Everyone likes an excuse to party, and what better reason than to celebrate your dog! It could be for their birthday, their gotcha day or just because. To help you be the most barktastic host, we have some tips for planning the perfect party for your pooch.<\/p>\n
First things first: does your dog actually like other dogs (and people)? A party without guests might be a little boring, but there\u2019s no point hosting one if your dog is going to spend the whole time hiding under the table. A private celebration may be the best idea for timid or antisocial dogs.<\/p>\n
If your dog is a social butterfly, make sure they have met everyone on the guest list (and ideally they\u2019ve all met each other) so that you can avoid any antisocial party fouls. You should also make sure everyone is up-to-date on their vaccinations<\/a> and that all pet parents bring a leash with them in case there\u2019s a canine kerfuffle.<\/p>\n A pack of partying pooches is going to work up an appetite pretty quick, so doggie snacks are a must-have \u2014 and their humans will probably get peckish, too. When you send out the invitations, ask if any guests have food allergies<\/a> or sensitivities (the humans, too). This will help with planning your menu. Make sure you\u2019re not serving anything that\u2019s toxic to dogs, including any food you made for the pet parents (in case a cheeky dog sneaks something off the table).<\/p>\n If you\u2019re having the party outdoors, some safe summer-themed snacks you could serve are frozen banana slices, watermelon wedges (without seeds or rind) and small pineapple chunks (not the core). Or you could make some pupsicles<\/a> for a special treat that keeps the dogs cool, too. If you\u2019re hosting a fancy foray, you could make your own barkcuterie board<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget you\u2019ll need plenty of water bowls and make sure you keep checking if they need to be refilled. It\u2019s important that the dogs stay hydrated<\/a>, and if you\u2019re hosting a pool party, pool water isn\u2019t the answer, due to the chlorine and other chemicals in it.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning an outdoor party, make sure it\u2019s in a fenced area with plenty of shade and it has a designated bathroom area. Also be sure to keep an eye out for digging<\/a>. If it\u2019s inside, make sure it\u2019s in a defined area that\u2019s dog friendly and hazard free. No matter where you choose to hold your event, make sure it\u2019s escape proof so you\u2019re not chasing down a pack of excited runaways instead of enjoying the party.<\/p>\n A pool party is a great choice for a hot summer\u2019s day. The dogs get to splash around and their pet parents get to relax poolside, too (when they\u2019re not handing out barkaritas<\/a> to the canine guests).<\/p>\n If there are dogs who are new to swimming<\/a> or have difficulty swimming due to their age or health, make sure they have life jackets on. All dogs should have a way to easily get in and out of the pool \u2014 they shouldn\u2019t be forced to jump. If the birthday party is for your 15-year-old dog and their senior friends, a kid\u2019s pool that\u2019s easy to get in and out of and doesn\u2019t actually require swimming may be the best idea.<\/p>\n Dogs typically only swim for about 10 to 30 minutes at a time, so make sure you have rest areas and other activities for them to do. If you want to stick with a water theme, you could set up sprinklers for them to play in.<\/p>\n Once pool time is over, hose off the pups with clean water before they go home. Rinsing with water for at least 20 seconds will remove the chlorine and other pool chemicals and help stop the dogs from getting dry, itchy skin.<\/p>\n What\u2019s cuter than a group of dogs in party hats? That\u2019s right, nothing. You can help your dog celebrate another trip around the sun by inviting their BFFs over for pupcakes and games. A pinata especially made for dogs can be a fun idea and a nice surprise when it bursts open. And don\u2019t forget the party favors \u2014 like a food bowl with favorite treats and toys in it.<\/p>\n The themes for a dog\u2019s birthday party are endless \u2014 tennis balls hanging from the ceiling, bone-shaped birthday banners or hot dog pictures everywhere. If you decide to liven up the party space with decorations, make sure the dogs can\u2019t reach them, or if they can, that they won\u2019t pose a choking or obstruction hazard.<\/p>\n If you adopted your dog, you may not know when their birthday is. So instead of a birthday party you could throw them a Gotcha Day party on the anniversary of when you brought them home. A nice idea is to collect supplies or donations for the shelter<\/a> your dog came from (instead of gifts for your dog), so they get to celebrate the day as well.<\/p>\n If you know kids who are big fans of everything pet-related, you could see if your local animal shelter hosts kid\u2019s parties<\/a>. Vetstreet explains this growing trend gives kids a fun place to have their party and it\u2019s an extra income source for the shelter. Each shelter has their own party program, but it could include a behind-the-scenes tour, learning about pet care, making pet-related crafts or playing with some of the pets who need a home. Who knows, maybe some lucky pet will be adopted because of the party.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As your guests leave, you\u2019ll realize that a dog party ends the same way as a human party \u2014 with lots of mess to clean up, food crumbs everywhere and a pooped pooch. But it\u2019s absolutely worth it!<\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat\u2019s a Party Without Snacks?<\/h2>\n
Location, Location, Location<\/h2>\n
Plan a Puppy Pool-ooza<\/h2>\n
Throw a Birthday Pawty<\/h2>\n
Gather for a Gotcha Day Party<\/h2>\n
You Can Party with Furry Friends, Too<\/h2>\n