The National Day Calendar has become the authoritative source for fun, unusual and unique national celebrations. The calendar currently tracks nearly 1,500 days that shine the spotlight on a variety of activities, foods or behaviors that should be celebrated.

 But for your dog, there’s really only one day that matters and it’s today because February 23^rd is National Dog Biscuit Day! (This day is also observed around the world as International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.)

 Back in the late 1820s, a butcher in England was trying a new recipe for biscuits that turned out to be terrible. He gave one to his dog who loved it. For many years, the country produced dog biscuits on a small scale. Then, in 1907, the first bone-shaped biscuit for dogs appeared in the U.S. and the shape caught on. And as they say, the rest is history!

 It’s no secret that most dogs love getting treats. Some like it with bacon, others with peanut butter and a few even like pumpkin! But keep in mind that biscuits and other snacks should only make up 10% of a dog's daily calorie intake or dogs can become overweight. Be sure to speak with your veterinarian to determine the frequency of treats for your four-legged pal.

 So how should you observe this special day?  

 ·        Give your canine companion a dog biscuit to celebrate.

·        Make some homemade biscuits to ensure the best ingredients are used.

·        Use #NationalDogBiscuitDay to post on social media.

 And here’s a dog biscuit fun fact: In 2011, Hampshire Pet Products in Joplin, Missouri, received an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for making the biggest dog biscuit. The biscuit weighed 617 pounds and measured 19 feet long, 1.63 inches deep, and 3.8 feet wide. It required 10 bakers to bake it.