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Your dog has celebrated birthdays, adoption anniversaries, and National Dog Day, but apparently, one day of attention was not enough. National Dog Week runs September 21-27, which means your pup now has seven glorious days to enjoy extra treats, longer walks, new toys, adventures, and as much quality time with their favorite person as possible.
Instead of simply buying your dog another toy and declaring the occasion celebrated, turn the week into a bucket list of things they love. Upgrade breakfast, take the long way on your walk, plan an adventure, break out the doggie ice cream, schedule a spa day, and finish the week somewhere ridiculously comfortable.
The best part is that you don’t have to complete everything or spend every day doing something elaborate. Pick the experiences that suit your dog, add a few surprises, and use National Dog Week as an excuse to make an already-loved pup feel just a little more special.
15 Things to Make National Dog Week Extra Special
1. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Meal Mixers
Start the week with an extra-special breakfast.
National Dog Week deserves a better breakfast than an ordinary Monday morning, and Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Meal Mixers can give your dog’s usual bowl a special upgrade. Use them according to the package directions to add something different to a meal without completely reinventing your dog’s diet for the occasion.
A special breakfast is also an easy way to kick off the week when you don’t have time for a Monday morning adventure. Your dog gets something exciting in the bowl, you get to start National Dog Week with an immediate win, and everybody can continue with the regularly scheduled workday.
2. rabbitgoo Dog Harness and Leash Set
Take the long way on your walk.
Your dog has nowhere important to be, so this is the week to stop treating every walk like you’re trying to make a connecting flight. The rabbitgoo Dog Harness and Leash Set can get your pup geared up for an outing where sniffing is part of the itinerary.
Instead of focusing entirely on distance, give your dog some appropriate opportunities to explore scents and investigate their surroundings. Choose a route that works for your dog’s fitness and comfort, make sure the harness is properly fitted, and perhaps let them spend an unreasonable amount of time analyzing one particularly fascinating shrub.
National Dog Week only happens once a year, so whatever happened beside that shrub is clearly important. Adjust your schedule accordingly and let your pup investigate.
3. Multipet Lamb Chop Dog Plush Toy
Surprise them with a brand-new best friend.
There are few celebrations that can’t be improved by a new toy, and Lamb Chop has become a familiar plush companion for plenty of pups. The Multipet Lamb Chop Dog Plush Toy gives your dog something new to squeak, carry around, cuddle, or proudly parade through the house.
This could be an especially cute surprise to leave somewhere your dog will discover it rather than simply handing over another package. Just supervise plush-toy play if your pup’s preferred method of showing affection involves immediately locating and removing the squeaker.
By the end of the week, Lamb Chop may be your dog’s new favorite possession or may have experienced some unfortunate cosmetic alterations. Either outcome suggests your gift made an impression.
4. Chuckit! Classic 26M Dog Ball Launcher
Play an epic game of fetch.
National Dog Week is not the time for a halfhearted three throws before announcing that your arm is tired. Break out the Chuckit! Classic Dog Ball Launcher and give your fetch fanatic the kind of session they’ve been requesting all year.
A launcher lets you send compatible balls flying without repeatedly handling a slobbery ball, making it easier to keep the game moving. Choose an appropriate ball size for your dog, inspect toys for damage, and tailor the length and intensity of the game to your pup’s fitness, age, and the weather.
Your dog will eventually decide when you’ve thrown the ball enough times. Unfortunately, preliminary research suggests that number may not exist.
5. URPOWER Hammock Cover for Back Seat
Go somewhere new together.
A new park, trail, pet-friendly destination, or even a different walking neighborhood can turn an ordinary outing into an adventure. The URPOWER Hammock Cover for the back seat helps protect your vehicle from fur, dirt, muddy paws, and some of the other evidence your dog tends to leave behind after a good time.
A back-seat cover can make cleanup easier, but it isn’t a substitute for appropriately securing your dog during vehicle travel. Choose a restraint or travel setup suitable for your individual dog and vehicle, and never leave your pet unattended in a hot car.
The destination doesn’t have to be far away to count as an adventure. Your dog measures travel quality primarily in new smells, not miles.
6. Original Doggy Bag™ Dog Travel Bag
Pack everything for a doggie day out.
