Throwing a Birthday Party for Your Dog

Our pets are our kiddos, too – just with a couple extra legs and fur. They bring us joy and love all year long, so if you’re the type of pet owner who hangs up a doggie stocking at Christmas and selects a Halloween costume for Fido each year, then throwing him a birthday party is probably not far-fetched either.

While some people – even pet owners – will laugh at the notion, these gatherings can be a great excuse for fun for owners and dogs alike. Any successful pooch birthday party will have a couple of key elements that can help guarantee a puppy play date atmosphere.

Is Your Dog a Party Animal?

Make sure your hound is up for the celebration. If your dog doesn’t play well with other people or pets then he isn’t the social pup that is required when you’re hosting an event for the hounds.

Your dog needs some furry friends. While you can certainly host a party with only two-legged attendees, the activities become so much more interesting when you have a yard full of dogs to participate. Make sure you invite dogs that can play well with one another.

Don’t go to the Dogs

Even if your dog knows all the dogs in attendance, there will likely still be some dogs meeting for the first time at your party. Some squabbles may develop, but in many cases dogs will work out a pecking order naturally. If you do have to ask a dog to leave, don’t blame the dog… sometimes a party is just full of a bit too much stimulation and unfamiliar situations.

If you can place a check mark next to birthday pup and form a list of attendees, then from here is where you and your pup’s personality take over. Simply hanging out at the dog park or in the backyard may be perfect for most pets. Others may love a visit to the lake for some swimming, or a low-key indoor party for a small or older canine.

Doggie Bags & More

Decorations are another detail than can be done elaborately or skipped altogether, but many pup party hosts choose a theme just like one does for a child’s party. When you advertise the theme in advance, the other dogs can play along too by showing up dressed western or ready for a luau for example.

This is one of the few party situations where you will also literally have doggie bags! Be sure you offer party favors, especially if this is a traditional party style with your pup receiving gifts.

And of course, the birthday party will feature a birthday cake – just be sure you take the appropriate measures to avoid food squabbles. A little taste of cake will be plenty to treat the canines without dealing with tummy upset later. Be sure to choose dog appropriate ingredients – no chocolate! However, you can use carob as a chocolate substitute. For the cake “candles,” we recommend rawhide sticks, pupperoni, jerky, or stand up some milk bones.

Now, all you need to decide is whether you celebrate the calendar years or count out enough pupperoni to cover all the dog years.

Image Credit: INAPL.org

Susan Wright is a veterinarian with over 10 years experience and an expert on dog bark collars. Susan authors articles on the proper care of dogs and tips to make life with the furry pets much easier.

Published in Family