Dog's Birthday Ideas

Family-Only Celebration

• Visit a dog bakery if possible and pick up some special treats for the birthday boy or girl. Some even make "cakes" safe for doggie consumption. If that isn't an option, a stop at Petco or Petsmart will have to do. The idea is to buy something out of the ordinary for the big day. Then plan a meal for the rest of the family---a sit-down affair, a buffet or just snacks and treats. Make sure to think about foods that are appropriate and safe for people and the dog. For example, avoid having too many chocolate treats or foods with onions available for the people when there's a chance that your dog could get into them.

Dog Party Guests

• If you're going to throw an all-out party for your dog, complete with human and canine guests, the first thing you must do is decide whom to invite. This is not a good time to introduce your dog to dogs he or she has never met before. Instead invite dogs from playgroup, your neighborhood or the doggy day care program. Realistically consider how many guests you can accommodate. Don't invite canine guests who don't get along with other dogs or people. However, if you invite a dog you'll also have to invite the owner: every dog means two mouths to feed, with two different types of food. Children are another issue. Some are frightened of other dogs or may not be used to seeing more than one dog at one place at a time; others may be too rough with dogs.

Dog Party Activities

• Have lots of small training treats on hand to reward good behavior. Hold contests for dogs with the best stay, sit, shake, roll over and speak (the reward being a treat, of course). Fill Kong toys with peanut butter---one for each dog guest---and hand them out when you're ready for some down time. Have rope toys available so the dogs can play tug of war with each other or with a human guest. Go all out and request that each dog come dressed in costume; then pick up some cheap toys as prizes for best costume, most original or funniest.

Dog Party Drinks and Food

• There should be plenty of water on hand for all of your canine guests. Each guest could have its own stylish ceramic bowl that its owner can take home when the party is over. Make the dogs their own treats for meal time (following recipes meant for dogs) or order them from a dog bakery. Each dog should go home happy and tired, not sick.

Dog Party Safety Considerations

• Keep the party relatively short---one hour. Make sure there is enough shade and water for everyone. Either keep all dogs on-leash or all dogs off-leash; those on-leash are typically more defensive and aggressive with those who get to be off-leash. Bring enough pick-up bags for each dog to have two messes. Keep treats and food portions very small and have the owners give food to their own dogs. Treats that take minutes to eat could result in a doggy skirmish. Be sure there are enough toys for each dog to have one; this lessens the chance of possessive behavior. The best mix of dogs is an equal number of males and females. Let your human guests know that the dogs may be separated if squabbles break out. And lastly, if a canine guest isn't spayed or neutered, let the owners of other non-spayed/neutered guests know.