Love Your Pet Day ideas. Feb 20: give your dog a long, sniffy walk.

By the Clean Fluff Club team. Updated October 15, 2026. How we picked.

Our pick

Best forSenior dogs who nap a lot

The catch: Foam can flatten under a heavy dog.

The catch
Foam can flatten under a heavy dog.
Skip it if
Your dog is over 55 lb, or heavy enough to flatten foam fast.

Why this one: an orthopedic egg-crate foam base under every nap.

Check price at Amazon for FurHaven Orthopedic Dog Bed on Amazon

Not working yet? Common mistakes. Costumes your dog fights.

A delighted plum dog leaps beside a striped party popper with streamers, confetti and a balloon in a peach room
In this guide5 sections

Your dog's Love Your Pet Day list has no tutu on it. The day is February 20, and the best version takes three moves:

  1. Take a walk with no agenda: your dog picks the route and the pace.
  2. Serve part of dinner in a frozen, stuffed KONG.
  3. Nap together, on the couch, bed or floor. Their choice.

Dogs value time, smells, food and comfort. Here are 20 Love Your Pet Day ideas that give them more of those, most of them free.

Time with you

  • A walk with no agenda: Your dog picks the route and the pace. Every smell gets read.
  • A new place: A trail, a beach or a dog-friendly patio you've never tried.
  • A phone-free play session: Fifteen minutes of their favorite game, with your full attention.
  • Teach a new trick: Spin, paw, "touch". Short sessions, lots of wins.
  • A nap together: Couch, bed, floor. Their choice.

The picks side by side

PickBest forThe catch
Our pickFurHaven Orthopedic Dog BedSenior dogs who nap a lotFoam can flatten under a heavy dog.
Also greatKONG Classic Dog ToyDogs who need a jobCan stain light carpets when stuffed with wet food

Food and fun

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  • Bake biscuits: Our homemade dog biscuit recipes use pantry staples, with the ingredients to skip.
  • A frozen stuffed toy: Fill a KONG with part of dinner and freeze it. It's the toy on our pick list for good reason: stuff it, freeze it, bounce it.
  • The catch: Wet fillings can stain a light carpet, so serve it on a hard floor or a towel.
  • Skip it if: Your dog is a power chewer. Get the black KONG Extreme instead.
  • Scatter breakfast: In the yard or across a towel instead of a bowl.
  • A house treat hunt: Hide treats at nose height and say "find it".
  • A new chew: Sized for your dog. Watch the first session.

Comfort

  • Wash the bed and blankets: Your dog won't say thanks. Your couch will.
  • A better bed: Especially for an older dog.
  • The catch: The cover pills after many washes, so wash it gently.
  • Skip it if: Your dog is heavy or flattens foam fast.
  • A slow brushing session: For dogs who enjoy it. It doubles as a lump-and-bump check.
  • A quiet spot: With their bed, away from foot traffic, for a dog who likes some space.
  • A massage: If your dog leans into it. Stop if they move away.

Ways to show your dog love that outlast the day

  • The overdue checkup: Book the checkup you've been putting off, including a look at the teeth.
  • Microchip and tag: Update the details. Our guide to how to prevent dog theft has a ten-minute checklist.
  • Teeth: Start brushing them. Our step-by-step brushing guide begins with letting them lick the paste.
  • Clean the toy basket: Bin the broken ones with loose parts.
  • Donate to a local shelter: Old towels and blankets are often welcome. Check their wish list first.

Common mistakes

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Skip these

  • Costumes your dog fights. If the ears go back and the tail goes down, take it off.
  • Rich human food. Celebration plates can include things on the ASPCA's list of foods to avoid, like chocolate, grapes and onions.
  • A crowded party. Give your dog a quiet room away from the guests, noise and hands.

Pick two or three ideas, not all 20. The best version of the day looks a lot like a good ordinary day, with a bit more of you in it. Play is the best present, so see our interactive toy picks for dogs.

Your next move

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