How to Host a Pet Birthday Party; Experts Advice
July 13, 2022 • Trends • At Home • Most Popular
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When it comes to your pet’s birthday or gotcha day, most pet parents agree that she or he deserves the best. Indeed, 80% of pet owners commemorate their pet’s birthday. Fortunately, canine birthday parties are big business in today’s booming pet market. You can even hire one of the many pet party planners for those extra-special birthdays.
However, planning a do-it-yourself pet birthday party can be a lot of fun if you don’t take it too seriously.
Here’s some expert advice on what you’ll need to make your pet’s birthday one to remember.
Why have a Pet Party?
Most pets are social animals, meaning they enjoy the company of other living beings. Dogs are on the top of the list and are most likely to have dog friends because you are walking them a couple of times a day. If you have a dog, then you know every dog can’t wait to go to the park to play with his (or her) friends. Just mentioning the word „park“ can trigger excitement.
But, that doesn’t mean you can’t throw a party for any other pet. Other pets like ferrets, rabbits, or guinea pigs love company, and parties are a great idea for them too. But, to be on the safe side, it is a smart move to make sure all pets know each other before you throw a party to avoid fights. Also, try to avoid different species at a party.
Throwing a pet party gives you an opportunity to socialize with people who share the same interests as you as a pet owner. If you are a new pet owner, throwing a party will help you meet other owners. Most of them are more than happy to help a new pet owner with some advice so don’t be afraid to ask them. Also, if you are looking for any kind of recommendation, whether it is a good vet, a store with a great offer, or something else, you can ask them.
The last reason why you should throw a pet party is pretty straightforward; why not? Everybody loves a good party where they can mingle, meet new people with pets and have fun. Any kind of party is always welcomed, so you don’ has to wait for your pet’s birthday or some holiday. The only thing you need is a will, and you will find a reason for a party.
Anja Delic at Friendly Ferret
Best theme ideas for your Pet Birthday party.
Who doesn’t love a party for their pooch, especially when it is your beloved pet’s birthday?
Beach Blanket Bowser is a fun-filled theme to include party hats, specialty ‘pup cakes’ for each guest in the shape of a surfboard, and the all-time favorite surfer shirt for your dog to wear. If lucky enough to live near a Fido-friendly beach or dog park, move the party there where more canines can join in the fun. Take time to play games such as ‘bury the bone’ under beach blankets, where all in attendance will have the chance to sniff out a reward.
Is your pup not the beach type? A Rootin Tootin Cowboy theme could be the order of the day. Little cowboy hats for all, dress code Doggy Dude Ranch. Cookies baked in the shape of a sheriff star . Create a most wanted poster with your dog’s photo and use it for invitations. Don’t forget the doggy kerchiefs for each guest. Create a ‘doggy jail’ for unruly guests who will have to perform a trick to be released.
Is your dog more into heavy metal? Create a kissing booth for photo ops and Mosh pit filled with tennis balls along with a punk rock theme that can make any tail wag. Dye your dog’s hair with a strip of green with a pet-safe color and allow all the attendees to enjoy the added color too.
Be sure to have a swag bag for guests filled with toys and treats. After all, we don’t want our guests to leave empty ‘pawed.’
Remember to provide water bowls, treats, and something for your human guests too!
No matter your theme, the most important part of your pooch party is to enjoy your beloved fur child and celebrate the day they came into your life.
PAWTY on Pooch!
Susan Sims from FIDO Friendly Magazine
What kind of food is considered toxic, and you should not give it at your pet’s birthday party?
Planning the menu for your big celebration can be fun, but it is important to keep in mind that not all party foods should be served to dogs. In fact, some can make them sick, and others can be downright toxic.
Avocados are one of those foods that dogs should not eat. Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that is normally harmless in a human but can be toxic to dogs. So, if you are a big fan of guacamole and chips, it would be best to serve that tasty dish to your human visitors and choose something else for your four-legged guests.
