How to Have a Pet-Friendly Birthday Party

For a lot of pet owners, their beloved furry friend’s birthday is a day to be celebrated with an elaborate party, just like any other member of the family. Whether you’re an old hand at pet-friendly parties or are looking for tips to throw your first one, here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know to make your pooch feel extra special on their special day!

The venue

You have a couple of options in this department. If your backyard allows it, use the space you have to let your doggy and their friends play in a safe area! If you want to go for something grander, think venues like a dog park, waterpark, dog beach, or doggy day care space!

When choosing this part of the party, remember to check the weather to make sure your venue has the appropriate facilities depending on the weather that day!

The décor

This is your chance to get super creative. Pick a theme, send out themed invitations, decorate the venue, and make it fun by having the guests come dressed up with a cute collar, bandana, or bow!

Head on over to Pinterest and Instagram for incredibly adorable ideas to fancy up just about any space you host your party in, whether it’s your backyard, a dog park, or a pet-friendly waterpark!

The guestlist

If your pup is used to playing with other dogs, great! Choose a location familiar to your dog and their furry friends to ensure they enjoy each other’s company in a safe environment where they can run around, eat, and have a tail-wagging great time together! It’s a good idea to make sure each pet is accompanied by a responsible owner that can properly care for their pet in case any situations arise where a pup’s parent needs to be around.

The food

No party is complete without good food. Luckily, there are many options to serve at your pet’s party for guests to feast on. Some great ideas are:

Doggy-friendly birthday cake, Pupcakes, chewy treats, carrots, apples, blueberries, sweet potato slices, cucumber, and Pupsicles. Remember to put out bowls of fresh water for doggies to drink from throughout the day!

On the other hand, there are some foods to avoid. Keep these in mind with the smaller snacks served, as well as with ingredients in food like the cake or pupcakes:

Alcohol, avocado, chocolate, coffee, caffeine, citrus, coconut, coconut oil, grapes and raisins, milk and dairy, nuts, onions, garlic, chives, raw meat, eggs, bones, salt and salty foods, xylitol, and yeasted foods.

Activities

Finally, now is the time to put together some fun stuff for the guests to enjoy. Consider setting up a photobooth, organizing a water slide, having loads of toys available to play with, and an area set up with pillows and blankets for pooped pooches to have a nap.

With these great ideas, your pup’s party is going to be the talk of the town for weeks to come!