May the 4th Be With You: How To Celebrate Star Wars Day With Your Dog

May the 4th is popularly known as Star Wars Day because it sounds like the famous catchphrase from the movie franchise: "May the Force be with you." If you love Star Wars and consider your dog to be your furry co-pilot, there are ways that you can celebrate together. Here are some ideas that are out of this world.

Watch the Movies

The most obvious way to celebrate Star Wars Day with your dog is to cuddle up on the couch and watch the movies together, or at least some of them. It would take more than 24 hours to watch all the movies in the Star Wars oeuvre, so maybe you should choose a favorite movie or a favorite trilogy to watch on the day itself. Be sure that both you and your dog have comfy pillows.

Learn About the Significance of Dogs to Star Wars History

Star Wars is the creation of George Lucas, who was inspired by a dog to create one of its most iconic characters. At the time that he was writing the first movie, Lucas had an Alaskan malamute as a pet. Loving and sweet-tempered, the dog was his constant companion, and she inspired Lucas to create a furry, dog-like sidekick for one of his main characters, Han Solo. Chewbacca the Wookiee was thus modeled after Indiana the dog, who also lent her name to swashbuckling archeologist Indiana Jones.

More recently, when "The Force Awakens" was released in 2015, Carrie Fisher made talk show appearances accompanied by her French bulldog, Gary. With his constantly lolling tongue, Gary immediately won the hearts of fans everywhere.

Enter Your Dog in a Look-Alike or Costume Contest

Unsurprisingly, given that dogs helped to inspire the movies' creator, certain breeds of dogs look like Star Wars characters. Alaskan malamutes, fittingly, get compared to Chewbacca, as do other large, shaggy dog breeds, such as Leonbergers, Tibetan mastiffs, and Newfoundlands. The Brussels griffon is a dead ringer for an Ewok, while pugs look like they could be related to Yoda.

You may find a Star Wars look-alike contest online or in your local paper. If not, you can start your own via social media. Putting your dog in a costume can enhance the resemblance.

Determine Your Dog's Star Wars Personality

Even if your dog does not look like a Star Wars character, she may resemble one in personality. Is your dog a Rebel princess or a Sith lord? There are quizzes that you can take online to find out, and then you can let other people know with a Star Wars-themed identification tag for your dog's collar.

Give Your Dog a Gift

Star Wars toys aren't just for human children, and May the 4th can be a good excuse to spoil your dog a little bit. Consider giving your dog a Star Wars chew toy modeled after a character you don't like. Your dog can have fun playing, while you may derive some satisfaction from watching him trying to rip it apart.

Attend or Host a Dog-Friendly, Star Wars-Themed Costume Party

The only thing more fun than dressing your dog up like a Star Wars character is dressing up like a corresponding character and attending a costume party as a matched pair. Ideas for paired Star Wars costumes for you and your dog include the following:

•        Han Solo and Chewbacca

•        Princess Leia and an Ewok

•        Luke Skywalker and Yoda

•        C-3PO and R2D2

•        The Mandalorian and the Child

Maybe you have friends who have dogs and love Star Wars too. In that case, you can throw a party inviting them along with their dogs and encouraging everyone to wear Star Wars costumes, or at least Star Wars-themed T-shirts.

Look for Community Events

Since the franchise is so popular, many communities may look for ways to celebrate Star Wars Day. Look for events in your community, such as costume contests or dog-friendly fun runs.

Do Jedi Training With Your Dog

Your dog may not be able to wield the Force, but chances are she is capable of some remarkable feats. Take your dog to the park and toss a disk toy resembling the Millennium Falcon for her to catch in the air, or start teaching her some remarkable tricks of mind and body.

Like Luke Skywalker, your dog may get frustrated with long training sessions. Be wiser than Yoda by keeping things short and fun, and finish each session with yummy treats and praise.

Go Stargazing

One interesting way to celebrate Star Wars Day may be to look at the actual stars with your dog. If you live in an urban area, you may have to take a drive out into the country to escape the light pollution. With these dog goggles, your pet is safe to stick his head out the car window while cosplaying as a member of the Rebel Alliance Starfighters. You can identify well-known constellations with the naked eye, but with a good pair of binoculars or a telescope, you may be able to see galaxies far, far away.

Name a New Pet After a Star Wars Character

You probably shouldn't get a new pet just because it's Star Wars Day, but if you're thinking about adopting a new pet anyway, you can do honor to the day by naming your new friend after a Star Wars character. Pet names inspired by the Star Wars universe include the following:

•        Wookiee

•        Wicket

•        Leia

•        Solo

•        Rey

•        Yoda

•        Grogu

•        Dooku

You can also shorten a Star Wars name to create a moniker for your pet, e.g., Boba for Boba Fett or Pal for Palpatine.

However you and your dog decide to celebrate Star Wars Day, may the "furs" be with you, always.