Grapes and Raisins are also on the list of foods toxic to dogs. Both grapes and raisins can cause irreversible kidney damage and even death. Even a very small amount, such as 4 or 5 grapes or raisins, can make a 20-pound dog very sick. With so many other fruits that dogs can eat, such as apples, bananas, pineapple, and blueberries, leaving grapes off the menu should not be an issue.
To be safe, don’t serve any type of nuts, especially macadamia nuts. These nuts seem to be the worse culprit for making dogs ill. Even a few roasted or raw macadamia nuts can cause muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis, vomiting, fever, and rapid heart rate. When chocolate is mixed with nuts, the symptoms worsen.
Speaking of chocolate, a rich, homemade chocolate cake may seem like the ultimate in decadence, but the dogs won’t appreciate what it does to their digestive tract. Chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea and increased thirst, tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, coma, and death.
Finally, if you plan to serve alcohol at your celebration, don’t allow any dogs to sip even a little. Water is always the best drink for dogs.
Beyond the foods mentioned above, stay clear of onions, excess salt, fatty meats, wild mushrooms, raw eggs, milk, coffee, and tea should also be on your list of foods toxic to dogs.
Janice Jones from Miracle Shihtzu
Name Safety tips for your pet at a birthday party.
Throwing a birthday party for your dog is always a fun and interesting way to celebrate another year with you. However, there are always safety precautions that you should take before throwing your pooch a birthday bash:
Get a dog-safe cake and treats: Make sure to buy them a cake and treats that aren’t going to upset your dog or any other party attendee’s stomachs. This should also include asking the other owners whom you’ve invited if their dogs have any allergies or tummy sensitivities.
Watch the weather: Outside play is the most fun when it’s not too hot, not too cold, and usually not raining or snowing (unless your pup is into it, looking at your huskies and labs)! Making sure the weather is good can help prevent heat stroke or getting frostbitten paws.
Dog-to-do interactions: In making a guest list, it is important to invite dogs and people-friendly dogs. Sometimes dogs can get territorial and start a fight.
Picking the right place: Is your party outside and on-leash or inside and off-leash? Finding a venue that has the space and resources you need is important.
Bring in the snacks: You might think bringing treats is enough, but make sure to also have food, water, plenty of toys for every dog, and plenty of attention to make sure everyone is playing safely.
Health concerns: If you are worried about a dog that seems to not be doing well, check-in with the owner. They will be the best bet and calming or helping their hurt pet. Making sure all dogs attending have their vaccinations up to date is also important, keeping all the dogs at the party healthy,
Pick up: If there is people’s food with wrappers, make sure to keep it picked up and away from the dogs. We all know they love getting into things they shouldn’t, and working to avoid these possible issues is your best bet.
Keeping everyone safe may seem a little overwhelming at first, but with the right prep, your puppy party will be the bark of the town!
Michaela Quilty from Paw Naturals
Cleaning up after a pet party to remove odors.
Any pet parent knows that having a pet means accepting a certain level of mess and odor. But when it comes to hosting a party for your furry friend, you want to make sure that your house is clean and smelling fresh before and afterward. Here are a few pet-friendly tips for removing odors after your pet party:
Use an air purifier: Air purifiers help to remove airborne particles, including pet dander and other allergens. If you have an air purifier in your home, turn it on after the party to help remove any lingering odors.
Open the windows: Ventilation is key for removing odors. After the party, open the windows to let fresh air circulate and help remove any stagnant odors.
Clean surfaces with baking soda: Baking soda is a natural odor absorber. To remove odors from surfaces like countertops and tables, make a paste with baking soda and water, and scrub the affected areas. Rinse with clean water afterward.
Vacuuming and mopping: Regular vacuuming and mopping can go a long way in preventing odors from building up by removing pet hair and other debris that can contribute to odors. So be sure that you’re cleaning up after your pet regularly – and not just on special occasions.
Use an enzymatic cleaner: These pet-safe cleaners break down the odor-causing molecules, making them easier to remove permanently.
Hosting a pet party is a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. Make sure to follow these tips for cleaning up after your furry friends so that your house smells fresh and clean again in no time. Do you have any additional tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!
