The World’s Cutest Holiday: Celebrating National Puppy Day
Here at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we are gearing up for one of our favorite holidays! No, it’s not National Corn Dog Day on March 19th (although that one sounds pretty good to us too). We’re talking about National Puppy Day, March 23rd.
Animal behaviorist and author Colleen Paige founded national Puppy Day in 2006, as a way to encourage shelter puppy adoption, while also educating the public about abusive dog breeding practices. A lifelong animal lover, Paige also founded National Dog Day and National Cat Day.
Ideas For Celebrating National Puppy Day
Any activity that improves the lives of your puppy or supports the millions of shelter pets around the country counts as a celebratory act! In the spirit of National Puppy Day, we recommend the following ways to honor puppies everywhere:
- Take your pup for a walk or hike.
- Bring your dog in for a professional grooming or bathe and brush him or her at home.
- Enroll your puppy in our Canine Academy and reap the benefits of humane, ethical, and professional obedience training.
- Take a look around your home and yard and make any necessary changes to ensure that it is adequately “puppy-proofed”.
- Stop by the retail shops at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center and pick up a healthy treat or new toy for your best pal.
- If you haven’t had your puppy microchipped yet, consider doing so and, also, make sure that your registered microchip and ID tags are up-to-date.
- Donate money, time, or supplies to your favorite local shelter or dog-related nonprofit.
- If you’ve been thinking about adding a new pet to your family, we hope you will consider adopting or fostering from a shelter or rescue organization.
- If a new pet isn’t in your immediate future, you can still make a difference by educating your friends and family on the importance of adopting homeless pets.
The Fine Art Of The Puppy Selfie
It wouldn’t be National Puppy Day without a picture or two (or many, many more) pictures of puppies popping up in your social media feeds. Since our furry friends don’t always cooperate with picture taking, here are our tips for getting the most out of your “puppy selfie”:
- Lighting is key – Poor lighting can ruin an otherwise beautiful photo. Make use of natural light whenever possible, an hour or so before sunset is the ideal time for an outdoor photo. Skip the flash to avoid scaring your pet or creating harsh shadows.
- Eye level is best – Try to hold the phone at eye level, as you and your dog will both look better from that angle.
- Tricks and treats – Holding a treat or your dog’s favorite toy should capture his or her attention long enough to snap a quick picture. If your dog loves tennis balls, try the Pooch Selfie smartphone attachment.
- Act fast! – Pets tend to have short attention spans, so once you’ve got your puppy’s attention get that picture as quickly as you can. Exercising your dog ahead of time can cut down on restlessness during your photo shoot.
If you haven’t made an appointment for a puppy wellness exam yet, give us a call today. We look forward to seeing you and your new puppy!
