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Whether they’re wiggling from excitement over a trip to the dog park or a new squeaky toy, celebrating comes naturally to dogs. A dog birthday party can be a perfect excuse to bring your dog’s—and your—favorite two- and four-legged pals together to do what they do best.
Not sure it’s worth it? Studies show dogs and humans are able to understand each others’ love and excitement. If you’re not sure whether your dog would notice a special day dedicated to them, it’s safe to say they’ll feel the love.
We’ve got suggestions for decorations, dog-friendly desserts, and activities to let your pooch be the ultimate party animal. Here’s how to get the (dog) party started.
How To Throw a Dog Birthday Party
Just like planning an event for your friends and family, there are some logistics you’ll want to keep in mind when throwing a birthday party for your dog. Here’s what to consider.
- Time. Pick a time of day when your dog is usually more active. Keep the party relatively short and compatible with your dog’s energy levels.
- Invitations. Consider the people and dogs your pup adores. If your dog prefers to interact with only humans, that’s okay—just specify it in your invitations.
- Theme. When brainstorming ideas for a dog birthday party, consider your pup’s preferences. Does your dog like being outside or inside? Are they active, or do they prefer to snuggle? Take what your pup loves and turn it into a theme. For instance, host a spa-themed birthday party to pamper low-energy pups or a doggy Olympics filled with agility courses for your more active breeds.
- Location. Pick a dog-friendly location based on the number of people and pups coming. This could be your fenced yard, an off-leash park, the beach, or your home. You could even rent your own private space for the occasion at a Sniffspot.
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Fun Ideas for a Dog Birthday Party
From party favors to planned activities, there are quite a few ways to spoil your dog on their birthday. Here are a few ideas.
Decorate with doggy decor
To set the mood, hang streamers, make a paw- or bone-shaped banner, and don’t forget the balloons!
Decorate the table with pictures of your birthday guest of honor in all his goofy glory. Or set the tables with a pup-print tablecloth and delicious doggy treats as the centerpiece.
For an interactive experience, lay out a large poster for all your guests to add their birthday wishes (or paw prints), like a giant birthday card for your dog.
Provide paw-ty wear
Craft classic cone-shaped party hats with construction paper and glue. Or buy a set of doggy birthday hats and pass them out for your guests to wear.
To make your pup feel like the star of the show, have them wear something special, like a personalized bandana or a birthday crown.
Or for a quirky twist, have all your doggy guests and their humans come dressed in silly costumes.
Set up a photo booth
To capture the cuteness, set up a photo booth with a party-themed backdrop and props. Create a hashtag for your event so everyone can post their pictures in the same place. Or have an instant camera on hand so guests can leave with a tangible memento.
Play games
Once everyone has arrived, let the games begin! Here are a few ways to get everyone up and celebrating.
- Set up an agility or obstacle course. Use homemade props like chairs, buckets, broomsticks, and boxes. Or gift your pup an agility kit to run with their friends.
- Make a doggy ball pit. Fill a puppy playpen or dog swimming pool with plastic balls (or tennis balls).
- Bob for apples (aka tennis balls). Set up a doggy pool or large bucket outside, fill it up, and toss floating water toys inside.
- Blow bubbles. Pass out dog-friendly bubbles to every guest, or use an automatic bubble machine to fill the yard with bubbles the dogs can chase, boop, and pop.
- Play hide-and-seek. Hide treats, toys, or even a designated human. Then release the hounds to sniff them out!
Eat snacks
The best part about any party is always the snacks. For a healthy treat that all mammals can munch on, make a barkuterie board with dog-safe veggies, fruits, and cheese.
When it’s time for the birthday countdown, pass out dog-friendly ice cream and pupcakes. Don’t forget to provide plenty of water for the pups and some special drinks and treats for the human guests.
Pass out party favors
Want to thank your guests for taking the time to celebrate your pup? Put together a gift bag! Fill it with a tennis ball, a small toy, a dog chew or bone, and a human treat (cookies or cupcakes) or two.
alexei_tm via iStock
How to Make a Birthday Cake for a Dog
While many pet stores and dog bakeries offer a selection of doggy birthday cakes, you can also make your own!
To start, you’ll need to gather the ingredients for the base of your birthday cake. These ingredients typically include:
- whole grain or grain-free flour
- mix-ins like carob (a substitute for chocolate), berries, sliced apples, shredded carrots, pumpkin, or sweet potato
- Frosting and toppings made from yogurt, applesauce, peanut butter, bananas, and pumpkin or sweet potato puree
For inspiration, we have a host of homemade birthday treat ideas that you can check out, including the famous Milk Bar birthday cake and these peanut butter and sweet potato cupcakes.
How Else Do I Say Happy Birthday to My Dog?
If your dog is reactive, anxious, or shy, a party may not be their cup of tea. But a party isn’t the only way to say happy birthday to your dog and make them feel special.
What dogs really want to do on their birthday is likely what they want to do every day: spend time with the human they love (you!) while doing the things they love. This could be as simple as taking a long walk together, playing, eating tasty snacks, or gifting them a new toy.
You can even take them to their favorite pet supply store to pick something out on their own—and get attention from the other pet lovers working and shopping there. It is their special day, after all!