Your dog has plans this week, which means apparently they now require luggage. The Original Doggy Bag Dog Travel Bag gives you a dedicated place to organize the supplies that tend to follow a dog everywhere.
Use it for treats, food, collapsible bowls, poop bags, toys, grooming supplies, medications when needed, and other essentials appropriate for your outing. Having everything packed in one place can be particularly convenient for day trips, weekends away, or dogs who somehow require more travel gear than the humans accompanying them.
Pack it ahead of your National Dog Week adventure and leave it ready by the door. Your dog will still contribute absolutely nothing to the packing process, but they will be the first one waiting beside the car.
7. etta says! Yumm Sticks Human-Grade Dog Jerky Treats
Eat something ridiculously delicious.
A week devoted to dogs obviously requires snacks, and etta says! Yumm Sticks give you something special to pull out when an ordinary biscuit doesn’t feel celebratory enough. Offer them according to the package directions and consider treats as part of your dog’s overall daily intake.
You can save the special snack for after a walk, bring it along on an outing, or simply declare one random afternoon National Dog Week Treat O’Clock. Your dog will not require an explanation for this new holiday tradition.
Just don’t let those hopeful eyes convince you that National Dog Week means unlimited snacks for seven consecutive days. Your dog has reviewed that policy and would like to formally appeal.
8. Neakasa P1 Pro Dog Grooming Vacuum 6-in-1 Kit
Book an at-home spa day.
After all that adventuring, your dog may be ready for a little grooming. The Neakasa P1 Pro Dog Grooming Vacuum combines multiple grooming tools with suction designed to collect loose hair while you work, which could also help keep some of the grooming aftermath from spreading around the house.
Introduce grooming equipment gradually if your dog isn’t accustomed to the sound or sensation, and keep sessions appropriate for their coat and tolerance. Grooming should be a positive experience rather than something your dog has to endure simply because you’ve decided Thursday is officially spa day.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions and use attachments appropriately for your dog’s coat. Your pup may not appreciate the salon experience quite as much as you imagined, but your floors may appreciate the attempt to contain the flying fur.
9. Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
Learn a new party trick.
National Dog Week isn’t all about being spoiled because your dog can show off a little, too. Pick one fun, appropriate skill and use Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats as small rewards while you work together.
The trick doesn’t have to be particularly useful. Shake, spin, touch, take a bow, or another simple behavior can give you a fun activity to practice while providing your dog with mental engagement and one-on-one attention.
Keep training sessions short and positive, and adjust the number of treats to account for your dog’s daily intake. The goal isn’t to produce a canine genius by Friday, but simply to spend some enjoyable time learning together.
If your dog masters the trick, congratulations on your achievement. If they merely eat several treats and stare at you, they’ve still had a pretty successful National Dog Week.
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10. Fida Tug of War Dog Toys
Challenge your best friend to tug.
National Dog Week is even better with a friend, and the Fida Tug of War Dog Toys can turn playtime into an interactive event. Tug gives you and your dog something to do together instead of leaving them to entertain themselves with another solo toy.
Use the toy in a way that suits your dog’s play style and keep an eye on its condition. Replace damaged toys when necessary, and avoid encouraging rough communal tug games between unfamiliar dogs or dogs who become tense or possessive around toys.
For your own tug-loving pup, however, this is your opportunity to finally settle the question of who’s stronger. Your dog already has a prediction.
11. Puppy Scoops Dog Ice Cream Mix
Have a doggie ice cream date.
Regular treats are nice, but National Dog Week gives us permission to be a little ridiculous. Puppy Scoops Dog Ice Cream Mix lets you prepare a frozen treat made specifically for dogs, turning snack time into something that feels much more like an occasion.
Prepare and serve the mix according to the package instructions and portion it appropriately for your dog. A frozen dog treat could be especially fun after an outing or as the centerpiece of your pup’s very own ice cream date.
You can even take your own frozen dessert outside and enjoy them together. Your dog will finish theirs approximately nine minutes before you and then spend the remainder of the date monitoring your bowl.
12. BUDDY BUDDER Superberry Snoot + Pumpkin Pup Blue Dog Enrichment Mat Combo
Make an enrichment treat.