Lauren Mieli from The Catnip Times
What Are the Favorite Dog Treats you can give to your dog at a party?
Doggie Birthday Parties, or any Puppy Party, for that matter, are becoming a really popular movement that has many benefits for both the dog as well as for the owners.
It’s a great opportunity for socializing with friends for your puppy as well as for us as humans. Further to that, it’s a great chance to give gifts, such as a Dog Treat Gift Box, to someone who loves their dog as much as any family member.
These gifts will make the human smile as much as the puppy jump with joy…. So you get a double whammy of positivity….
Importantly though, you need to choose amazing-looking products so they look awesome in photos and on your socials! Everyone wants to see how awesome your puppy party was….
Having a Doggies Birthday Party is easier than it sounds, however you need to ensure that you provide products designed specifically for dogs.
You DO NOT want to serve what you would normally serve at a human Birthday Party to your pets.
This is because products made for dogs specifically are way safer, and healthier than many Human foods. Take Chocolate for example….. great for us humans, but deadly for dogs.
Dog Treats will not have any Chocolate at all. Dog Products will use Carob which looks like Chocolate….. However, it is nothing like chocolate and is safe for our dogs …… So what products are the best for a Puppy Party?
The team at Huds and Toke specializes in world-class, premium quality products made specifically for your puppy. Some of the best products we find our clients enjoy are our famous Puppy Birthday Cakes as well as our Happy Birthday Bones and our Small Dog B’Day Bones. On top of this, you need to include in your party some Doggie Crackles (made with Carob of course), Puppy Ice Cream Cookies, and some Little Doggy Doughnuts as well. Plus, a party wouldn’t be a party without some Party Hats, bow Ties, and Bandannas…… To make things simple, choose a Puppy Birthday Party Dog Treat Pack as well as a Party Accessory Pack….. this will include all the essentials and make it easy for you.
If you want to ask any questions, feel free to reach out to the team at Huds and Toke. The team will help you decide what you need for your next Doggie Birthday Party.
It’s such a wonderfully fun, and positive, activity to be part of, so go out and let’s get the party started!
And finally, have fun on the big day! The big event has finally arrived, hooray! You’ve done your homework and are ready to lavish your pet with all the love and attention he or she deserves. Recognize that there will be bumps and surprises along the way, but that’s to be expected, and your pet is not passing judgment! Isn’t that part of what makes them so great?
That’s all there is to it! We hope these answers have inspired you to come up with lots of creative ideas for your pet’s birthday party. So, what are your plans? Make a DIY dog birthday party or arrange for it to be held somewhere else. The sky is the limit.
Russell Gibbons from Huds and Toke
What do you need to create a dog birthday crown?
Hip-hip-hooray! There’s no better time to get your DIY on than your dog’s birthday party. And you might be surprised to know that a fun and fancy crown for your birthday boy or girl is easier to make you think. We’re talking made in minutes!
So, what do you need? The best part about making a dog birthday crown is you only need a few essentials to create the base and structure of the crown. Then, you can be as extra as you like and decorate the crown with cute pompoms, flowers, numbers or letters to name a few!
Here’s what you need:
Dog birthday crown template (download here)
12×12 glitter cardstock
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue
Skinny elastic
Optional: Paint to match the crown color
Instructions:
- Print and cut out the crown template.
- Flip over the glitter cardstock and trace the crown template onto the back, then cut out the crown shape.
- If you want the inside of the crown to match the outside, you can either paint it or cut out a second crown template and hot glue the two pieces together.
- Using the hot glue gun, bring both ends of the crown together, ensuring there is enough overlap to properly glue and attach the two ends.
- While the crown is drying, measure your pup’s head with the elastic so you know how much to cut. Gently place the piece of elastic around their head and under their chin. After that, you should be able to subtract 4-5 inches to get it to the perfect length.
- Using the hot glue again, attach the elastic to the inside of the crown on opposite sides.
