By: Rachel Davis
Have you heard the news? Thursday, March 23, is National Puppy Day! What a perfect way to celebrate the softest, sweetest, and most adorably rambunctious little creatures on the planet.
If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to cuddle and play and rest with these darling doggies, we’re here to remind you. And if you’ve also forgotten what it’s like to survive in a constant state of hyper-vigilance as you follow your pup around to catch any potty-training accidents and ensure that all cords/crumbs/shoes/pencils/pillows/tools/blankets/furniture/boxes/clothes/gloves/snacks/ basically-everything-you-own are under safe care and keeping, we’re here to remind you about that, too.
Founded in 2006, National Puppy Day was created to “focus attention on puppies in need of adoption, and on the abuses found in puppy mills, but also to celebrate these furry little companions.” (1) And let’s be honest: what’s more fun than celebrating pups? They’re hilarious and goofy and sensitive and rapidly alternating states of crazy and lazy. They’re adorable, dramatic, playful, cheerful, and ready to ruin everything you own.
If you’re considering adopting a puppy, you’ve no doubt considered the brief state of chaotic ridiculousness he’ll bring to your life. But after the fun and frenzied “puppy months” have passed—if you’ve done your homework and ensured all your pup’s needs are met—you’ll have a best friend who (we hope!) no longer hides your shoes and laundry around the house.
The Farmers’ Almanac recently published these fun and interesting puppy facts. How many did you already know?
- While human infants spend about 16 hours sleeping every day, puppies need up to 20 hours of daily sleep. That sounds like a lot – but they cram plenty of activity and craziness into those 4 waking hours!
- Hearing and vision aren’t fully developed until puppies are about 4 weeks old. They’re toothless until that time, too!
- Researchers have found that looking at photographs of puppies can help you focus!
- Puppies begin vocalizing when they’re around 3 weeks old, with their full canine barks established by about 16 weeks.
- Most pups have all their adult teeth by the time they’re 6 months old. But that doesn’t mean they’ll be done chewing on your shoes at that time!
If you’re interested in volunteering or otherwise helping pups for National Puppy Day and beyond, the options are nearly endless. Check out some of these ideas:
- Volunteer with a local shelter or rescue organization. Ruff Start Rescue’s awesome volunteers are the backbone of our organization—and we always welcome more help! Check out ways to help us here, or contact your favorite shelter to learn more about helping them!
- Adopt a pup—or an older dog! The dogs and puppies available for adoption at Ruff Start Rescue are regularly updated on our website. Find your new best friend today!
- Provide a foster home! Many rescues—like ours!—don’t have the resources to house and care for large numbers of adoptable animals, so we rely on a network of foster families. If you’re not ready to adopt a new full-time family member but want to help homeless animals until they find their forever families, you can learn how to become a foster volunteer here.
Donate to your favorite local shelter or rescue group. Ruff Start is so grateful for our fantastic network of generous supporters, who provide financial donations, food, towels, toys, and other pet supplies. There are many ways to give and support your local shelters and rescue organizations. Here are some ideas from Ruff Start Rescue.
If you currently have a pup and are looking for some fun ways to celebrate, check out these ideas from Petsies blog:
- Throw a puppy party.
- Have a puppy photoshoot of your adorable buddy.
- Make homemade dog treats to share with your pup.
- Teach your dog some fun new tricks.
- Enroll your pup in training classes—the earlier, the better.
- Get your pup a brand-new toy that he’ll enjoy.
Puppies are one of life’s greatest joys, and they deserve a day (a week! A year!) to be celebrated. How will you be celebrating your pup on March 23? We’d love to hear from you!
Written by Rachel Davis, with inspiration from 5-month-old Rocco, who has clearly made himself at home (when not wrestling his 6-year-old dog brother and trying to befriend the 4-year-old cat who wants *nothing* to do with him).
Join Ruff Start Rescue to Celebrate National Puppy Day!
Posted: March 14, 2023 by Kelli Hanson
By: Rachel Davis
If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to cuddle and play and rest with these darling doggies, we’re here to remind you. And if you’ve also forgotten what it’s like to survive in a constant state of hyper-vigilance as you follow your pup around to catch any potty-training accidents and ensure that all cords/crumbs/shoes/pencils/pillows/tools/blankets/furniture/boxes/clothes/gloves/snacks/ basically-everything-you-own are under safe care and keeping, we’re here to remind you about that, too.
Founded in 2006, National Puppy Day was created to “focus attention on puppies in need of adoption, and on the abuses found in puppy mills, but also to celebrate these furry little companions.” (1) And let’s be honest: what’s more fun than celebrating pups? They’re hilarious and goofy and sensitive and rapidly alternating states of crazy and lazy. They’re adorable, dramatic, playful, cheerful, and ready to ruin everything you own.
If you’re considering adopting a puppy, you’ve no doubt considered the brief state of chaotic ridiculousness he’ll bring to your life. But after the fun and frenzied “puppy months” have passed—if you’ve done your homework and ensured all your pup’s needs are met—you’ll have a best friend who (we hope!) no longer hides your shoes and laundry around the house.
The Farmers’ Almanac recently published these fun and interesting puppy facts. How many did you already know?
If you’re interested in volunteering or otherwise helping pups for National Puppy Day and beyond, the options are nearly endless. Check out some of these ideas:
Donate to your favorite local shelter or rescue group. Ruff Start is so grateful for our fantastic network of generous supporters, who provide financial donations, food, towels, toys, and other pet supplies. There are many ways to give and support your local shelters and rescue organizations. Here are some ideas from Ruff Start Rescue.
If you currently have a pup and are looking for some fun ways to celebrate, check out these ideas from Petsies blog:
Puppies are one of life’s greatest joys, and they deserve a day (a week! A year!) to be celebrated. How will you be celebrating your pup on March 23? We’d love to hear from you!
Written by Rachel Davis, with inspiration from 5-month-old Rocco, who has clearly made himself at home (when not wrestling his 6-year-old dog brother and trying to befriend the 4-year-old cat who wants *nothing* to do with him).
Category: Dogs, Education, Pet Tips, Resources Tags: animal, dog, education, ruff start rescue