Planning a dog birthday bash

dog birthday party

If you are a dog owner wanting to throw a doggie birthday party for your four-legged child, this article is for you! Just like humans, your pup can have a dog birthday bash too. Some people don’t know their dog’s exact date of birth, and that is okay. Simply celebrate the day you adopted them or a day that is special for the two of you. Even if you are new to the “dog birthday party” idea, we have tips for all the who, what, where, and how’s from beginning to end!  

 

Who’s coming to your dog’s birthday party?

When planning your dog’s birthday party, the first thing you want to consider is who to invite. This party is to celebrate your dog so the invitation list should only include people and dogs who already know and get along with yours. This decreases the likelihood of a doggy squabble breaking out midway through the event! Consider the temperaments of the pups you want to attend as well. If you know some of them don’t get along you may have to choose which ones to leave off the guest list. Be sure any attendees bringing dog friends know they need to stay at the party with their pup.  

 

Where to hold your dog birthday party?

Once you have your guest list settled, you can begin deciding where you want to celebrate your dog’s birthday. If you have a sizable, fenced-in backyard, you may want to host the party at your home. However, if a different location is preferable or needed, consider options such as your local dog park or anywhere your pup is already comfortable and familiar with. When choosing a venue, keep in mind there may be a deposit or reservation required so communication with the preferred location’s management in advance is always a good idea. 

 

Bring out the cake

Now that you know the who and the where, it is time to start discussing the many “what’s”! The first one of these is “what to eat.”  A dog birthday party is not complete without cake! Thankfully, many companies have discovered just how popular celebrating your dog’s birthday has become and have started creating treats for just the occasion. From cake mixes to ready-made cakes and cookies, there are many options to choose from. You can make a simple cake or something more extravagant. Or even individual cupcakes. Just like human kids, some families’ four-legged children do have allergies so be conscientious of this and keep the ingredient list handy just in case. 

Obviously you will want to feed your human guests at the dog birthday bash as well, so take a moment to prepare a list of the foods you’ll need. If you are doing a themed birthday party for your dog, you can serve food to go along with the theme. If you are doing a general birthday bash, you can make the food feel more festive by trying to go with a “dog” theme. (Think sandwiches cut into bone shapes with a cookie cutter!)  

 

Entertainment for a dog birthday bash

When it comes to the second “what” on the list, we are talking about how to entertain all those pups for the duration of a dog birthday bash! Dogs are naturally playful, (again, just like human children), and having some areas set up with activities can ensure plenty of fun for your dog, their friends, and the humans too. Some things to consider when planning games and activities are the location you have chosen as well as set up and take down time. If your venue is outdoors, ensuring there is shade and water for the pups is very important!  

One way to keep them cool, if your party is in the summer months, is to fill a kiddie pool with water and floatable balls. Although if this is something you decide to include, be sure to let your guests know they will need towels for their pups! Thinking of a more organized game approach? Have some frisbees handy for some fun active time for both the dogs and their humans! Sometimes though, just letting the dogs run and play is just as fun for them as having activities or games.

 

Party favors

The final “what” in our list is none other than that anxiously awaited item all kids looked forward to at birthday parties back in the day. The infamous party favors! For a doggy birthday bash, party favors can be as simple or extravagant as you wish. Some of the best favors to include are a new toy and some specialty dog treats. If you know what each pup’s favorite treats are, you could even go so far as to make custom party favor bags to lay out at your dog’s birthday bash! Another cute item to consider including is dog bandanas in your guest’s size. Regardless of what you choose to include at your dog’s birthday party, know that both your friends and family as well as your dog’s four-legged friends are going to be happy to have been included in your celebration above all else.

 

Clean up time!

Now that we have the who, where, and what covered, it is time to discuss how to clean up after a dog birthday bash! One key ingredient to expediting cleanup time is making sure all of your guests who bring dogs have a roll of dog waste bags. These can be handed out at the beginning of your party allowing each owner to clean up after their dog as the party progresses.  

Another helpful tip is to send leftover food (for dogs or humans) home with guests in a takeout container as a bonus. Having a close friend or family member ready to take your dog home if your party is at a venue will enable you to focus on cleanup and get the job done much more efficiently.


In summary, whether you have a small or large group, backyard, or other venue, the most important thing is celebrating your dog’s special day.  As long as they have love and attention and get to play, your dog is going to have a happy birthday and the extras such as the treats and games at their dog birthday party are just icing on the cake!

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