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Here’s a fun little-known holiday to add to your July calendar. It’s National Mutt Day, and we celebrate it every year on July 31. Created to draw attention to mixed-breed dogs (mutts), I say it’s a day to celebrate all types of dogs.
Do you celebrate National Mutt Day in your senior living community? Please add your suggestions in the comment section!
Have a good laugh
Share these funny dog jokes. (What dog keeps the best time? A watch dog!)
Post photos of employees’ dogs. Invite residents to match up each dog with its owner. (Do any of the dogs and their owners resemble each other?)
Learn about dogs
Find out how many of your residents remember these famous movie stars who were dogs.
Share dog trivia. (Did you know they can teach some dogs to do simple math problems?)
Check out these important life lessons we can learn from a dog.
Strike up a conversation
Ask residents about their experiences with dogs. This works well as a group activity or during 1:1 time.
- Did you have a dog as a pet when you were growing up? What was its name?
- Should a dog live in the house or only outdoors?
- Did your dog ever do something naughty? Heroic? Funny?
- What makes a better pet—a dog or a cat?
- Is it okay for dogs to eat people’s food?
- What’s the best thing about owning a dog?
Sing a song
Get together and sing a few songs about dogs. Your residents will enjoy learning the history behind these dog-themed songs.
Invite dogs to visit
- Host an outdoor dog costume parade. Ask residents to vote for Best of Show.
- Invite a pet therapy group and their dogs to visit with your residents.
- Find someone with new puppies to come to see your residents.
Bake dog treats
Our residents love to make dog treats to send home with employees who have dogs. You can also check with your local animal shelter to see if they accept homemade treats.
Host a guest speaker
Invite an expert to come in and tell stories about their experiences with dogs. A few possibilities include:
- veterinarian
- dog trainer
- doggie daycare owner
- groomer
- pet photographer
Enjoy a snack
At some point during this busy day, you’ll need to pause for a snack. I hope you’ll get a group of residents together to make my favorite treat for Mutt Day: puppy chow! Besides being fun to make, you probably didn’t realize all the different variations of puppy chow you can create.
Check here for even more little-known holidays to celebrate with your residents throughout the year!
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