International Doodle Dog Day 2026: What & When Is It?

International Doodle Dog Day is a special event dedicated to celebrating Poodle mix dog breeds from all over the world. It is celebrated on May 1st every year. Created by Ripley and Rue, it's essentially a time for Poodle and Doodle owners to take their furry little friends on a playdate, to a dog parade, or to just simply spoil them with treats.

This day is not just meant for Doodles, but also for Doodle owners to have fun, socialize with other Doodle owners, get Doodle care and maintenance advice, and make friends.

In this article, we will highlight traits of Doodles, the history of IDDD, and fun ideas of how you can celebrate your Doodle.

What Is a Doodle Dog?

A Doodle dog is essentially created when a standard Poodle, a miniature Poodle, or a toy Poodle is mixed with a different dog breed.¹ Most people consider Doodles to be designer dog breeds, while others consider them mixed dog breeds.

The term designer in dog breeds simply refers to situations when breeders intermix two purebred dogs in a bid to get the best traits from each species in the new puppy. In the case of Doodles, you are likely to end up with an intelligent family dog that has a low-shedding coat and is generally good-natured.

Doodles have slowly been rising in popularity starting with the infamous Labradoodle owned by Wally Conron, a breeding manager. This mix began back in 1980 in Australia when Wally was tasked to breed a non-shedding guide dog.

So, in 1989, he mated a Labrador with a standard Poodle. He ended up with 3 puppies, which he called Labradoodle. Conron later announced to the press that he had come up with a new dog breed, which was meant to be a joke, but the Labradoodle took the world by storm with every household clamoring for one.

Today, there are at least 44 Poodle mixes in existence, featuring different sizes and shapes. They range from the Fluffy Sheepadoodle to the mini English Goldendoodle.

Doodle puppies are generally loving, sweet, and playful. They feature all the Poodle traits that we have come to appreciate over the years.

What Is International Doodle Dog Day?

Considered members of the family, Doodles bring us joy and laughter. Therefore, they deserve more than the occasional chew toy to show our appreciation. This is the premise behind International Doodle Dog Day that provides Doodle owners a unique opportunity to officially celebrate the companionship of their Doodles.

International Doodle Dog Day, or IDDD in short, was created in 2015 by Jeanine North. Jeanine is one of the original founders of Ripley and Rue, a merchandise store for dogs, specifically geared at women's niche markets. In fact, the dog store is named after her two favorite Doodle dogs.

Ever since it was created, the IDDD has grown to become an event celebrated worldwide. In fact, in 2022, over 75 cities across the world participated, including New York, San Francisco, and Melbourne. The official Instagram account for IDDD has over 80k followers,² which should give you a rough idea of just how much Doodles are celebrated. One of the best things about IDDD is that it celebrates all types of Doodle Dogs.

So, how can you be part of the event? Read on to find out.

How to Celebrate International Doodle Dog Day

In 2023, International Doodle Dog Day is scheduled to happen on May 1^st. However, you can plan an event with your city and schedule a different day in case of issues with weather, schedule, and safety.

You can opt to celebrate IDDD by donating to charitable organizations or shelter homes for canines. You can also opt to provide volunteer services working towards bettering the lives of dogs.

If you have been an admirer of Doodles, but have never had one, you can choose International Doodle Day as a symbolic day to buy one for yourself.

If you are looking for a Doodle dog as a companion, it is best to adopt one instead of shopping for one. If you adopt one from a canine shelter, you will be giving another dog a chance at a better life.

On IDDD, you can also share your favorite memories with your Doodle on social media. Just simply snap a photo as you play around with your dog and post it, preferably on Instagram. Remember to use the hashtag #InternationalDoodleDogDay to flaunt the cuteness of your Doodle Dog among other owners.

Creating Your Own International Doodle Day Event

Setting up your own local International Doodle Day Event is fairly straightforward. You can make it as big or as little as you want, depending on your budget and preferences. Once you have all the details of the event planned out, you can then submit the event to Ripley and Rue.

However, before you submit your event particulars, here are some event details that you first need to figure out.

Ideas for Activities on IDDD

For your IDDD day to be successful, it should encompass some type of activity that attracts other Doodle owners to the venue. This can be something as simple as installing a romp in the dog park or as complex as a parade or a block party.

Another activity worth considering is starting an auction or raffle for a charity such as your local canine shelter. Alternatively, you can avail of fun games that both the Doodles and their owners can enjoy.

It could be great to partner up with shops and local vendors to provide catering services and merchandise for sale at your event.

Location

You also need to create a dedicated space to host your furry friends and their owners for International Doodle Dog Day. If your event will be small and intimate, you can host it at a local park or behind someone’s yard.

However, if you intend your event to be huge and glamorous, you can rent some space like fairgrounds or a farm.

Create Awareness

After all the event details are set, you will have to create awareness of your event among the other local Doodle owners. This shouldn’t be too much hassle if you utilize social media platforms.

One of the easiest ways would be to look for hashtags for your local area. For instance, if you live in Salt Lake City, some research on Instagram can yield results such as #doodlesofutah, #doodlesofsaltlakecity, or #slcgoldendoodle.

This gives you a wider niche audience to which you can reach out to advertise your IDDD event.

You can then proceed to reach out to Ripley and Rue through their IDDD Instagram account or their official website. They frequently post events on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. After that, you are done. Now you can go out and celebrate your Doodle dog!

Final Thoughts

Doodles are some of the most popular dog breeds in the world. They are fiercely loyal and friendly and provide us with unquantifiable companionship. So, it's only fair that we appreciate and celebrate these furry little creatures at least once every year. This was why International Doodle Dog Day was created.

You can celebrate the IDDD by donating money to dog shelters or volunteering to help take care of dogs that have not managed to get a loving home. You can also adopt a Doodle on the IDDD as a symbolic commemoration of the day.

Creating your own IDDD event is also a good way to celebrate your Doodles. Simply come up with a list of activities for the day, get a suitable location, and create awareness of the event in your local Doodle circles via social media platforms.

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Featured Image Credit: SeaRick1, Shutterstock