# Show Your Pup Some Love on National Hug Your Dog Day This April 10th

# National Hug Your Dog Day! 🐕💕 **April 10th** Welcome to one of the most tail-waggingly delightful obscure holidays on the calendar! National Hug Your Dog Day was created by celebrity dog behaviorist and lifestyle expert Ami Moore in 2004, and it's dedicated to showing extra appreciation for our canine companions. ## The Origin Story Ami Moore founded this holiday after recognizing that while dogs give us unconditional love 365 days a year, we often get caught up in our busy lives and forget to show them just how much they mean to us. She wanted to create a day that reminded people to pause, get down on the floor, and give their furry best friends some quality snuggle time. ## How to Celebrate Properly The rules are beautifully simple but come with some important caveats: **DO:** - Give your dog gentle, loving hugs (if they enjoy them!) - Spend extra quality time together - Offer special treats or a favorite meal - Take them on an adventure to their favorite park - Have a professional photo session to capture the love - Donate to local animal shelters in honor of dogs everywhere **DON'T:** - Force hugs on dogs who show signs of stress (yawning, looking away, pinned-back ears, stiff body) - Hug strange dogs without permission - Forget that some rescue dogs may have trauma around being restrained ## Fun Facts - Studies show that hugging your dog releases oxytocin (the "love hormone") in both humans AND dogs! - The holiday has gone viral multiple times on social media, with #NationalHugYourDogDay trending worldwide - Some animal shelters use this day to host "Hug a Shelter Dog" events to encourage adoptions So go forth and squeeze those pups (respectfully)! 🎉2026-04-10T09:51:50.977Z This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.