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National Dress Up Your Pet Day

Dress up your furry friend and make National Dress Up Your Pet Day extra special - share photos of their cutest look on social media!

Thursday

January 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEJanuary 14

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYAnimals

SUBCATEGORYPets

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get excited for National Dress Up Your Pet Day on January 14! This fun holiday dates back to 2009 and is celebrated annually among pet owners all over the world. It's a great opportunity for us to show our furry friends how much we love them by showing off their personalities through creative costumes. Whether it's a tutu, a superhero cape, or just some silly glasses, let your pets shine this National Dress Up Your Pet Day!

TIMELINE

National Dress Up Your Pet Day Timeline

Origin of Pet Dress-Up

The trend of dressing up pets, mostly dogs, began in the 1950s with Hollywood celebrities accessorizing their pets in chic outfits.

Popularity Rise in Pet Fashion

In the early 2000s, pet fashion became more mainstream and commercially popular due to the growth of online retail.

Inauguration of Pet Dress-Up Day

Celebrity pet lifestyle expert and animal behaviorist, Colleen Paige, establishes National Dress Up Your Pet Day on January 14 to promote pet adoption.

Social Media Influence

Social media platforms like Instagram boosted the popularity of pet fashion, with accounts dedicated to fashionably dressed pets gaining thousands of followers.

Pet Fashion Industry Growth

The pet fashion industry saw continued growth, with multi-million dollar revenues driven by pet owners' increasing interest in pet clothing and accessories.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day

Sew a costume

Let your creative juices flow and whip out the sewing machine. Whether it's a simple cape or something more elaborate, you can make a costume for your pet to show off their personality.

ACCESSORIZE

Accessorize

It doesn't have to be an entire costume to dress up your pet. A bow tie, a bandana, or some fun sunglasses are easy and safe accessories that can easily transform your pet's look.

THROW

Throw a pet party

Gather some of your friends and their pets, pick a theme, and give everyone the challenge to dress up their pet accordingly. This is the perfect way to celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day!

Go shopping

Hit the mall with your dog or cat in tow and check out all the pet costumes available. You can even get matching costumes for you and your pet if you want!

CREATE

Create a photo shoot

Dress up your pet in their new outfit and create an outdoor or indoor photo shoot. You'll have lots of fun memories to look back on.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Dress Up Your Pet Day

It builds stronger bonds between pets and their owners

Dressing up your pet can bring an entirely new level of interaction between two friends. It also gives pet owners the chance to show off their animals and lets other people admire them, too!

It's fun for pet owners

Dress up your pet day is the perfect opportunity to express creativity and have some fun with your four-legged friend. Whether you put on a costume or come up with a creative outfit, it can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your beloved pet!

It shows how much you appreciate your pet

By dressing up your pet, you demonstrate that they are an important part of your life and worth being celebrated as such. It's a touching way to show the world just how much love and care you have for them.

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