It’s National Dress Up Your Pet Day on January 14, and we want you to go all out. Celebrate by dressing up your furry family member in comfortable pet clothing — maybe even get matching outfits, if you want to get crazy. If it were any normal day, people would be staring at you at your dog in the street. However, on National Dress Up Your Pet Day, matching outfits are not only accepted but also encouraged! Who’s the angel responsible for this holiday? National Dress Up Your Pet Day was started in 2009 by celebrity pet lifestyle expert and animal behaviorist Colleen Paige. It celebrates pets and helps to support the pet fashion community. The chance only comes once a year to wow the neighbors and to unleash the inner diva of your favorite pooch, so make sure your dog is dressed for the occasion!
National Dress Up Your Pet Day timeline
Collars were used as the first items of adornment on dogs in Ancient Egypt.
Celebrating pet fashion was initiated by Colleen Paige.
A dog fashion show titled ‘Last Bark at Bryant Park’ was held in New York.
The market for clothing lines for pets booms and exceeds the £30m mark
National Dress Up Your Pet Day Activities
Have a friend take photos of you and your pet’s new outfits
Did you even dress up your dog if you didn’t take a picture of it? You need to commemorate you and your dog looking styling! Have a mini-photoshoot, and upload the pictures to your social media. Or, if your friends aren’t nice enough to indulge you, take a selfie, or 3, or 10. Either way, the moment is captured.
Use #DressUpYourPetDay on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
In case you live under a rock, we have a memo for you: the internet is extremely creative! Search this hashtag to see how other dog owners have dressed up their dogs in the past. You’ll get inspired immediately. And who knows? You might start some friendly competition! We believe in you; you’ll win!
If you have kids, but no pets, dress them up instead.
The FOMO doesn’t have to be real. If you don’t have pets, you can dress up your children instead! And if you really want to stick with the theme, you can grab a friend’s dog and go wild. I’m sure your friends wouldn’t mind you babysitting their dogs for a couple hours!
Why We Love National Dress Up Your Pet Day
Clothes can reveal your pet’s personality
People dress up to show off their personality. So why shouldn’t your pet do the same? Whether your dog is flirtatious, tough, smart or sassy, she deserves an outfit that matches her persona. Your diva dog can get a pink, bedazzled sweatshirt. Your tough dog can get a doggy crew neck sweater. The options are endless, and we want you to try them all! (And we’re sure your dog does too.)
Celebrating holidays is more fun with your pet
Even something as silly as spending a day dressing up your pet is quality time, and your pet relishes it. Sorry, did we say silly? We meant amazing. Your pet will love that you’re spending time together, and your friends will love that you posted it on the ‘Gram. Facebook and Instagram likes, here you come! Your picture might even impress that cute guy or girl you’ve been eyeing.
It’s probably cold outside anyway
It’s still January, which means that many places are experiencing cold weather right now. And remember: dogs get cold too! Just as you’re not supposed to walk your dog when it’s too hot, you need to put a sweater on your dog when it’s too cold. So protect your dog from the winter elements by showing some National Dress Up Your Dog Day pride. Treat your fur-baby with that extra layer of warmth, and make sure it is comfortable for them to walk around in!
National Dress Up Your Pet Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 14 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 14 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | January 14 | Thursday |
| 2028 | January 14 | Friday |
| 2029 | January 14 | Sunday |
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