A dog's love knows no bound, and while every day is dog day, Aug. 26 marks National Dog Day, which celebrates the bond between humans and their dogs and encourages dog ownership of all breeds.
The holiday was established in 2004 by animal rescue advocate and pet and family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige, USA TODAY previously reported. The date marks the anniversary of the day her family adopted her first dog from an animal shelter when Paige was 10 years old.
National Dog Day isn’t just about celebrating dogs, it’s also focused on promoting canine adoption and welfare to ensure that all dogs live happy, safe, and abuse-free.
The day's official website lists 20 ways to celebrate the holiday such as brushing your dog's fur, teaching them a new trick,
giving your dog a massage or holistic spa treatment, taking them to the beach, or hiring a professional pet photographer for a fun photo shoot.
Dogs are the nation's preferred pets
At least 95 million households (or around 71% of Americans) in the U.S. own a pet, with spending for pets hitting $158 billion in 2025, according to the National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in its 2025 Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook, estimates the total number of U.S. households owning a dog at 56.3 million.
Dog ownership is ahead of other pets at 68%, according to a survey from CivicScience. Cats were the second most popular pet at 46%, while ownership of fish, birds and small mammals was less common.
Dunkin' for Dogs
Dunkin, on National Dog Day, also is debuting its "first-ever official doggie drive-thru experience" in Quincy, Massachusetts, the birthplace of Dunkin’.
The "dedicated doggy drive-thru" which was operational for one day only saw pups stop by for treats, pup cups and bandanas from Dunkin’ collaboration with BARK, a dog wellness brand.
Treat your dog on National Dog Day
Be sure to get your four-legged friend a treat today! Many chains are offering special deals. For example, Dutch Bros is giving away a mystery dog bandana with every medium or large drink purchase. The offer will be available while supplies last on Wednesday, Aug. 26, starting at 5 am local time. The limit is 5 per customer. You can also always stop by places like Starbucks and Culver's for a pup cup, which is always on the menu at participating locations.
See photos of USA TODAY staff dogs
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who let the dogs out? National Dog Day 2026 is today
