What it is
International Dog Day is observed on 26 August. It is usually credited to an American pet and animal-welfare advocate who started it in the 2000s, and its main aim is to celebrate dogs and encourage adoption from shelters.
For pet businesses it is one of the warmest days of the year: owners happily post photos of their dogs, and shelters get a chance to be heard.
Symbols: A leash, a bone, a paw print, a tennis ball, a wagging tail
Emoji: 🐶 🐕 🦴 🐾 🎾 ❤️
Colours: Warm brown, sky blue, white
Hashtags: #InternationalDogDay #DogDay #AdoptDontShop #DogsOfInstagram #ShelterDogs
What to aim for
- Collect user-generated content with a dog photo contest
- Support a local shelter and show your brand’s values
- Bring owners in for grooming, training or products with a friendly event
Post ideas by format
Post
- A photo contest announcement with three simple rules and a deadline
- A post about a local shelter with real needs and a way to help, agreed with the shelter first
Carousel
- “Dog-friendly walks in our city”: one place per slide with a short note
- “5 signs your dog is happy”: one sign per slide, with a friendly illustration or photo
Reel / short video
- Hook: “Our shop’s employees of the month.” Regular four-legged visitors greeted by the team
- A compilation of customers’ dogs doing the “head tilt”, with a simple caption
Stories
- A poll: “Ball, rope or stick?” asked to dog owners
- Dog of the day: repost an owner’s photo with permission and a short caption
Ready-made post examples
Layouts we wrote as examples. Replace the details with your own business before you publish.
Happy International Dog Day! We are holding a photo contest: post a picture of your dog with the contest tag and tell us their name and one funny habit. On Friday we will choose three favourites and feature them in our feed. Every dog is a winner for us, and we cannot wait to meet yours. Share this post with another dog owner.
On Dog Day, a short checklist for owners: a relaxed body, a wagging tail, interest in walks, a good appetite and playfulness. If something changes suddenly, such as appetite, energy or behaviour, it is worth a visit to the vet. We are always glad to talk about it. Send us a message with your question and we will reply in the chat.
To celebrate International Dog Day, our terrace is open to dogs and their people all day. We have bowls of fresh water, a few treats for good boys and girls, and a spot in the shade. Please keep your pet on a leash and tell us about allergies if you have them. Bring your best friend for a coffee and a chat.
Meme and trend formats that fit
- Dog or human?. A two-panel format where the dog’s look and the owner’s mood match, for example both waiting for a snack. Keep the humour about pets, not about people.
- Expectation vs reality. Two panels: the neat photo shoot you planned with your dog and the real scene with a blurry tail and a chewed toy. Affectionate and self-ironic.
What to avoid
- Do not promise adoption results or fundraise for a shelter without agreeing it with them and showing a verified way to help
- Do not make jokes that shame breeds or owners, or glorify buying puppies as a gift on impulse
- Avoid giving medical or training advice beyond your expertise
When to post
- Agree the shelter or contest details two weeks ahead and announce a few days before
- Publish photos in the morning of 26 August and run a Stories series during the day; in 2027 it falls on a Thursday
- The day after, announce the winners and report on any help given to the shelter
What to check afterwards
- Entries in the photo contest and number of shares
- Visits and orders from pet owners after the event
- Responses to the shelter post, such as donations or volunteer sign-ups reported by the shelter
Add one line about your business: the free generator gives three captions with hashtags for the network you choose. No sign-up.