This week is National Dog Week 2013.  This is it’s 85th year in fact. And I have to admit, I didn’t know much about it’s origin or it’s purpose. Here’s what I learned.

National Dog Week was founded in 1928 by Captain Will Judy, a former publisher of Dog World Magazine and a dog judge. He created National Dog Week to educate all dog owners in their responsibilities to their pets and to their communities. The origin of “man’s best friend” is alleged to have come from a closing argument given by Sen. George Graham Vest. Vest was representing a man whose dog was shot and killed by a neighbor. In his closing statement, Vest gave what has become the famous “Tribute to the American Dog.” The speech was so powerful that it won the case. Here is an excerpt from this famous speech that truly shows how much a dog means to his owner, “The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.”
An article in The Paw Print by Kim Boatman – (who writes for The Dog Daily), gave some excellent ideas and suggestions on things we can do to celebrate our dogs.

Excerpts from the article reads –

Make National Dog Week Special

There’s much we can do to celebrate with our dogs and make them feel super special. Listed below are her top seven favorite ideas. Feel free to grab on to one – two – or all seven, if you’d like.

• Turn the routine into ritual. “A dog’s life really revolves around ritual: the morning walk, mealtime, when their human companion comes home,” says Dorry Bless , who helps her clients craft personalized rituals and ceremonies. “Celebrating your rituals brings great richness to both dog and human alike.” 

I figure here in “Doodleville” I can allow Leo total freedom on his morning walks this week so he and “Wilson” can determine where they wish to roam…

Look at him, he loves pretending he’s “alone”

As for Harley, just letting him sleep whenever, wherever, and for however long without being disturbed will be his utopia…

Don’t ask – I have no explanation

• Tell your dog’s story. Share your dog’s history or some special action or accomplishment with friends and family via email, letter or Facebook. Create a family dog tree, documenting your family’s canines through the generations, including names, dates and doggie tall tales. 

I thought since they came from different locations, I’d just start their tree from when we all got together and show them those who have come to love them so dearly…

It takes a village – even for doodles

• Give your dog the spa treatment. Do you put off that messy but much-needed dog bath? Set time aside during National Dog Week for a thorough cleaning, advises Martha Ciske, owner of 8-year-old basset hound Glory and a regular volunteer for dog organizations in Orlando, Fla. “Bath time is a great way to bond with a good sudsy massage, while checking your dog for any bumps, lumps and those nasty bugs like ticks or fleas,” she says. Splurge on special shampoo, and look for a shop in your area with a dog-washing facility if you want to avoid the mess at home and save your back.

Okay, I understand this one, however, I brush them everyday and I’m quite familiar with their lumps, and bumps. Bathing these two would take me under for sure, one of us would drown, leaving both Harley & Leo motherless. So we’ll just do what we’ve been doing, and I’ll get to live a little longer…

Budgeting and no more manicures are so worth it

• Make a doggy date. Treat your dog to a fancy new collar and plan a date to a local restaurant that welcomes pets. 

I am all for this, we love to take the Boys out where we can all have a great social experience, I’m sure we can find somewhere to take them…

Good food and new furrends makes for a great combo

•  Help dogs help others. “When celebrating or honoring our beloved dogs, we also must celebrate the affect they have on humans — especially children,” says Leslie Sonnenklar, a Gabriel’s Angels board member. 

I can honestly say, Harley & Leo make this a priority everyday, and it’s a pleasure to accommodate them…

This love fest lasted for hours

• Help other dog owners. Because of the economy, many dog owners may be struggling to either keep their pet or to provide adequate care and medical attention, says Amy D. Shojai, a certified animal behavior consultant and the author of more than 20 dog and cat care books. Consider holding a dog walk to raise funds for a local veterinary clinic’s Good Samaritan fund, intended to assist needy dog owners in paying for medical care, suggests Shojai. Or collect dog food for local pantries, since their clients often have pets as well.

We try to support as often as we can with local walks and fund raisers. And we will continue to do so. Getting them to cooperate long enough for a group photo still requires some work…

We tried several times and just gave up

• Add to your family.Consider adopting another dog or convincing a friend to adopt a dog from a shelter, says Lynn. “Dogs like friends. If you get one, why not get two?” If you can’t adopt, consider making a donation to your local shelter, whether it’s cash, bags of food or even old towels and sheets. 

I’ve been trying to “plant the seed” with our daughter to get her own doodle, and then I can “borrow” hers when I really want to go “doodle crazy.” I hope she sees this post (hint-hint)…

She’d make such a great pet parent

Most of all, remember that your dog is a treasured family member that deserves to be celebrated. Whether you do something special for your dog or for other dogs, you’ll be honoring that relationship.

Enjoy National Dog Week, we sure plan to…

There’s absolutely nothing like a dogs love