When’s the last time you celebrated your Doodle?
If your answer was “literally an hour ago”, then your Doodle lives a very similar life to mine. But, for all the joy and laughter they bring us, our dogs deserve more than just the occasional puppuccino!
This is why International Doodle Dog Day was created. It gives us an opportunity to officially celebrate our Doods.
Typically held in mid-September, this day of celebration has been going on for years now all across the world. Want to know how you can participate? Keep reading to learn where to find a local meetup or how to start your very own!
History of International Doodle Dog Day
International Doodle Dog Day, or IDDD, was created by Jeannie North in 2015. Jeannie is the founder of Ripley and Rue, a dog-merchandise store geared for women. Her store is named after her own two Doodle dogs.
Since its inception, IDDD has become a worldwide event. Cities all across the world are celebrating International Doodle Dog Day. The official IDDD Instagram account has more than 79,000 followers!
As a Doodle dog blogger, this does not surprise me one bit.
Doodles have been rising in popularity for decades now. Starting with the infamous Wally Conron’s Labradoodle, we now have Poodle-mixes of all shapes and sizes. Everything from the Mini English Goldendoodle to the big and fluffy Sheepadoodle.
The best part about IDDD is that it celebrates all Doodle dogs. So how can you and your Dood(s) be a part of the action? Check out the next section to see if there’s an official celebration near you.
Cities that Celebrate the Doods
Over the past years, there have been over 75 cities that have held an event to celebrate International Doodle Dog Day.
This list is growing bigger with each year. Here are a few notable ones that have participated so far:
- Alpharetta, GA
- Omaha, NE
- Mountain View, CA
- Bethesda, MD
- Alexandria, VA
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- San Diego, CA
- Oxnard, CA
- Brandywine, MD
- San Antonio, TX
- Upton, United Kingdom
- London, Ontario, Canada
- Fort Collins, CO
- Jenison, MI
- Firestone, CO
- Tempe, AZ
- Boston, MA
- Houston, TX
- DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) Area
- Mt. Zion, IL
- Pittsburgh, PA
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Asbury Park, NJ
- Pensacola, FL
- Menomonee Falls, WI
- Ewa Beach, HI
- Capitol Heights, MD
- Indianapolis, IN
- Saginaw, MI
- Winnipeg, Canada
- Sacramento, CA
Don’t see your city on the list? Well you can start your own Doodle Day celebration! I’ll cover the details in the next section.
How to Start Your Own Doodle Day
It is fairly straightforward to setup a local International Doodle Dog Day celebration. You can make your event as little or as big as you want. Once you get it all planned, you can submit your event to Ripley and Rue here.
Before you do that, you should take some time to figure out some event details first.
Activity Ideas
Your event should have an activity of some sort to attract other Doodle owners in the area. This can be as simple as a romp in the dog park or something more advanced like a block party or parade.
You could start a raffle or auction for a charity such as a local dog shelter. You could bring fun games for both the dogs and owners. Or, you could partner up with local vendors and shops to offer food, drinks, and merchandise for sale at the event.
Here is a list of a few activities you could center your event around:
- Romp at the dog park
- Walk at the park or in a neighborhood (or a parade)
- Festival
- Raffle/Auction
- Food trucks
- Boutique shops
- Games
Locations
You’re going to want to have a dedicated space for your event. If your event is going to be small then you could use someone’s backyard or a local park. If you plan on it being large, you could rent out a space like a farm or fairgrounds.
Another option would be to partner up with local businesses and see if you can use their space for the event. This is a great way for them advertise their business!
Here are a few ideas for a location to hold your Doodle Dog Day celebration.
- Dog park
- Local municipal park
- Local business
- Doggy daycare facility
- Restaurants/bars/breweries
- Parking lots
- Gymnasiums
- Conference centers
- Gardens
- Backyard
- Farm
- Beach (or any body of water with public access)
Spread the Word!
Lastly, once all the details are set, you’re going to need to get the word out to all the local Doodle owners!
With a little bit of help from social media, this should be no problem.
You can either create a completely new Instagram account devoted to your event or use the one you currently have. From there, you can create a Facebook group and page for your event.
Once you have those set up it’s time it’s time to outreach to local Doods. My first suggestion would be to look at relevant hashtags for your area.
For example, I live in Salt Lake City and with a little bit of research on Instagram’s search feature I found #doodlesofsaltlakecity, #doodlesofutah, and #slcgoldendoodle. This gives me quite a few accounts to approach and tell them about my IDDD event.
Next, you can reach out to Ripley and Rue on their website or at the IDDD Instagram. They are very good about posting events on both their IG and Facebook. Of course, you can reach out to me on the ‘gram @Floofy__Doodles and I will share your event too!
Now, it’s time to go out and celebrate our Doods!
International Doodle Dog Day Dates
| Year | Date |
| 2023 | September* |
| 2024 | September* |
| 2025 | September* |
| 2026 | September* |
| 2027 | September* |
| 2028 | September* |
| 2029 | September* |
FAQs
Below are a few frequently asked questions in regards to International Doodle Dog Day and other Doodle Day celebrations.
Is there a National Goldendoodle Day?
No, there is not an official day that is dedicated to the appreciation or celebration of Goldendoodles. The National Goldendoodle Day is celebrated as the International Doodle Dog Day. This event is held every year in mid-to-late September. It is celebrated in various cities across the world.
National Goldendoodle Day Dates
| Year | Date |
| 2023 | September* |
| 2024 | September* |
| 2025 | September* |
| 2026 | September* |
| 2027 | September* |
| 2028 | September* |
| 2029 | September* |
Is there a National Labradoodle Day?
No, there is not an official day that is dedicated to the appreciation or celebration of Labradoodles. The National Labradoodle Day is celebrated as the International Doodle Dog Day. This event is held every year in mid-to-late September. It is celebrated in various cities across the world.
National Labradoodle Day Dates
| Year | Date |
| 2023 | September* |
| 2024 | September* |
| 2025 | September* |
| 2026 | September* |
| 2027 | September* |
| 2028 | September* |
| 2029 | September* |
Is there a National Bernedoodle Day?
No, there is not an official day that is dedicated to the appreciation or celebration of Bernedoodles. National Bernedoodle Day is celebrated as the International Doodle Dog Day. This event is held every year in mid-to-late September. It is celebrated in various cities across the world.
National Bernedoodle Day Dates
| Year | Date |
| 2023 | September* |
| 2024 | September* |
| 2025 | September* |
| 2026 | September* |
| 2027 | September* |
| 2028 | September* |
| 2029 | September* |
Final Thoughts
International Doodle Dog Day looks and sounds like an absolute riot. I can’t wait to join in the celebration this year. Heck, I may even start my own event!
