INVITATIONS
Invite your dog’s favorite pals from the dog park, your own family, and the neighborhood! In addition to sending out invitations to your friends and family, post a flyer at your doggy daycare or obedience class. Be sure to make a note if it’s small dogs only or mostly larger dogs—sometimes the little guys don’t like to play as rough as the big guys. Most dog parents love getting their dog out and about to burn some energy and socialize. If there is going to be a large number of dogs, consider not having any small children there, or keep them in a separate area. It’s also a good idea to tell little kids ahead of time how to behave around the dogs so no one gets hurt. Make sure to keep the human-to-canine ratio balanced so there’s adequate human supervision at all times.
VENUE
If you have a good-sized yard, this is your best and least expensive venue option. It’s probably not a good idea to have a bunch of pups inside your house—even the most perfectly housetrained dogs have been known to lift a leg in a new environment. If you don’t have a fenced-in yard, your local doggy daycare may allow you to rent a room in its facility for a few hours. Or you can hold the party at your local dog park. It might be a good idea to post an ad at the dog park ahead of time so visitors know when your party will be and can decide whether they want to attend.
DECOR
Deck out your party or keep it casual—the dogs will have fun either way! You can opt to have a theme, like a black-tie affair, a costume party, or just pass out birthday hats. This will make for some great photo ops! Consider using streamers to make a festive backdrop that your guests can use for photos. You can blow-up photos of the birthday pup and hang them up, as well as any other streamers and décor that the dogs won’t be able to get ahold of.
FOOD & DRINK
No party is complete without a birthday cake! Check out the simple doggy cake recipe below. If you’re having a summertime bash, think about handing out some “popsicles.” Just mix two regular containers of nonfat, plain yogurt with some banana and peanut butter in a blender, and then freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. Use dog treats in place of the wooden handles. No desire to cook or bake? No problem—your local pet supply store will likely have some special birthday-themed toys and treats you can get for the whole pack.
Always make sure there are enough water bowls for all your furry guests—you don’t want them squabbling over a single bowl. You can display dog-friendly appetizers in bowls, like chopped carrots, apple slices, and your dog’s favorite treats. Don’t forget all the human guests who will be attending—you’ll probably want to have some human snacks and drinks there, too.
Doggy Bags
Find some dog-themed cellophane baggies and stuff them with doggie cookies and squeak toys—you can find some good ones in the discount bin at your local pet supply store. Your human and furry guests will undoubtedly appreciate these fur kid-friendly goody bags!
If your dog is the type to become too overwhelmed by a bunch of dogs crashing his yard, you can opt for having just one or two playmates come over, or treat him to a nice long walk and his own personal birthday cake—whatever wags his tail! Your pup will be grateful for his special celebration and know how much you love him.
