February is full of great dog holidays, and the 22nd is no exception. We think this holiday (and National Dog Biscuit Day on February 23rd) were probably invented by dogs, or at least suggested by them to their people – who thought these were THEIR ideas! But we have a sneaking suspicion some group of dogs got together somewhere (probably the Internet), and hatched a plan to get their humans up off the couch and out the door.
This day combines two of the most happy-making things we have in this life: dogs and exercise. Humans love walking with their four-legged friends, and pooches love their strolls with their people. So grab your walking shoes, a leash, and some treats for the road, and take your favorite pooch for a stroll to celebrate National Walking the Dog Day!
So what can you do to make this day special for your pup?
National Walking the Dog Day Activities
- Share a special treat
Dogs love their treats, and one special way of rewarding them on this day is by providing a unique dog snack for them during their walk. Keep some treats in your pocket for spontaneous snack breaks or reward them with a favorite snack at home. For some great homemade dog treat recipes, Google “Homemade dog treats” and you’ll come up with thousands of recipes.
- Try a different trail
Dogs love exploring new terrain. If you are a city dweller, venture out to the nearest nature park, or simply try a different route than normal. Your dog will love exploring the new sights, scents, and sounds. If you live by a lake or forest, check that our. A word of caution – no retractable leashes. They can be dangerous. And make sure your dog has all his or her ID tags on their collars.
- Take a walk
Don’t have a dog of your own to walk on National Walking the Dog Day? Maybe it’s time to remedy that by visiting your local animal shelter. Take some dogs in need of adoption on a stroll, or even better, ask about adopting, and enjoy walking the dog, your dog, every day.
WoofTrax Walk for a Dog app.
Did you know there’s an APP for that? It’s called the “Walk for a Dog” app by WoofTrax. The app is free and tracks your walking. Why is this so great? Because you can select your favorite shelter, rescue, or other dog organization (we hope you’ll make it The Puppy Up Foundation) and the miles you walk will be turned into donations to your selected animal organization! Use the app each time you grab for the leash, when you’re shopping, walking around your job, or doing chores around the house. Regardless, the miles add up. Plus, it’s healthy for you, your dog, and your favorite shelter or rescue.
Every Walk for a Dog counts. Magnify your impact by sharing the app with your friends and family.
Join now. Go to the Challenge tab on the Walk for a Dog app and download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Follow the directions and make every walk count! Learn more here.
Download here from Google Play.
Download here from the Apple App Store.
And don’t forget to turn on the app if you’ll be walking with us in one of the many Puppy Up Walks scheduled around the country this year. You can keep track of the upcoming walks (more will be posted as the year goes on) right here. More walks are being scheduled weekly, so bookmark us and keep checking back. Not a Puppy Up Walk in your area? Want to start one? Contact us and let us know. We’d love to have a walk in your town!
