National Slobber Appreciation Day 2026: Is It Really a Holiday?

November 16th is National Slobber Appreciation Day, a whimsical holiday devoted to man’s best friend and their tendency to, well, slobber everywhere. Sometimes it’s cute, sometimes it’s funny, and other times it’s exasperating, but everyone can agree that slobber goes hand in hand with dog parenting.

More seriously, this day aims to combat ignorance about slobbery dog breeds. Hypersalivation can be a nuisance to owners, which can contribute to abandonment. Educating people about normal and abnormal salivation in dogs is a step toward redeeming slobbery dogs everywhere—a noble goal if we’ve ever seen one.

It is a day to appreciate your dog’s goofiness but also a welcome excuse to spend some quality time with your best furry friend. Let’s learn some more about this sloppy holiday below, as well as some more general information on dog slobber.

Origins of National Slobber Appreciation Day

National Slobber Appreciation Day was first celebrated in 2012, so it’s fairly new. It was founded to spread awareness about the Newfoundland dog breed, which tends to slobber a lot.

More interestingly, it was created in defiance of a muzzle-like dog accessory that claimed to stop slobbering. Naturally, dog owners were instantly up in arms protesting the product, which unfairly punishes drooly dogs. Shortly after, My Brown Newfies declared November 16th National Slobber Appreciation Day, just 2 days after their dog’s birthday.¹

How to Celebrate National Slobber Appreciation Day

National Slobber Appreciation Day is a day to celebrate your dog’s silly spirit and spread awareness about dog slobber, but how do you celebrate it? We have some ideas. Check them out below.

Why Do Dogs Slobber?

Slobber does not have nice connotations on its own. For dogs, it is a perfectly normal, natural, and even healthy behavior. Dogs slobber when they’re excited, hungry, and even agitated.

Dog saliva does many of the same jobs human saliva does, like breaking down food and lubricating the digestive tract. It also cleans a dog’s mouth from bad bacteria, which is super important considering what they put in their mouths.

In some cases, slobber can also signify health issues, but that’s pretty rare. If you have to regularly do laundry because of your dog’s slobber, you may have an issue. Consult a vet if you’re worried.

How to Manage Excessive Dog Slobber

Dog slobber is normal, but some breeds and individual dogs drool more than others—the Bloodhound and Saint Bernard, for instance. While you can’t stop slobbering, you can help slow it down a little.

Final Thoughts

National Slobber Appreciation Day is a lighthearted holiday with a noble motive to help destigmatize slobbery dog breeds everywhere. Take the chance to give your dog some delicious, saliva-inducing food, take some selfies, and spread awareness about normal dog drool.

Featured Image Credit: JRJfin, Shutterstock