• by Tanya Gazdik , August 25, 2015

A handful of brands are hopping aboard the cute dog train with activities and sponsorships linked to the 11th annual National Dog Day, which is Aug. 26.

The unofficial holiday was founded in 2004 by Pet, Family & Home Lifestyle Expert and animal advocate Colleen Paige. The celebration in 2014 trended #1 on Twitter worldwide, under three different terms and created over 5 million hashtags across social media.

This year's sponsors include Autotrader, for a second year, with their list of Best Cars for Dog Lovers. Dog lovers take their four-legged friends into account when shopping for their perfect ride, says Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader.

"The cars on our list provide key features for pet owners, such as fold-flat rear seats, rear lift gate, low ride-height, airy cabin and under-floor storage — so both you and your pets are happy and comfortable," Moody says in a release.

Loews Hotels & Resorts is back for a second year with an event planned at their Loews Regency New York hotel on Aug. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the hotel's Sant Ambroeus Café. In addition, Loews Regency has partnered with "Sylvia," an upcoming Broadway production about a New York couple and their relationship with a dog. Attendees of "Yappy Hour" will have an opportunity to receive discount offers on show tickets.

This year's celebration on the Web includes "The World's Cutest Dog" photo contest. The grand prize winner will receive prizes valued at over $500 and a two-night stay at a pet-friendly, Mission Beach, San Diego luxury vacation home, offered by National Dog Day sponsor, Luv Surf Vacation Homes, a PupSaver small dog car seat and elegant dog accessories by Capturing Couture.

Milo’s Kitchen dog treats has created a thank you video to pay tribute to all the ways dogs help make life better for their humans. According to the recent “Milo's Kitchen Dog Happy Survey” — a national survey of 3,000 U.S. dog parents — four-legged friends enrich their owner’s lives in a variety of ways.

Eighty-six percent of dog parents say their dog “comforts me immeasurably” while 71% say their dog “reminds me to seek out more joy in life.” Another 64% say their dog “makes me look forward to going home more than anything else” while 63% say their dog “makes me much more patient and responsible.” As a result, it's no surprise that 73% of dog parents buy their dog a special gift (especially dog treats) at least once per month.

Online retailer Zulily is highlighting some of the Web site’s favorite dog-inspired apparel and accessories.

Nextdoor, a neighborhood-based social media network, has compiled a list of the top 10 dog names and breeds in the U.S. Bella is the most popular dog name for 2015, with mutts being the most popular dog breed. Other popular names are Lucy, Max, Daisy, Bailey, Buddy, Molly, Charlie, Maggie and Sadie.