There always seems to be another holiday just around the corner.
Some bring family dinners and long weekends. Others mean costumes, fireworks, Christmas trees, chocolate, road trips or an unusual number of people arriving at the front door. And while our pets may not understand why the humans suddenly started decorating the house, they certainly become part of the celebration.
Holidays can also introduce things pet owners don’t normally have to think about—from frightening fireworks and toxic foods to unfamiliar guests, decorations and changes in routine.
We’ve gathered our holiday ideas, photographs, safety advice and pet-friendly inspiration in one place. We’ll continue adding to this collection throughout the year, so there’s always something new to discover as the next celebration approaches.
New Year’s Day
A new year inevitably brings promises to exercise more, eat better and finally tackle the things we’ve been putting off. There’s no reason our dogs can’t get involved too.
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Dog
Start the year with some positive changes for your dog, from healthier habits and more exercise to training, adventures and spending more time together.
Valentine’s Day
For many of us, there’s already somebody at home offering unconditional love—and they’re probably waiting beside the treat cupboard.
How to Spoil Your Dog on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be reserved for human sweethearts. Discover some fun ways to make February 14 a little more special for your dog.
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17 brings green clothes, Irish traditions and celebrations around the world.
We don’t have a St. Patrick’s Day adventure ready for our pets just yet—but that’s going to change. Expect something with a distinctly Irish flavour when we expand this collection.
Easter
Chocolate eggs, beautiful spring flowers and big family meals make Easter a favourite holiday, but several familiar Easter traditions can present genuine hazards for pets.
Easter lilies may be beautiful, but they can be extremely dangerous to cats. Learn why cat owners need to be particularly careful with lilies around Easter.
Keeping Your Dog Safe During the Easter Holidays
From chocolate and candy to decorations and busy family gatherings, a little planning can help make Easter safer for your dog.
Cinco de Mayo
Good food, celebrations and time with friends can make Cinco de Mayo fun for people—and there are ways for dogs to safely join the festivities too.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo With Your Dog
Ideas for including your dog in the celebration while keeping the day comfortable, fun and pet-friendly.
Canada Day
July 1 means summer has truly arrived: backyard gatherings, camping trips, cottage weekends, community celebrations and evenings spent outside.
Our Canada Day collection is still to come. With an entire country of dogs, landscapes and wonderfully Canadian ways to spend a summer long weekend, we suspect this section won’t stay empty for long.
Independence Day — July 4th
For millions of Americans, the Fourth of July means cookouts, gatherings and fireworks. Unfortunately, what sounds spectacular to us can be terrifying to our pets.
How to Keep Your Pets Safe During Fourth of July Celebrations
Prepare for July Fourth celebrations with practical ways to protect pets from fireworks, crowds and other holiday hazards.
How to Keep Cats Calm During Fireworks
Fireworks can be particularly stressful for cats. Learn how to create a calmer, safer environment when the celebrations begin outside.
Back to School
Summer eventually ends, backpacks reappear and families settle back into school-year routines.
We decided to imagine something slightly different: what would happen if the dogs were the ones heading back to class?
20 Dogs Who Are Going Back to School
From nervous kindergarteners and class clowns to cafeteria chaos, science experiments and the principal’s office, school looks considerably more entertaining when dogs are the students.
Labour Day
Labour Day celebrates workers and their contributions on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.
Naturally, that made us wonder what the workforce would look like if dogs had to earn their living too.
20 Working Dogs With Very Human Jobs
Meet canine bakers, nurses, teachers, truckers, firefighters, farmers, construction workers and more in our decidedly unconventional interpretation of “working dogs.”
A Little Labour Day Fun: Some workers build houses with blueprints, power tools and years of experience. Others use paws, questionable measurements and an unwavering commitment to enormous windows. For a playful celebration of canine craftsmanship, see How Dogs Built the Perfect Pet-Friendly House.
Halloween
Halloween may be one of the most entertaining holidays of the year for humans. For pets, the costumes, candy, doorbells, strangers and strange noises can make October 31 considerably more complicated.
Fortunately, there’s room for both Halloween fun and good pet safety.
