 1 ~ International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
November 5 ~ National Love Your Red Hair Day ( red Goldendoodles too)
November ~ National Play Outside Day (first Saturday of the month) 🌲
November 7 ~ National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
November 13 ~ World Kindness Day
November 14 ~ National Seat Belt Day
November 17 ~ National Hiking Day & National Take A Hike Day 🌲🐶
November 18 ~ National Princess Day
November 21 ~ World Hello Day 🌎
November 22 ~ Go For a Ride Day 🚗 🐶

Apricot-colored Goldendoodle on a hiking trail for National Hiking Day, photo

December Pet Holidays and Awareness Days in 2021

Month-long celebrations in December: National Cat Lovers’ Month

Days to celebrate in December:

December 2 ~ National Mutt Day
December 4 ~ National Sock Day 🧦
December 5 ~ Bathtub Party Day 🛁 (A great day to give your dog a bath!)
December 9 ~ International Day of Veterinary Medicine 🩺
December 10 ~ International Animal Rights Day
December 15 ~ Cat Herders Day
December 18 ~ National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 🎄

For my Goldendoodle loving friends…

You may be wondering why National Goldendoodle dog day is not listed on the 2021 pet holidays calendar. Here is the 4-1-1: I checked all the national day calendars and have not found an official date for 2021. Fear not! As soon as our fun-loving pack sniffs out the official date, we’ll let you know!