- Done! Or, decorate the crown further using hot glue and cute embellishments for extra birthday fun (just be sure to avoid any potential choking hazards!)
That’s it – be as creative as you like and most importantly, have fun!
This DIY dog birthday crown is guaranteed to leave your pup feeling like a king or queen on their special day.
Shell & Katy, Editors at Pretty Fluffy
What is the perfect gift to give to your pet on their birthday?
Our pets deserve to be celebrated every day, but especially on their birthdays! While pet parents spoil their fur babies year-round, on their birthdays, it’s time to go all out. We suggest keeping the celebration going with toys they will love. As our pets get older, toys not only keep them occupied and help with mental stimulation, but they also encourage their playful spirit. P.L.A.Y.’s Party Time Plush Toy Collection would make the perfect gift for your pup. Not only is it packed with enticing features like squeaks, crinkles, pull-apart components, and a wearable crown toy, but it also makes for great party props! You can capture precious moments of your dog rocking their birthday crown and watching them play tug of war with their furiends over the party balloon or last piece of cake. This toy set is perfect for dogs of all sizes available in both XS mini sizes for tiny pups and medium sizes for larger dogs. Plus, when these toys end up scattered around your home, they will remind you of the special moments you shared with your fur baby. If your dog is more of a foodie or prefers traveling the world to see the sites, check out our other collections here. As a proud B Corp, P.L.AY.’s plush toys are constructed with our standard double-layer fabric and inverse stitching to increase durability and filled with our eco-friendly Planet-Fill® stuffing made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Fun fact, to date we have saved over 11 million bottles from entering our landfills and oceans!
Nicole Melo from Pet Play
Is it safe to give CBD oil to your pet at a pet birthday party?
Well, first of all, we should admit that there are just a small number of studies available. Generally speaking, CBD oil is safe for dogs, when given in a proper dose, or between 2 and 5 mg of CBD per kilogram of dog’s body weight.
Besides the right amount of CBD, always be sure not to share your CBD product with your four-legged friend. Products made for human usage may contain ingredients that are fine for us, but highly toxic for dogs — xylitol for example.
Last, but not least, I’d advise you to give CBD oil to your dog along with its food. This way, you will maximize the absorption and make sure your dog will get the most benefits from it, as it will be easier digested and absorbed than taking a CBD oil on its own.
After I shared some words of caution, let’s see when I would personally advise trying CBD oil for your dog. It’s probably best known for its calming effects, so it’s great for treating anxiety in dogs. CBD oil showed a pain-relieving effect on dogs with chronic diseases, especially arthritis. Dogs with epilepsy might also benefit from taking a CBD oil, but be sure to use it as an addition to the dog’s regular therapy, not as a substitute.
Finally, CBD products are known to provide anti-inflammatory effects, so giving a treat containing CBD might be a good idea as well. Try to choose fatty treats, as CBD is lipophilic, meaning that it dissolves in fat, so you will boost its effects by choosing the right form of CBD.
For the same reason, always choose CBD oil over capsules.
Filip from Barking Royalty
How you can minimize pet anxiety at a pet birthday party?
If your dog is an invitee to a birthday party, think about your dog’s personality, history of interactions with other dogs, etc. before you accept the invitation. No one wants to cause their pup distress on what’s supposed to be a fun and happy day.
If you’re the birthday party host, it’s important to consider your dog’s feelings first. Parties are often noisy and chaotic, especially if children or other dogs are there.
How will that make your dog feel? If your dog doesn’t like crowds or other dogs, it could make them anxious or stressed. If so, you might want to ask if the party is for you to enjoy or for both of you to enjoy? Ideally, the party will be a fun time for everyone!
Planning ahead of time can make all the difference. For example, if the birthday boy or girl is territorial about their home or toys, it’s probably best that you choose a “turf neutral” location rather than hosting it inside your home. Also, keeping the guest list small and the party time to less than two hours can reduce stress for everyone.
If the party will be held in your home, giving your pup a “safe space” to retreat can help. All you need for a pup safe space is a corner they can call their own, preferably with a cozy bed to curl up in and feel safe. Then, if they start feeling overwhelmed, they can take a break in their safe space.
