However, annual holidays with traditional themes can only go so far. Since we’ve got human obligations to attend to for the rest of the day, we can’t go all-in on the doggie fun. So, we’ve adopted a new annual tradition that focuses more on the pup so we can have fun celebrating together. We’ve even been able to get some friends in on the celebrations for more fun with their pups as well.

The holidays are going to the dogs!

Our favorite new holiday to celebrate together is Wolfenoot. A few years ago, a 7-year-old boy in New Zealand made up a holiday that has since gained traction. He wanted to have a day set aside to celebrate dogs and the people who love them. His mom made a post about it on Facebook, and that’s how a new international dog-themed holiday was born.

According to “tradition,” there are a few key elements to a proper Wolfenoot celebration. However, the youngster and his mom seem to agree that any celebration is acceptable if it keeps with the spirit of the holiday. The official holiday is on November 23rd every year – the creator has been pretty clear about that.

Some common elements of a Wolfenoot celebration include:

• Cakes decorated like a full moon (extra cool if it’s a dog-friendly cake so the pups can eat it too)
• Roasted meat, since dogs love meat (vegetarians are welcome to sub their meat for something else)
• Presents for the dogs and people who love dogs
• Activities that are fun for the dogs as well as the people

Celebrating Wolfenoot

My husband and I were on board for this holiday immediately. We love our pup, and we love doing new things together. So this was perfect! We already celebrate Christmas together and cook her a special dinner on her adoptiversary, so Wolfenoot was a great addition.

The first year, we kept it pretty simple. We told a few friends about the new holiday, and we set up a play-date for all of our dogs at the local dog park. Everyone met at the dog park and brought dog-friendly snacks to share when the pups were done playing. All of the humans just hung out together and kept an eye on our furry children while they played. When they were done playing, we migrated back to the parking lot for snacks.

Everyone agreed: all of the dogs passed out in the car on the ride home. They had a blast! It was super fun for everyone involved, so we made it an annual tradition.

Last year, we decided to raise the bar a little bit. We both like to exercise, and our dog LOVES running. We’re part of a local running group (my husband walks, I jog, and our dog wishes that her humans were faster). So, we set up a running event with the club to celebrate Wolfenoot. We hosted a dog-themed run followed by pet-approved snacks for the pups and libations for the humans. Everyone also chipped in $5 as a donation to our local animal shelter.

Again, the dogs had a ton of fun and were completely worn out by the end of the event. All of the people who attended had a great time together as well. My husband and I loved hosting it and plan to do it again next year.

Making doggie dates fun

Creating a doggie date doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it should be a lot of fun and should bring you and your significant other closer together as a result. Here are a few tips to make Wolfenoot (and any doggie date) fun while celebrating with your partner and your doggo.

• Do an activity that you and your dog will enjoy. If the humans are unhappy or the dog is unhappy, it won’t be a good time. Pick something that all of you will like doing.

• If you’re going to include food, make it dog-friendly – especially if you’re celebrating with other people as well. It would really drag down the day if someone accidentally fed a dog something they can’t eat. Fortunately, there are plenty of foods that safe for humans and dogs.

• Get creative! Personalize the event and make it your own. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, check out the official Wolfenoot Facebook Page for plenty of suggestions.

Let us know in the comments below how if you decided to partake in Wolfenoot and any tips you have for making doggie dates fun. If you would like other doggie date ideas, check out this one on hosting a dog fashion show!

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Sometimes though, you might want something other than just bringing your dog out to a brewery or coffee shop to hang out. Sure, spending a nice afternoon outside together with your doggo is nice, but it can get a little mundane. If you’ve already checked out the local dog-friendly parks, trails, and restaurants, it’s time for more doggie date ideas.

Host a doggie fashion show

Though some dogs won’t tolerate wearing clothing, others love the attention! If your pup will let you dress them up, hosting a doggie fashion show can be a lot of fun.

If you want to make this a special event just for you and your significant other, a costumed photoshoot at home is always a good time. You can either dress to match your pets and make a whole production out of it, or you can keep the pups as the stars of the show. Being the photographers and costume designers can be plenty of fun without dressing up too.

If a group date sounds more fun, you could get a few friends together to parade with their pups. Encourage everyone to dress up and have their dogs don their best costumes. This is a great way to show off all of the creativity, let the dogs have some fun, and enjoy a unique afternoon together.

Making a doggie costume

For some costume inspirations worthy of Mardi Gras itself, check out the Mystic Krewe of Barkus. Each year during one of the biggest Mardi Gras weekends, New Orleans boasts a parade for dogs and the people who love them. Complete with costumed dogs, decorated wagons, and pup-approved throws, this parade has it all. For some great pics, check out the official Mystic Krewe of Barkus Instagram page.

Remember that dog costumes don’t have to be super tricky. If the goal here is having fun with your partner and your dog, don’t make it too complicated. Keep the costume intricate enough to entertain you both while making it, but don’t make it so difficult that it gets annoying. For the doggo, keep some treats handy for bribery. Even if your dog doesn’t love the idea of wearing a costume, you can probably convince them with treats.

To make your date night fun and interesting, decide on the costume and design it together.

If you want to keep the evening super simple, just use a bandana and eye patch for an easy pirate costume. Then toss on a pirate-themed movie and tell all your best pirate jokes.

• What did the pirate name his dog?
  • Give it some thought, the answer will be a little later on.

If you’re feeling a little more crafty, bust out the hot glue gun and sequins and create a costume that’ll really pop! While you’re at it, design yourselves a couple of outfits that will make your photos dazzle. If you need some ideas on pup-tastic costume setups, check out the Indestructibles craft article on dog costumes or check out the YouTube videos for additional instructions and inspiration.

Fortunately, you can make your doggie fashion show as calm or as bold as you want it to be. You can always head back to the basic dog-friendly date locations again later. Make this event fun and memorable for you, your partner, and your doggo.

• So, what did the pirate name his dog? Patches!

Did you decide to dress up your doggo? Share a photo with us through our contact page and get featured in this article. Also, share your tips in the comments below. If you enjoyed this article, please share on social media using the buttons below and sign-up for our newsletter to receive advice straight in your inbox.