If the party is outside, make sure it is in an enclosed area with a fence. Check ahead of time to ensure that there are no holes or loose boards in a wooden fence where dogs can escape.
If you throw an Easter party, remember: no chocolate!
Consider a costume party for Halloween and have all the guests and their dogs dress in their favorite costume. You can give out prizes to whoever has the best costume. Celebrate your favorite dog cartoon character with a Snoopy or Scooby Doo theme. Place pictures of the famous dog you choose around the venue or have your party guests dress up as the cartoon. You could also throw a Valentine’s Day party and have a “Puppy Love” theme with heart-shaped paw decorations.
Try to get an even balance of male and female dogs, as dogs of opposite sex tend to get along better. [5] X Research source Keep the number of guests low. A party of 10 or more dogs will require extra supervision.
Make your invitations fun and unique with pictures of bones, paw prints, and chew toys. If it’s your dog’s birthday, ask for a little present to spoil Fido.
Consider a ball pit with tennis balls. Dogs love playing with balls, so imagine all your dogs at the party surrounded by them. It can also turn in to a big game of fetch with human guests playing along. Build an obstacle or agility course with jumps, tunnels, and hoops. They can be made out of PVC pipe, or you can purchase one online. If it’s warm outside, include some water games. You can use a sprinkler that dogs can use to cool down if it gets too hot. Get a long, sturdy rope and have dogs take turns playing tug-of-war.
Look up recipes for dog cakes or cookies. Always double check ingredients to ensure they are safe for the dogs. You may be able to find a local pet bakery in your area that will bake a personalized cake just for your party. Research foods that are toxic to dogs before purchasing any for your party. Some common foods you should never give to dogs are chocolate, avocado, grapes, and dairy. [8] X Research source Your local pet store will have a variety of treats that are safe for all dogs.
Make sure the water is clean and fresh. It may be good to have ice cubes too, if the party is in the hot summer sun.
If you provide snacks just for human guests, make sure they are put in an area that is out of reach to the dogs. To be extra cautious, only provide human guests with foods that are also safe for the dogs, just in case snacks are accidentally dropped.
You can really impress your guests by asking owners ahead of time in the party invites about favorite snacks and toys to include in your bags. You can further personalize each party favor by adding essentials for particular breeds (for example, sunscreen for hairless dogs, coat whitener for white fur, or a flannel bib for a drooling breed).
All owners must be present. Do not allow owners to drop their dogs off at the party then leave. Require guests to bring leashes just in case there is conflict. Require all dogs to be up to date on all vaccinations to prevent the spread of any infections or diseases.
If two dogs are meeting for the first time, avoid hovering over or pulling tight on their leash. A dog can sense stress from their owners, which can cause tension and possibly aggression. If at any time during the meet and greet session, a dog appears to show signs of aggression (e. g. , the dog becomes very still and rigid, growling and snarling, showing teeth), it should be removed from the area immediately by its owner.
If you can, have the time-out area be separate from the other dogs at the party. You can use a gate or have a few large crates to keep dogs in for a few minutes to calm down.
If your party is indoors, schedule a couple of mini-breaks for all the dogs to go outside and do their business to avoid having accidents on floors or carpets.
