If you’ve got the winter blues, planning the ultimate dog birthday party is a surefire mood booster. In fact, just looking at photos of dogs celebrating a birthday bash will immediately subtract 20 points off your rage-o-meter.
Have you ever thrown a birthday party for your dog? When planning a puppy birthday party, or a gotcha day celebration, it’s worth thinking about your dog’s favorite snacks, toys, and activities, and incorporating those things your dog enjoys most into your plans.
One of the wonderful things about dogs is that they don’t experience anticipation or disappointment in the same way that humans do. So don’t worry, this means they won’t be sad if this year’s birthday isn’t a glamorous puppy picnic or another fancy blowout bash maliciously prepared by their dog owners and fancy agency. Your dog will be entirely focused on the here and now, and what will make your dog’s day truly special is the chance to spend quality time with you.
Your dog showers your family with unconditional love, affection, and loyalty, so return the favor with doggy-approved desserts and gifts at a special birthday event for your favorite pooch. From pupcakes to decorations, here is everything you need to know about planning a fun birthday party for your dog.
BIRTH DATE:
When is the best time to celebrate your dog’s birthday?
Dogs are always ready to party. That’s one of the best parts about them. If you aren’t sure exactly which day your dog was born, they can still have dog birthday parties. You can pick any day to celebrate and claim it as your dog’s birthday moving forward. If you know their “gotcha day,” which is the day you rescued or adopted them, you can use that as their official birthday. Gotcha days are special because not only is it a chance to celebrate your dog but also the start of your relationship together.
CAKE CAKE CAKE:
What is a party without a birthday cake? A boring one! And yes, dogs can eat cake! It may not be the sugary, buttery cakes that we humans are accustomed to having on our birthdays, but there are plenty of options to buy or DIY when it comes to a sweet treat to add to the occasion.
Types of cakes for dog birthday party
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Bake your own dog cake! Some bone-shaped treats can easily be created with these dog-themed baking molds, and you automatically get a dog parent gold star. There are also plenty of boxed-cake mixes safe for dogs at your local pet store. For something more natural, you can search for recipes online that only have a few ingredients, probably including items most of dog owners already have in their pantry.
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Order a cake! If you are the type of dog owner, that does not like or has not time to bake, there are many dog bakeries that can be found nearby with a simple google search to save your dog birthday party. Some regular bakeries even bake pet-safe treats, all you have to do is ask! If you don’t have a dog bakery in your local area, you can also have dog-safe cakes sent directly to your home by ordering them online.
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I scream, you scream! If you and your dog have more of a hankering for ice cream, pet stores like Pet Supplies Plus, or your local supermarket, carry specialty ice treats made just for dogs. Pick out your pup’s favorite flavor: peanut butter, vanilla, or birthday cake are all good choices.
Read Also - Springerdoodle dog: breed & grooming guide
DOG PARTY HATS:
A party theme appropriate birthday hat or bandana is such a cute way to identify the birthday dog of honor! You can find many options at a pet store, a party store, or even when you browse Amazon, Etsy, or any online retailer for the hat that suits your dog best. You can even craft something and go the DIY route with materials you probably have lying around the house.
DOG BIRTHDAY OUTFIT
If you have clothing or a special outfit to dress your dog in, start by following these easy steps:
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Show the outfit to your dog, and give them plenty of praise and treats. Let them sniff it and determine that it isn’t a threat.
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Once they seem comfortable with the item, put it on your dog while offering lots of treats and praise. Be sure to take it off quickly so that your dog doesn’t get uncomfortable or impatient.
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Continue this process over a series of training sessions, and slowly increase the amount of time your dog is wearing the outfit.
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If at any point your dog is stressed or seems uncomfortable, take the outfit off immediately and start the process all over again during your next session. This will help you avoid a birthday meltdown and keep the day stress-free and enjoyable for your dog.
INVITE ONLY DOG BIRTHDAY PARTY:
What's a puppy party without your dog's entire squad in attendance? Invite the crew over for a day of running, snacks, and sniffing in celebration of your furry family member's birthday. Put out plenty of water and, if the other pet parents are OK with it, some snacks for paw-ty guests. Portioned dog treats, sliced frozen bananas, baby carrots, and green beans are all healthy snacks that are easy for dogs to pick up and munch on.
Be sure to keep a close eye on your dog and its guests while they're playing. Even the best dog buds can have misunderstandings sometimes.
GIFT TIME:
Dogs are no exception to loving birthday presents. In fact, they get just as excited as we do to receive something new! It can be fun to bring your dog to a local pet supply store to pick their own gifts. If you’re looking for a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year, you can sign your dog up for a monthly subscription service offering toys and goodies.
Want your dog to open their own presents?
To help your dog learn to unwrap presents, you can slip a dog treat inside the wrapping paper or into the gift box. Show your dog the gift and encourage and praise them for any engagement with the box. Just make sure to supervise while your dog is unwrapping to make sure they don’t chew or otherwise eat any wrapping paper, boxes, and tape.
Best dog birthday party gift
Nothing makes a better gift than a gift set from PRIDE+GROOM. The dog, and the owner, will both appreciate the fresh scents, all-natural ingredients, and attention to detail.
DOG PARTY ACTIVITIES:
Dog birthday party ideas:
What better day than a dog’s birthday party to help your dog do things they enjoy the most?
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How about a long walk in dog park, or an adventure in the car?
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Maybe there is a nearby water activity, or a pet-friendly beach you can explore together.
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When in doubt, the dog park is a great option!
Invite their friends and make it a group activity.
Dog birthday party locations:
If you’d rather keep things close to home, you and your dog can still have a great time. Let your dog dictate the direction you go on your walk, or allow them to really stop and smell things for as long as they want without being rushed along. It’s also a great time to play tug, fetch, or any other games that your dog enjoys. You could also set up a playground in your backyard or inside your house for puppy party.
READY FOR A DOG BIRTHDAY PARTY:
Your four-legged friend is a big part of your family, so it only feels right to throw them a birthday bash just like you would for any other loved one. Choose a fun theme, find a suitable venue or open up your home, plan your activities, canine guests, decor, and food, and you’re all ready to go. Finish the look with an adorable invitation and you’ll have your dog’s human pals ready to hit RSVP the second it lands in their inbox.
WHO IS PRIDE+GROOM?
PRIDE+GROOM was born because 4 New York City dog lovers wanted the same level of grooming products for their dogs that they themselves enjoyed. They looked (hard) but nothing was up to snuff. Or sniff. Like so many, we love our families and take pride in our homes, and we consider our pets to be integral parts of those entities. That said, we could not find an effective way to coif them that was on par with the way we tended to our children, our homes, or ourselves. These beloved pets are allowed on the furniture and in our beds, and yet even when fresh from the groomer, we knew they did not smell or feel as good as they could.
With the development of our coat-specific shampoos, conditioner and deodorizing spray, we think we found just the way to say thanks for being the best and the sweetest MVP of the house.
PRIDE+GROOM is the first dog grooming brand launched under a beauty platform, with formulas made in a clean beauty and scent lab. We know beauty is not only skin deep. We did a ton of research to create the entire line. Each product is formulated with its own unique blend of essential oils sourced from around the world.
IN DOG WE TRUST
Shop our entire line: www.prideandgroom.com
