When your dog holds an important place in your heart, you want to celebrate special occasions in a festive way, birthdays included. While the nature of your pup’s birthday party should be based on his temperament, you can plan to host anything from a quiet family party to a high-energy event with other well-behaved, well-socialized dog friends.
Dog Park Party
If you have a favorite dog park you frequent, prepare special treats for your dog’s birthday and bring enough to share with everyone. You may opt to bake your own “puppy cakes,” or a canine-friendly version of cupcakes, or buy treats from a dog bakery or pet supply store.
Neighborhood Get-Together
If your dog is on good terms with other pups in your neighborhood, invite them and their owners for an afternoon of backyard fun.
- Set up an obstacle course and offer prizes for the human-dog team that completes it in the best time.
- Design a photo area where people and their pups can play “dress up” in fun hats, scarves and glasses and get their picture snapped.
- Pass out doggy goody bags with special treats, chew toys, mini bottles of pet shampoo or a special brush or comb.
People Party
Invite your friends to a human party in honor of your dog’s birthday using fire hydrant-shaped invitations. Decorate in a puppy theme with washable paint paw prints leading to your door. If you’ll have young guests attending, construct a faux dog house across a doorway as their own special entrance. Dog bone-shaped crackers or sandwiches and snacks will taste puppylicious served in clean, new dog dishes. Hot dogs and “puppy chow” cereal mix are a must-have.
Quiet Celebration
If your dog is the shy type and not interested in big crowds, spend his birthday doing a favorite activity. This might include a run on the beach, a hike in a park or an outdoor picnic with his family where he gets to play catch and enjoy favorite treats. Don’t forget the presents. A new “lovey” or blanket, a bigger dog bed or a brand new collar and leash will fill the bill.