If your pup has never been to a party before, it’s a good idea to get them used to the sights and sounds beforehand. Gradually expose your pup to new dogs and people in small, controlled situations. Play YouTube recordings (at low volumes) of background noises your dog might hear at the party, like children playing or dogs barking.
If your dog experiences severe anxiety, talk to your veterinarian about additional treatment options. With planning, patience, and the proper care, you can have a fun and happy pet birthday party!
Kristen from Pet Living
What are some fun dog birthday party ideas?
1. Set up a photo booth with fun props to snap some memories of the special day. For some extra fun, bring a Polaroid or film camera. It’s always a fun surprise when you receive the pictures, plus, you can hang them on your fridge after so you can always remember how much fun you had.
2. Play some games! Ever heard of Musical Sits? It’s just like Musical Chairs…but for dogs! You must have someone in charge of the music for this game. Have each dog and their owner walks around and the person in charge of the music will pause the song and each owner has to tell their dogs to sit. Whoever’s dog sits and stays moves on to the next round. Continue the process until you have the grand prize winner!
- 3. Fetch is always a great idea for any party, but you can always add some props to take it to the next level! Bring a tunnel for the dogs to go through, cones for some agility fun, and even a bubble maker – the dogs will go WILD
Shaina Denny from Dogdrop
What do I need to arrange a play area for my dog at home?
Two elements are at play here – first, consider what your dog likes as far as play goes. Second, you’ll want to incorporate the best invisible dog fence for your yard so that your pet is protected in her area.
Sit down and draw up a plan for what you’d like in your backyard play area – considering your budget as you do so as well as the size of your backyard area. Does your dog like to climb or does she like to play tug of war? What will you use as a means of water supply? Is the backyard shaded? All of these questions (and their answers) should be factored in when you are creating your own DIY dog play yard.
You might be surprised that many of the play areas in a DIY dog play yard are rather easy to create. You can use materials around your home for some items; other play areas can be constructed from low-cost materials too.
Jacquelyn Hoope from The Pampered Pup
How much does it cost to host a dog party?
The vast majority of pet parents these days consider their dog to be part of their family, so it’s no surprise that pet birthday parties have gained in popularity over the years. Most of us celebrate our furry best friends on a daily basis by showering them with affection and treats, but it’s fun to go the extra mile once a year on their special day. Throwing a dog birthday party doesn’t need to be elaborate or fancy, but if you’re going to invite doggy guests and want them to enjoy themselves to the fullest, here are some ideas – and the accompanying costs.
Get Your Dog a Stylish Birthday Outfit
Nothing says “birthday” like a party hat, and there are lots to choose from. But there’s no need to confine yourself to tradition. Why not celebrate the birthday pup with a dapper bandana? Or dare I suggest a crown? You could even go all out and create a costume competition. Don’t hold back – your dog’s birthday only comes once a year, after all!
Budget $10-20 for a fun birthday outfit.
What’s a Bday Without Activities?
The P.L.A.Y. Party Time Dog Toy Set birthday-themed play set has it all: a balloon toy, a cake toy, a crown toy, a party horn toy, and a present toy that actually opens up! Each toy was made with two layers of fabric and features double-stitched edges for durability. As a bonus, they’re machine washable—so your birthday dog can slobber as much as they want.
Other ideas include a dog pool (for hot days), an agility course or the Orbee-Tuff “Happy Birthday” Treat Dispensing Dog Toy.
Budget $60-75 for toys and activities.
FOOOOD!
Besides looking at the part and opening presents, there’s still one more major aspect of a successful party. Dessert! Dog desserts have come a long way in recent years, and now there’s no need for your pup to miss out on the tastiest part of the party. Whether you’re a crafty home chef looking to make your dog’s cake from scratch or a get-it-to-go baker, something tells me your dog will be happy either way.
Budget $5-20 for cake, ice cream, biscuits, or your dog’s favorite snack.
Nicole Ellis from Rover.com
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