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 Dog birthday parties. It's really not such a far-fetched idea! I mean, honestly...what took us so long? Our dogs are our babies. Our babies have birthdays. So let's celebrate!
| IDEA: If you'd prefer that your guests not bring gifts, ask that a small donation be made to or your local animal shelter. |
Location, location, location. In the world of dog birthday parties, it's probably the first most important decision you'll need to make when planning the birthday bash. When choosing a location for your dog's shin-dig, you'll need to consider the size of the party you plan to have, as well as the size of your 4-legged guests!
- Outdoor dog parties can be fun and rambunctious, and popular places range from your own backyard to an area dog park, obedience training center, even a doggie day care may have accomodations for a dog party (be sure to check to see if you need a reservation!). Remember, you'll need to consider the weather and have a back-up plan should you need to bring the festivities inside.
- Inside dog birthday parties can be held in your own home, or check with a local doggie day spa for a fun day pampering your guests. Another fun place might be a local hotel or conference center that is “doggie friendly” or check with your favorite dog bakery to see if they have accommodations for a dog party. Either way, inside or outside, you must provide easy access to a place where your 4-legged guests can “take care of their business.” But just in case, be prepared for an indoor accident with appropriate cleaning supplies to quickly clean up the “spill.”
Guest list. After deciding the location of your dog's birthday party, the next important decision is the guest list. The number of guests you invite will be determined by where you've decided to host your dog's party. An outside gig will accommodate more dogs, naturally. If you're having your dog's party inside, keep the number small and manageable (and refer back to the paragraph above that reminds you to be prepared with appropriate cleaning supplies!).
It's extremely important that all the dogs that will be attending the party have socialized before, and you know for certain that they play well other dogs. Your living room isn't the ideal place for two dogs to work out which one is the alpha! And feel free to invite your friends who don't have dogs....as long as they love dogs, they will be a paw-fect fit to your celebration.
| IDEA: Purchase an inexpensive dog bowl for each guest, personalize the bowl with the guest's name, and let your guests take these home after the party as a small thank you gift. |
Invitations. Now that you've worked out the logistics, it's time for the fun part of selecting dog birthday party invitations! As the number one online retailer of dog birthday party invitations, BarkTalk.com can help! BarkTalk has a hip and trendy selection of invitations to choose from, and can even personalize any invitation. (For the best value, get everything you need in BarkTalk's exclusive Paw-ty In a Box!) You'll want to get your invitations in the mail so that your guests receive them at least 10 days before the day of the party.
Decorations. Depending on your budget and your party location, you can go all out, or keep things simple when it comes to decorating. Some paw print balloons and some fun and festive paw print party hats are a simple and inexpensive way to get the paw-ty started.
Refreshments. While this is not at the top of our list, you can be sure it is at the top of your dog's list as the most important part of a dog birthday party! First, be sure to have plenty of fresh water available for your 4-legged guests, along with easy access. Consider having several containers or dog bowls brimming with fresh water (see idea above about using these bowls as party favors at the end of the day), and be sure to refill frequently, especially if your dog's party is outside in the hot weather. If you're at a dog park, you may want to bring a cooler of bottled water to pass out to your thirsty guests (2-leggers and 4-leggers).
If you plan to feed your 2-legged guests a meal, be sure to plan a meal for the 4-leggers as well. If your dog's party is held outside and the humans are having a cook-out, perhaps a fresh-grilled burger for the dogs would be a special meal to celebrate special day. (Check with the dog's owner first to rule out any allergies or other unpleasant side effects.)
Birthday cake. What's a dog party with out a dog birthday cake (or pup-cakes)? Dog birthday cake is an essential for a dog birthday party! BarkTalk.com carries an all natural dog cake mix that is simple and delicious!
| IDEA: Take a digital photo of your guests when they arrive at the party. Give your guests an inexpensive dog-themed photo frame at the end of the party as a party favor, then mail your guest's photo when you send out your dog thank you cards. |
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