Anyone who is the current owner of a dog is going to want to pay attention to Responsible Dog Ownership Day—a holiday that’s observed annually on the third Saturday in September. This is a day on which people are encouraged to educate themselves on their responsibilities as a pet owner and are also encouraged 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’re also responsible for their grooming, training, veterinary care, and their socialization. Owning a dog isn’t easy, but as this holiday shows us, it’s very rewarding.

The History Of Responsible Dog Ownership Day

This holiday was originally created by the American Kennel Club. They created it on the 119th anniversary of the AKC on September 17, 2003. Since then, it’s 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 of the facts we’ve uncovered about dogs and would like to now share with everyone.

• A dog’s nose print is unique—just like a human fingerprint.
• Approximately 45% of dogs sleep in bed with their owners.
• About 70% of people add their dog’s name to 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 #ResponsbileDogOwnershipDay to spread the word about it far and wide.