Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

National Purebred Dog Day – May 1, 2024

National Purebred Dog Day is celebrated on May 1. It honors the diversity and history of purebred dogs. Every breed in existence has its purpose. Some are bred for hunting game and guarding homes, others for companionship, herding cattle, and emergency rescue. It’s hard to imagine what the world would look like without our adorable four-legged friends. There are over 900 million dogs around the world today. They are service dogs, K9 officers, military working dogs, and pets. On National Purebred Dog Day we celebrate purpose-bred pooches and the unique role they’ve played in helping humans throughout history.

History of National Purebred Dog Day

Humans have kept domesticated dogs as pets for over 30,000 years. During the hunter-gatherer age, dogs helped humans hunt wild animals and also protect them from predators. The Rhodesian Ridgeback, a descendant of hunting dogs used by Khoisan bushmen, was often employed to hunt lions. Purebred dogs were used to fulfill various roles across different societies. In Ancient Egypt, dogs were a status symbol kept by wealthy royals. The Romans bred their dogs for war. In the 13th century, Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, owned 5,000 Tibetan Mastiffs that he used for hunting and fighting. This is the greatest number of dogs ever owned by one man.

In 2013, writer Susi Szeremy came up with the idea for National Purebred Dog Day, to promote responsible dog ownership and give purebred dog owners a voice in the pet community. Szeremy believed that purpose-bred dogs should be adored and preserved. One of the best ways to achieve this was through education and awareness. There are more than 400 dog breeds today, but many could vanish forever in our lifetime if we don’t take steps to safeguard their future.

On National Purebred Dog Day, people get to learn about different breeds. We explore their characteristics, as well as new information and current purebred dog events related to the holiday. Above all this holiday appreciates purebred dogs, without whom the world would surely be a duller place.

National Purebred Dog Day timeline

7000 – 5800 B.C.
The Earliest Confirmed Domesticated Dog

A pet dog in China, at the Jiahu site in Henan Province, is the earliest confirmed domesticated dog.

5250 – 3700 B.C.
Dog Burial Sites

Burial sites with dog remains in European Mesolithic sites prove that canine pets were part of early hunter-gatherer societies.

329 B.C.
The Saluki of Ancient Egypt

Saluki dogs are kept as pets by royals and are so revered that they are mummified after death.

1884
First Meeting of the A.K.C.

On September 17, 1884, the American Kennel Club holds its first meeting.

National Purebred Dog Day FAQs

What Is the purest breed of dog?

Some of the purest dog breeds are Afghan Hounds, Alaskan Malamutes, Basenjis, and Chow Chows.

What Is the number one dog breed in the world?

The Labrador Retriever has held the top spot since 1991.

What Is the cleverest dog?

The Border Collie is the smartest dog breed known to man.

National Purebred Dog Day Activities

  1. Spoil your pooch

    Give them their favorite treats. Take them to a groomer. Buy them a new toy. Take them for that leisurely walk instead of the usual race against time.

  2. Adopt a pet

    If you don’t already have one, then get a dog of your own. There are so many breeds to choose from, each with its characteristics and temperament.

  3. Donate to a purebred rescue organization

    Donations to purebred rescue organizations help pay for food, medicine, and fund treatment. They also help these organizations find homes for purebred dogs.

5 Delightful Facts About Dogs

  1. Every dog’s nose Is unique

    A dog’s nose is a lot like a human fingerprint, each one is unique to its owner.

  2. Americans love their dogs

    There are more than 75 million pet dogs in the U.S., the highest number of all the countries.

  3. Dogs are not color-blind

    Dogs can see the colors blue and yellow.

  4. They like to share the bed

    45% of U.S. dogs sleep in their owners' beds.

  5. Dogs have dreams

    Dogs display rapid eye movement and experience dreams just like we do.

Why We Love National Purebred Dog Day

  1. Dogs light up our lives

    Like humans, dogs release oxytocin, the love hormone. This explains our strong bonds with each other. Dogs also lower our levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and help us relieve depression or anxiety.

  2. Dogs are important to humans

    Dogs help guide blind persons, serve in the military and police, and can even sniff out diseases in humans. They protect homes and livestock too. Dogs are more than companions and pets, they’re essential to our way of life.

  3. Dogs make us healthier

    Dog owners are more likely to exercise and improve their cardiovascular health. They also have lower blood pressure. Dog owners over the age of 65 make 30% fewer visits to their doctors. Having a dog makes you a healthier person.

National Purebred Dog Day dates

YearDateDay
2024May 1Wednesday
2025May 1Thursday
2026May 1Friday
2027May 1Saturday
2028May 1Monday
Hurricane Preparedness Week
National Physical Education and Sport Week
Aces Day
Agriculture and Labor Day
Beltane
Blessing Day
Calan Mai
Couple Appreciation Day
CSS Reboot Day
Executive Coaching Day
Frequent Flyer Day
Global Love Day
Great American Grump Out
International Doodle Dog Day
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
Labor Day Philippines
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
Lei Day
Marshall Islands Constitution Day
May Day
Mother Goose Day
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day
National Chocolate Parfait Day
National Infertility Survival Day
National Interpreter Appreciation Day
National Loyalty Day
National Mantra Day
National Purebred Dog Day
National Rotate Your Beer Day
National Skilled Trades Day
National Skilled Trades Day
New Homeowners Day
Phone in Sick Day
Save The Rhino Day
School Principals' Day
Silver Star Banner Day
Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
Worthy Wage Day
ALS Awareness Month
American Cheese Month
American Wetlands Month
Anxiety Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
Be Kind to Animals Month
Bealtaine Festival
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Building Safety Month
Celiac Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month
Clean Air Month
Community Action Month
Correct Posture Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Date Your Mate Month
Deck Safety Month
EDS Awareness Month
Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Food Allergy Action Month
Fungal Infection Awareness Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Gifts From The Garden Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Heal the Children Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Homeschool Awareness Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
Indian Heritage Month
Internal Audit Awareness Month
International Business Image Improvement Month
International Civility Awareness Month
International Drum Month
International Respect for Chickens Month
International Victorious Woman Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Labor History Month
Latino Books Month
Leaders of Tomorrow Month
Lettuce Month
Local and Community History Month
Lung Health Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month
Maternal Mental Health Month
May Measurement Month
MCS Awareness Month
Meditation Month
Mediterranean Diet Month
Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Military Appreciation Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
National Asparagus Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Barbecue Month
National Bicycle Safety Month
National Blood Pressure Month
National Chocolate Custard Month
National Comfort Month
National Digestive Disease Awareness Month
National Duckling Month
fried egg on national egg month
National Egg Month
National Foster Care Month
National Hamburger Month
National Heritage Month
National Inventors Month
a nurse on National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Moving Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Pet Month
National Photography Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Preservation Month
National Prom Graduation Safety Month
National Recommitment Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
National San Architect Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Share a Story Month
National Show Your Smile Month
National Sight-Saving Month
National Strawberry Month
National Teen Self-Esteem Month
National Tennis Month
National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Vinegar Month
National Walking Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month
Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month
Neurofibromatosis Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Awareness Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
REACT Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Small Business Month
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Steelmark Month
Strike Out Strokes Month
Stroke Awareness Month
Syringomyelia Awareness Month
Teen CEO Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
Ultraviolet Awareness Month
Women's Health Month
Zombie Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.