When is National Puppy Day?
National Puppy Day 2027 is on Tuesday
Tuesday, March 23, 2027
March 23 every year. That's in 170 days.
until National Puppy Day begins, in your time zone
National Puppy Day celebrates puppies while urging people to adopt from shelters and rescues and to learn about the harm done by puppy mills. Pet lifestyle author Colleen Paige founded it in 2006.
About National Puppy Day
Puppies are the face of the day, but its message is about how people get them. Organizers encourage adopting from shelters and rescue groups, and they warn against puppy mills: commercial breeding operations that produce large numbers of puppies while putting profit ahead of the health and welfare of the dogs.
Colleen Paige, an author and animal welfare advocate who also founded National Dog Day and National Cat Day, started National Puppy Day in 2006. A 2017 report by Michigan TV station 9&10 News described its aims as finding homes for orphaned puppies and educating people about puppy mills, and noted that it had trended worldwide on Twitter for several years running.
The day is unofficial and has no government status. For anyone thinking about getting a puppy, it is also a reminder of what a young dog needs: time, house training, socialization with people and other dogs, and early veterinary care. Shelters and rescues often have puppies as well as adult dogs, and an adult dog can be a better fit for a busy household.
Sources: 9&10 News: National Puppy Day, the importance of adoption (2017), Colleen Paige: pet holidays she founded. How we check dates.
How to mark National Puppy Day
- If you're ready for a dog, check shelters and rescues first; many have puppies as well as adult dogs.
- If you buy from a breeder, visit in person, meet the puppy's mother and ask for health records; walk away from sellers who won't show you where the dogs live.
- Donate puppy food, crates or blankets to a rescue that fosters young dogs.
- Volunteer as a foster home for puppies that are too young to be adopted.
- Sign a new puppy up for a training and socialization class, and book its first vet visit.
National Puppy Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, March 23, 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday, March 23, 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, March 23, 2027 |
| 2028 | Thursday, March 23, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, March 23, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, March 23, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, March 23, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is National Puppy Day 2027?
National Puppy Day 2027 is on Tuesday, March 23, 2027. It falls on March 23 every year. In 2028, it is on Thursday, March 23, 2028.
What is a puppy mill?
It is a commercial breeding operation that produces large numbers of puppies with little regard for the dogs' health or welfare. Breeding dogs in these places may be kept in crowded cages and bred again and again.
Who founded National Puppy Day?
Colleen Paige, who also started National Dog Day and National Cat Day, founded it in 2006.
Is National Puppy Day a public holiday?
No. National Puppy Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.