One of my great joys in my life have been my dogs. I've rescued two and fostered two more from the same rescue. I don't have any two-legged family members to spoil, so I have a lot of fun taking care of my pooches. 

That said, my doggos do not live in the lap of luxury, like the fluffy white kitty in the cat food commercial. (I don’t live like that either. Unfortunately. Boo.) But they have enjoyed some perks in life.

Plastic kiddie pool in the summer, refilled with fresh water every other day? Yep, check. Automated ball chucking machine? You know it. Matching sweaters under the Christmas tree, dropped off by Santa Paws and his eight tiny reindeer? Well, yeah. Home-cooked food, lovingly prepared by their mama and heated before each meal? Of course. Archie, a Generation Z pupper to his core, is allergic to gluten, after all.

They also have their special celebration days. Gabe is a second-hand dog, rehomed when his first family realized they didn’t have time for a dog. They had purchased Gabe from a breeder and gave me all his information, including his birth date. Archie is rescued. He was found as a stray. Since no one knows his birth date, we celebrate Archie’s adoption anniversary instead. In both cases, when the special day arrives, I break out the paper party hats, barbeque steak for their supper, and present them with gifts (usually toys or new collars and special treats).

National Dog Day - August 26

My boys are well-loved and well cared-for. Every. Single. Day. They also have special celebration days. Do they really need another one? Well, why not? Doesn’t every dog deserve to be celebrated as much as possible?

August 26 is National Dog Day (NDD). According to the NDD website , the day was established “to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and [to] acknowledge family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort.”

The NDD website has a number of suggestions for marking the day. But if you read my blog about Book Lovers’ Day, you’ll know where I’m headed. So let’s cut to the chase here.

Why not celebrate National Dog Day by starting a writing journal about your doggo or by incorporating dog-themed spreads into your Bullet Journal® (bujo)? There are all kinds of ways that you can do this. 

Why a Doggo Journal is a Terrific Idea

Journaling about your dogs is a great idea because:

• Tracking vet visits, vaccinations, medications, and other health information (like allergies) can help you and your vet manage your dog’s health care. 
• Information can be easily shared with pet sitters or other people who help care for your dog, like dog walkers and doggie daycare workers.
• Tracking training sessions can help ensure consistency in training.
• A tracker can provide confirmation that your dog’s basic needs are met. Was his bowl filled before everyone raced out the door this morning? Whose turn is it to walk him this evening? Did Little Susie brush Fido as promised on the weekend?
• The journal will be a beautiful memory book.

I’m not a list-maker or a tracker at heart. I don’t bujo. My own personal journals are a mix of writing journals and scrapbooks. I paste in photos and ephemera, scrawl in a few doodles, and write long rambling entries.

If this is your kind of journaling too, it doesn’t have to be set up like a personal diary, with a daily log of your doggo’s activities. There are all kinds of other things you can write about. What did she do that made you laugh today? What’s her personality like? What are her favorite treats and toys? How does she greet you at the door? Does she love to exercise or is she one of those dogs that you have to drag around the block? Why are you grateful for her companionship? 

Tracking Your Doggo in Your Bullet Journal

If you don’t want to keep a dedicated journal for your dog, you can always incorporate dog-themed spreads and trackers into your bujo. If this is more your style, you can track things like:

• Grooming, such as brushing, baths, nail trims, and ear cleans
• Medications, including vaccinations, flea and tick control, heartworm and deworming medications, and supplements
• Weight, to ensure lifelong maintenance of a healthy weight
• Favorite things, like food, treats, toys, people, places, and activities
• Activities, such as walks, visits to the dog park, playdates, doggie daycare days, and kennel stays
• Puppy milestones, like accident-free days and her first visit to a pet store
• Training sessions
• Gratitude lists

If you choose to go bujo-style, Natasha Stoppel has a terrific YouTube tutorial.  In it, she demonstrates different graphics that can prettty up your spreads. Or, of course, there's always washi tape. (Hey, I have to use up my 27 rolls somehow. So that, you know, I can buy more.)

Regardless of what style of journaling you choose for your own doggos, I know you'll love a unique Writing Journal from SohoSpark - amirite?

Are you already journaling about your dog? If so, please drop me a comment below. I always love to hear about doggos!

Photos are authors own.