Throw Your Pup A Party!

party - By Staff Writer on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - 14:47

The key to throwing a successful puppy part is keeping it fun for both the parents and the pups.  If you have an unlimited budget you can go all out but for most a puppy party is an extravagance and costs should be reasonable.  Below are some of the basics that every pup party must have.

Location
Before you start any further planning of your puppy party you should scout out a location.  You need to keep in mind safety and security to have a fun successful party.  We are not talking bouncers to keep the riff raff out but rather have a secure location where the dogs can not escape from.  If you choose a place like an open bar that allows dogs, owners will have to keep the dogs on leash at all times which might make the party more stressful to them.  When picking location pick some place with solid boundaries (no holes in the fence), limited potential dangers such as swimming pools unless dogs are invited to swim and plenty of space for both dogs and people.   If you choose a public park keep in mind you are limited to what you can bring in and you will likely be sharing all of your treats with anyone that shows up. 

Theme
Having a theme makes a basic party all that much more fun.  The theme could be anything from a simple color like blue or pink to a movie like Lady And The Tramp or a location like a Hawaiian theme.  Themes help bring the entire party together and make it easier to plan.  Once you pick your theme take time to brainstorm how you can incorporate the theme into the party.  The more creative you get the more fun it will be!

Decorations
Once you have your theme you can start to plan decorations. For dog parties you should stick to simple safe decorations keeping in mind that things will be chewed and knocked over.  Stick to plastic and paper cups and plates for humans in case the dogs knock over a cup nothing will break.  All hanging decorations should be high enough to be out of reach of the tallest dog.

Food
You need food for both people and pups.  Make sure both are clearly tabled so none of your people guests accidently pick up a very pretty dog treat!  People food should be kept high up away from dogs reach.  For dog food you can pretty much offer anything safe for dogs but keep in mind that too much of a good thing can lead to bad tummies so keep it minimal.   You can buy a dog cake from a bakery but we suggest you make your own.  As long as you do not give the dogs chocolate and keep the servings small you can even give the dogs store bought vanilla cupcakes - no need to pay a lot for a dog specific cake!  Make sure dogs with food aggression and resource hoarding are fed separately and always ask owners first.

Gift Bags
Get some cellophane gift bags and fill them with your pups favorite treats to share.  You can add some toys that match your theme or gift cards to your favorite dog store.  We suggest tossing in something that the owners will appreciate like a nice dog shampoo.  Something special for your guests to take home will make the party that much more special.  Keep the bags away from the dogs as the bags and ties could cause choking hazards and the treats and toys can cause fights.

Entertainment
You really don't need much more than the pups to keep you buys but offer some music for the adults to keep the mood fun.  If you have a movie theme you can play the movie in the background.  For the dogs they should just play with each other.  Adding toys into the mix will cause fights.

Have A Cause
Even parties with purpose like a birthday party are always better with a cause.  Make a donation to a shelter in the name of your guests and place a note in the gift bag or make it a fundraising event and ask everyone to bring a can of dog food or a blanket for a shelter of your choice.  Having a purpose makes everyone feel good and you can enjoy the party that much more knowing you are doing some good.

The key is having a safe fun time for all involved so don't focus too much on just the dogs remember the owners they come with and everyone should have a blast!