National Dog Day: Michigan's favorite breeds, how to celebrate your pup

Layla McMurtrie, Detroit Free Press
·4 min read
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Take a trip to the All Things Marketplace in Corktown on Friday, where Detroit Dog Rescue will be on from 3-7 p.m. in honor of National Dog Day.

Aug. 26, 2022 is National Dog Day.
Aug. 26, 2022 is National Dog Day.

Rescue dogs will be available to meet, pet, adopt and head home with great families.  To help the neighborhood non-profit, a no-kill dog shelter, and its initiatives to rescue train, and re-home dogs, Detroit Dog Rescue products will be for sale on-site and online.

From emotional support puppies to famous Dearborn dogs, Michigan has an array of backgrounds for the holiday and plenty of ways to celebrate.

Here's all you need to know about National Dog Day:

History of National Dog Day

National Dog Day is Aug. 26 every year, initially created in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle advocate Colleen Paige, who chose that day specifically because it is when her family brought their dog home when she was 10 years old.

The holiday's mission is to celebrate dogs, raise awareness about the number of dogs in shelters, and encourage adoption.

National Dog Day has expanded since 2004 and is now observed on a global scale.

The Humane Society of the United States and West Coast Labrador Retriever Rescue are just two rescue organizations that have partnered with people in charge of the occasion to enhance the cause's awareness. Together, they highlight the large number of dogs that are homeless and work to actively persuade those looking for a dog to go to an adoption center rather than a pet shop.

For dog owners not looking to adopt, the day has become a great time to spend with your furry friend.

Founder Colleen Paige also uses the holiday to bring attention to the many ways in which dogs contribute to society including helping law enforcement officers, providing assistance and guidance to people with disabilities, and more.

Dog therapy 

Dogs are the most common species to serve in the role of emotional support animals, according to Counseling Today, and there are many pet owners who get comfort from their animals, even if it goes without saying.

While dogs cannot express their love through words, dogs of any size or breed can provide affection and warmth through their companionship

At Grand Ledge High School, dogs were purchased just because they make students happy, assisting in bettering the mental health of young adults.

Additionally, Eastern Michigan University has held an event called "Wellness Woof," where students can come for an hour to meet therapy dogs

Read more: Schools turn to dogs to help ease Michigan’s student mental health crisis

Famous Michigan dogs 

Often spotted hanging out the back end of an open-air 1949 Willys Civilian Jeep, two nearly 85-pound Alaskan Malamute dogs named Yukon and Cheyenne are Dearborn celebrities.

Owned by "Mr. Dearborn" Richard Margittay, the dogs are popular amongst members of the community, often visited by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, and even met former president Bill Clinton in 2015.

On Feb. 5, 2015 former President Bill Clinton was in Dearborn campaigning for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she ran for president. While at Westborn Market, Clinton spied Richard Margittay's dogs Cheyenne (left) and Yukon and went over to greet them.
On Feb. 5, 2015 former President Bill Clinton was in Dearborn campaigning for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she ran for president. While at Westborn Market, Clinton spied Richard Margittay's dogs Cheyenne (left) and Yukon and went over to greet them.

Margittay, 76, who is somewhat of a folk hero around town, bought Cheyenne and Yukon for $1000 each in 2011 when his then-dog Woolly, an Alaskan Malamute, had died that year and Margittay's wife, Donna, was severely ill.

Over 10 years later now, the dogs receive love and attention everywhere they go and have nearly 2,100 followers on Facebook.  Yukon crossed the rainbow bridge earlier this summer.

Read more: Well-known Dearborn man may have most famous dogs in city

Best cars for dog lovers 

Apart from dogs, another thing that Michiganders hold close to their hearts is their vehicles, and the two don't always mix well.

Some of the top cars for dog owners have a variety of pet-friendly features such as low floors for accessible entrance, rear heating, air conditioning, and more.

Here are Autotrader's 2022 Best Cars for Dog Lovers in alphabetical order:

  • 2022 Chrysler Pacifica

  • 2022 Ford Bronco Sport

  • 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

  • 2022 Jeep Wrangler

  • 2022 Kia Soul

  • 2022 Ram ProMaster City Wagon

  • 2022 Subaru Outback

  • 2022 Tesla Model 3

  • 2022 Toyota Sienna

  • 2022 Volvo XC60

Read more: Autotrader releases 2022 top 10 best cars for dogs: What sets them apart

Michigan's favorite dog breeds

  • Labrador Retriever

  • Beagle

  • Pit Bull

  • Mutt

  • Chihuahua

The Labrador Retriever is one of Michigan's favorite dog breeds.
The Labrador Retriever is one of Michigan's favorite dog breeds.

In honor of National Puppy Day in March, Camp Bow Wow, North America's largest pet care provider, released a list of the most popular puppy names compiled from over 400,000.

Here are the top 10 dog names in 2022:

  • Luna

  • Bella

  • Charlie

  • Cooper

  • Lucy

  • Max

  • Daisy

  • Bailey

  • Milo

  • Sadie

How to celebrate

While pets may not be aware of the holiday, dogs always love to spend extra time with their owners.

Here are some ways to appreciate your pup and celebrate National Dog Day:

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan dog lovers and owners can celebrate National Dog Day Aug. 26