20 Dogs Who Took Their Halloween Costumes Way Too Seriously
Twenty dogs go considerably further than necessary with their Halloween costumes in this funny visual collection.
Doorbells, costumes, strangers and unusual noises can turn Halloween into a stressful night for some dogs. Here’s why—and what owners can do to help.
What to Do When Your Dog Eats Halloween Candy
Halloween candy can pose serious risks to dogs. Learn what to watch for and what to do if your dog gets into the treat bowl.
And there’s more coming. We’re continuing to build our Halloween collection with new photography, ideas and seasonal fun for dogs and cats.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving dinner is difficult enough to resist when you’re sitting at the table.
Imagine experiencing it with a dog’s sense of smell.
Foods You Can Share With Your Dog on Thanksgiving
Find out which Thanksgiving favourites can safely be shared with your dog—and which foods are better kept on the human side of the table.
Christmas
Few holidays transform the house quite like Christmas. Trees appear in living rooms, food covers the counters, presents pile up and relatives suddenly occupy every available chair.
Our pets, naturally, find ways to become involved in all of it.
Cute Christmas Dog Pictures and Seasonal Quotes
Celebrate the season with a collection of festive dogs, Christmas photography and seasonal cheer.
How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing on the Christmas Tree
You brought an entire tree indoors. Your dog has understandably reached a few incorrect conclusions. Here’s how to keep the Christmas tree from becoming that kind of holiday tradition.
Should I Give a Puppy as a Christmas Gift?
A puppy beneath the Christmas tree sounds wonderful, but bringing home a dog is a long-term commitment. Consider the realities before making a puppy part of someone’s Christmas morning.
Come Back for the Next Holiday
This page is going to keep growing.
As we create new holiday photographs, practical guides, safety advice and occasionally ridiculous adventures involving dogs and cats, we’ll add them here.
Whether you’re preparing for fireworks, wondering what your dog can eat at Thanksgiving, trying to keep the Christmas tree standing or simply looking for something that makes you smile, we want this to become Pet Friendly House’s home for celebrating the year with pets.
And judging by the calendar, the next holiday is never very far away.
More Celebrations to Come
Our holiday collection is still growing. There are plenty of other days throughout the year that deserve a little attention from the dogs, cats and other pets in our lives.
Here are a few celebrations we’ll be adding to Pet Friendly House in the future.
Australia Day — January 26
Summer, beaches, backyard gatherings and some of the world’s most recognizable dog breeds give us plenty to work with. We don’t have our Australia Day collection ready yet, but Australia and its pets will eventually have their place here.
National Puppy Day — March 23
Puppies really don’t need an excuse for additional attention, but National Puppy Day provides one anyway. Expect plenty of puppy photography, ideas and probably a little chaos when we build this section.
Mother’s Day — Second Sunday in May
Dog moms, cat moms and human moms whose pets are simply another member of the family all deserve some recognition. We’ll be adding Mother’s Day ideas and stories for families who wouldn’t dream of celebrating without their pets nearby.
Memorial Day — Last Monday in May
Memorial Day is a time for Americans to remember those who died while serving their country. Any future Pet Friendly House content connected with the day will reflect that meaning and be approached with the respect the occasion deserves.
Father’s Day — Third Sunday in June
From walks and camping trips to afternoons in the garage and naps on the sofa, dads and their pets have a way of developing their own routines. Father’s Day gives us a chance to celebrate those relationships.
National Dog Day — August 26
This one practically belongs on the Pet Friendly House calendar. National Dog Day is an opportunity to celebrate the dogs who make us laugh, get us outside, destroy things we liked and somehow become an irreplaceable part of the family.
National Cat Day — October 29
Cats deserve their day too. National Cat Day gives us another excuse to celebrate everything strange, beautiful, independent and occasionally inexplicable about sharing a home with a cat.
Remembrance Day & Veterans Day — November 11
November 11 is observed as Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the United States, although the two observances have different traditions and meanings. Any content we eventually create for this date will be thoughtful and respectful, recognizing service, sacrifice and the remarkable roles animals have also played alongside people.
As new articles are created for these occasions, we’ll replace these previews with links to the stories, photographs, guides and ideas that belong here.
