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Your dog showers your family with unconditional love, affection and loyalty, so return the favor with dog-approved desserts and gifts at a special birthday event for your favorite pooch. Read on to learn some easy – and adorable – ways to make your dog’s birthday unforgettable.
Let’s face it: Our dogs get pampered every day, but their birthdays are actually a legitimate reason for some serious dog pampering! Whether your furry friend prefers tennis balls, Kongs, or softer, homemade toys, there’s no better reason than his birthday to stop by the toy section of your pet store.
Another fun (and insanely adorable) idea: put your pup in a room with a bunch of tennis balls and watch the excitement ensue.
You’ve helped your friends and family decorate a million birthday parties, so it’s only fitting that you decorate your beloved pooch’s birthday too.
Balloons and streamers are of course standard birthday party decorations, but there are also plenty of ways to embellish them with dog motifs. Make a cute bone-shaped banner out of construction paper and yarn, throw dog-friendly confetti on all the tables, and—if you’re a little more crafty—make a chalkboard sign with the drinks and snacks menu.
If you’re not particularly crafty, you can purchase dog-themed banners online instead.
Believe it or not, many dog-friendly birthday cakes are also human-friendly. All you need are some everyday baking ingredients like whole wheat flour, baking powder, eggs, and applesauce or baby food to bake a great dog biscuit. For a nutritional boost, mix in chopped vegetables like carrots and top with cream cheese, peanut butter, or blended bananas.
Don’t feel like unpacking the baking utensils? No dog has ever refused peanut butter combined with their favorite treats.
Although real ice cream is not good for your dog’s gastrointestinal tract, you can easily make puppy-friendly ice cream at home using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Mix bananas with plain yogurt and creamy peanut butter then freeze overnight to get the right consistency. You can also make puppy ice cream with one basic ingredient: chicken or beef broth. Simply pour into a mold and freeze.
There’s literally nothing cuter in the world than a party hat on a puppy. It’s easy to make your own by gluing construction paper, poster board, or foam paper into a cone shape – make sure it’s non-toxic. Then decorate it with a permanent marker, pompoms, tassels or other accessories that give your puppeteer an extra festive feel.
What happens if your dog doesn’t wear his party hat for more than 20 seconds? Make a seamless bandana with some cute fabric and fabric glue or hem tape, or a seamless tutu with elastic and strips of tulle.
What would a puppy party be without the entire dog gang? Invite the crew over for a day of running, snacking, and sniffing to celebrate the birth of your furry family member.
Provide plenty of water and, if the other pet parents agree, some snacks for the paw guests. Portioned dog treats, sliced frozen bananas, baby carrots and green beans are healthy snacks that dogs can easily pick up and eat.
Be sure to keep a close eye on your dog and his guests while playing. Even the best dog lovers can sometimes have misunderstandings.
Aside from an afternoon of cute dog shenanigans, you also need to give your human guests an incentive to come to the puppy party. Step in, delicious party food and drinks. Make some party favorites like chicken wings, spinach artichoke dip, and deviled eggs, serve beer, wine, or—if you’re really into the party theme—a custom cocktail in honor of your dog’s day.
Hit the paw! Design your own photo booth backdrop, grab a few props (that your guests may or may not tolerate for a few seconds) and get to work! Have your guests upload their photos to Instagram or Facebook with a custom hashtag (every event has one!) so you can see all the fun in one place.
The best thing about these dog-friendly party games is that they’re actually basic training techniques disguised as fun! Make sure you have enough toys (and treats) for games like hide-and-seek and fetch, which allow dogs to practice commands like sit, stay, come, and fetch.
If you really want to take your puppy party games to the next level, try a game of Snoopy Says. Like the human version, Simon Says says participants listen to commands and carry out specific movements. The last puppeteer standing wins!
What would a birthday party be without a packed gift bag? Add a few small toys, such as a tennis ball or chew toy, a handful of dog bones or drying sticks, a party hat or bandana, and of course a few on-the-go treats for people.