Many pet owners think of their animals as their best friends and family members, regardless of species. They show up in family photos, eat dinner at the same time as everyone else, hang out on the couch and act like a member of the human pack. So, what better way to celebrate our pets’ special occasions than with a dog party?
Today, 11 percent of dog owners hold holiday or dog birthday parties. This has increased from 7 percent in 2014, according to the 2017-2018 American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owners Survey Debut.
Well, there are plenty of dog lovers who have gone above and beyond to celebrate their furry family members with a proper dog party, and we’re here to showcase the love, dedication and fun to inspire you to come up with new dog party ideas of your own.
Photo: Woof Woof Network
Photo: Woof Woof Network
Carnival-Themed Dog Birthday Party
Parties are a great way to catch up with old friends and make new ones, all while celebrating a common cause or, in this case, the birthday dog.
When dog mom and French Bulldog fanatic Marci Bracco Cain wanted to celebrate the birthdays of her six rescue Frenchies—12-year-old Geno, 9-year-old Lulu, 6-year-old Hugo, 5-year-old Rooney, 4-year-old Zoey and 13-year-old Buddha—she decided there was no better way than with a combined dog birthday party for all her fur babies. Or better yet, a circus/carnival theme party that would also allow attendees to join in on the fun.
The event was held at Point Pinos Grill in Pacific Grove, California, where a design team created an outdoor park setting, a personal chef developed a custom menu for humans and animals, and a professional photo booth service brought carnival costumes in tow. The dog birthday party featured clowns, ringmasters, a paw and palm reader, as well as a pet psychic. Four-legged guests were encouraged to don dog costumes of their own, making the event come to life at this one-of-a-kind dog birthday party.
Want to throw your own carnival-themed dog birthday party? Get started with these supplies:
Multipet Mane Event Plush Lion Dog Toy
ZippyPaws Popcorn Bucket Hide & Seek Plush Toy
Chewy Goody Boxes
Bark Mitzvah Dog Birthday Party
Typically, a bar or bat mitzvah is a cultural celebration in the Jewish religion in which a boy (celebrating a bar mitzvah) or girl (celebrating a bat mitzvah) has reached the age of 13 and is regarded as an adult. But, when Frankie Feldman, a giant white Labradoodle, reached the age of 13 in dog years (just before his second birthday), his owner, Lisa Johnson Mandell, decided to throw him a dog birthday party “bark” mitzvah that was anything but typical.
Held in the family’s backyard in Studio City, California, the event hosted Frankie’s special “Doodle posse” as well as the neighborhood dogs and their pet parents. With all attendees outfitted with a clip-on yarmulke—a cap worn by Jewish individuals during prayer—a ceremony was held to celebrate Frankie’s graduation from puppy to dog.
Included was a neighbor’s reading as Frankie performed his best haftarah, a portion from the Hebrew scripture, by howling on cue. Following the ceremony, Hebrew National hot dogs and red velvet cupcakes with blue Stars of David were served to the humans, and special dog birthday party favors were handed out to the pups. Guests—both two- and four-legged—were invited to carry on with the fun by taking a dip in the family pool.
Want to throw your own Bark Mitzvah dog birthday party? Get started with these supplies:
Multipet Musical Dreidel Plush Dog
Frisco Birthday Girl Dog & Cat Bandana
Frisco Birthday Boy Dog & Cat Bandana
Photo: Woof Woof Network
Photo: Woof Woof Network
Old Fashioned Puppy Wedding
As pet owners, we get loyalty, love and affection from our furry family members on a regular basis. But animal lover Kathy Vegh, co-founder and CEO of My Heart Wall, can tell you that these emotions are not exclusive to human-animal relationships and interactions.
When her 4-year-old daughter asked if their puppies, Zsa Zsa, a 1-year-old Schichon, and Charlie, a 1-year-old Cavachon, could get married, Vegh, known for her creativity, responded with, “Sure! Why not?”
Vegh wrote the script for the ceremony, which featured her daughter as the official flower girl and included 13 humans and seven dog attendees. The event was equipped with a fake grass aisle and altar, doggy-themed beverages, custom tuxedo and dress dog cookies for the bride and groom, and because no dog party is complete without dessert, a special cake made by a local baker.
The puppy wedding included a unity cup for the pups as well as an official puppy marriage certificate and wedding book for guests to sign with their well-wishes for the newlyweds. The ceremony ended with the announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Zsa Zsa Barkley as “Who Let the Dogs Out?” played in the background to truly make the celebration the puppy wedding of the year.
Want to throw your own dog wedding? Get started with these supplies:
Frisco Formal Dog Tuxedo
Doggie Design Wedding Set Harness Dog Dress
Rubie's Costume Company Ring Bearer Pillow
Pupfessional Work Anniversary Dog Party
Whether an occasion calls for a dog party or not, any celebration can easily be turned into a pet-stravaganza with enough imagination and dedication. When dog mom and business woman Katie Tovey-Grindlay’s company neared its two year anniversary, Tovey-Grindlay decided that there was no better way to commemorate the event than to throw a dog party at her home in Bristol, United Kingdom, to celebrate.
Photos: Woof Woof Network
Decorations for the affair included balloons, dog party hats and confetti, all coordinated in her company’s brand colors for recognition. Guests included a 6-year-old black Labrador named Bertie; a 5-year-old Dachshund mix named Toby; and two mini Dachshunds, 4-year-old Trudie and 2-year-old Tilly, who arrived at the dining room in bow ties, ready to be served at the table.
The food served at the dog party consisted of blueberries, raspberries, cucumbers, carrot sticks and dog-shaped coconut oil doggy treats, as well as a pet-friendly cake, adorned with edible dog bones along the sides and a number two on top. As the saying “Pictures or it didn’t happen” goes, a professional photographer documented the event so that the dog party could live on.
Want to throw your own doggy work party? Get started with these supplies:
Rubie's Costume Company Business Suit Dog & Cat Costume
ZippyPaws iPooch SmartPhone Dog Toy
Mirage Pet Products Plaid Big Dog Neck Tie
Because animals are often considered family, it’s no wonder that pet parents feel the need to go above and beyond for their furry companions. For some, that may mean getting their pup a gift on their birthday, like a birthday goody box, baking them a DIY dog birthday cake, or throwing them a full-blown dog birthday party.
The next time a special occasion comes your way, consider featuring your four-legged family member as the star of the show. You may surprise yourself with the dog party ideas you come up with, the people who will help and participate, as well as the amount of fun you will have.
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