We’ve already had ice cream, but National Dog Week is seven days long, and apparently, one frozen snack experience isn’t sufficient. The BUDDY BUDDER Superberry Snoot + Pumpkin Pup Blue Dog Enrichment Mat Combo gives you another way to turn treat time into an activity.
Spread an appropriate amount of the dog-friendly treat over the enrichment mat according to the product directions, and freezing it can make the experience last longer. Licking activities can give your dog something engaging to work on during quiet time, particularly when you’re trying to balance exciting outings with some downtime at home.
Supervise your dog with enrichment products and clean the mat after use. Your pup may call this self-care, but unfortunately, their personal chef and cleaning staff are both still you.
13. Lionet Paws Fall Dog Bandana
Dress up for a fall photo.
National Dog Week arrives just as fall is getting underway, which gives us an excellent excuse for a seasonal photo. The Lionet Paws Fall Dog Bandana can add a little autumn style without requiring your pup to commit to an elaborate outfit.
Head outside, find some leaves or pumpkins, and attempt to capture the photo you’ll inevitably use as your phone background for the next three months. Make sure the bandana fits comfortably and doesn’t interfere with your dog’s movement, and skip accessories entirely if your dog doesn’t enjoy wearing them.
You may take 47 pictures and discover that the best one is the accidental shot where your dog isn’t looking at the camera. That’s simply the reality of working with canine models.
14. EHEYCIGA Orthopedic Foldable Human Dog Bed
Have the ultimate lazy night together.
After a week of special breakfasts, adventures, fetch, training, spa treatments, frozen treats, and modeling work, your dog has earned an evening with absolutely nothing on the schedule. The EHEYCIGA Orthopedic Foldable Human Dog Bed takes that idea to its logical conclusion by creating a giant lounging space designed to accommodate humans and pets together.
Spread out, bring a blanket, put on a movie, and let your dog settle beside you for the kind of night where nobody has any intention of being productive. A shared lounging space also fits the spirit of National Dog Week particularly well because this one isn’t about giving your dog something and walking away.
Your pup gets the bed, but the real treat is having you there with them. Of course, there’s a strong possibility they’ll gradually occupy 87 percent of the available space and leave you clinging to one edge.
One More Thing Your Dog Would Put on the List
We’ve made it through special meals, new toys, adventures, grooming, training, frozen treats, and one enormous bed, but there’s one more thing worth adding to your dog’s National Dog Week plans. Unlike everything above, you won’t need an Amazon delivery for this one.
15. Your Undivided Attention
Put down your phone for a while and do something your individual dog loves. Sit on the floor and scratch their favorite spot, play their favorite game, take an unhurried walk, practice a trick, cuddle on the couch, or simply hang out together without trying to accomplish anything else.
Dogs don’t understand that September 21-27 is National Dog Week, and they certainly aren’t waiting for you to buy 14 products to celebrate it. What they do understand is when their favorite person chooses to spend time with them.
That’s why this may be the most important thing on the list. The treats will disappear, toys will eventually wear out, and the fall bandana will go back into the drawer, but spending a little more time together is something every dog parent can give.
What Is National Dog Week?
National Dog Week is celebrated each year during the last full week of September, giving dog lovers an opportunity to recognize the companionship dogs bring to our lives. In 2026, National Dog Week falls September 21-27.
The celebration can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be. You might plan a special outing, introduce a new toy, make a dog-friendly treat, donate to a rescue, spend extra time playing together, or simply make one of your dog’s ordinary days a little more enjoyable.
You Don’t Need Seven Big Adventures
A week-long celebration sounds like it requires seven days of elaborate plans, but your dog probably doesn’t need a packed social calendar. In fact, the best National Dog Week activities are the ones chosen around the dog you actually have.
An adventurous dog might love exploring a new trail, while a homebody may prefer a special snack followed by a long afternoon on the couch. A social pup might enjoy a playdate with a familiar friend, while a dog who prefers people could be perfectly happy getting extra one-on-one time with you.
Think of this list as inspiration rather than a schedule you need to complete. Pick a few ideas that fit naturally into your dog’s routine and let the rest go.
Other Ways to Celebrate National Dog Week
National Dog Week can also be an opportunity to do something for dogs beyond your own household. Local shelters and rescue organizations may need donated supplies, foster homes, volunteers, or other forms of support, so check directly with organizations in your community to see what would actually be useful.
You could also use the week to take care of something you’ve been meaning to do for your own dog. Check that their ID information is current, review their microchip registration, wash frequently used bedding, inspect worn toys and walking gear, or schedule an overdue routine appointment.
Celebrating doesn’t always have to mean adding more stuff. Sometimes, taking care of the unglamorous little things is one of the best ways to show up for your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions About National Dog Week
1. When Is National Dog Week 2026?
National Dog Week is September 21-27 in 2026. It is observed during the last full week of September each year.
That gives dog parents seven days to plan activities, spend extra time together, or simply appreciate their pups. You don’t need to celebrate every day for your dog to benefit from a little extra attention.
2. How Can I Celebrate National Dog Week?
Plan activities around what your individual dog enjoys most. That might mean taking an extra-long walk, visiting somewhere new, buying a new toy, setting up enrichment, arranging a playdate, offering a special dog treat, or spending a lazy evening together.
You can also use the occasion to support dogs in your community. Ask a local shelter or rescue what donations or assistance they currently need rather than assuming which items would be most helpful.
3. Do I Need to Buy My Dog Something for National Dog Week?
Absolutely not. Products can make certain activities more fun or convenient, but your dog doesn’t know they’re supposed to be receiving presents because a date on the calendar says so.
A longer walk, an extra game of fetch, a favorite activity, or uninterrupted time with you can be just as meaningful. The products in this list are simply ideas for dog parents who want to add something new to the celebration.
4. What Are Some Free Ways to Celebrate National Dog Week?
Take a longer sniff walk, play your dog’s favorite game, practice tricks they already know, explore a different walking route, have a backyard play session, take new photos, or spend extra time cuddling together. Many dogs are perfectly thrilled by activities that cost nothing.
The best choice depends on your individual dog’s personality and preferences. A perfect celebration for one dog could be completely uninteresting or even stressful for another.
5. Can I Celebrate National Dog Week With a Senior Dog?
Absolutely, but tailor the celebration to your senior dog’s comfort, mobility, health, and energy level. A quiet sniff walk, favorite treat, gentle grooming session, comfortable resting spot, or extra time together may be more enjoyable than a strenuous outing.
Dogs with medical conditions or mobility limitations may need activities adjusted according to veterinary guidance. The goal is to make the week enjoyable for your dog rather than checking activities off a list.
6. What Can I Do for Shelter Dogs During National Dog Week?
Contact a local shelter or rescue and ask what help they currently need. Needs can vary considerably, and an organization may prefer specific supplies, financial donations, volunteer help, foster homes, or something else entirely.
You can also share adoptable animals or reputable rescue fundraising efforts with your community. Even if adoption isn’t an option, there may be other ways to help an organization reach the dogs currently in its care.
7. Can Dogs Have Special Treats During National Dog Week?
Dog-specific treats can certainly be part of the celebration when they’re appropriate for your individual dog. Follow serving directions and remember that treats, toppers, and other extras still contribute to your dog’s overall daily intake.
Dogs with allergies, digestive sensitivities, weight concerns, prescription diets, or other medical needs may require more careful choices. When in doubt about whether a new food is appropriate, check with your veterinarian.
Make Their Week About What They Love Most
The ultimate National Dog Week doesn’t require completing 15 activities, filling the house with new toys, or planning seven straight days of canine entertainment. It’s really an excuse to notice the things that make your particular dog happiest and do a little more of them.
Maybe that’s an upgraded breakfast followed by the longest sniff walk of the year. Maybe it’s a new Lamb Chop, an epic fetch session, doggie ice cream, a fall photo, and one glorious evening stretched out together on an enormous bed.
Or maybe your dog’s perfect week looks exactly like every other week, except you stay outside a little longer, throw the ball a few extra times, and put your phone down when they come looking for attention. However you celebrate September 21-27, make at least part of National Dog Week about the one thing no shopping roundup can put in a box: more time together.
Toledo, United States.