-By Libby

Current statistics show that dog birthday party numbers are on the rise. I find this encouraging, although I don't know what took so long.

People are finally getting that dogs love a good party. Birthday parties provide a lot of extra love and attention for the guest of honor, and they bring dogs and people together for a joyful time. -A beautiful thing.

But let me be honest: Even more beautiful is the fact that a dog birthday party revolves around FOOD.

Dog Birthday Party Planning 101

1. Decide Where You'll Have the Party

Things to consider when making this decision:

A. The weather - will the party be held indoors?

B. What if the weather goes bad - is there a possibility that the party will have to be moved indoors?

C. If the party is held indoors, is there easy access to a place outside in order to "take care of business?" (Note: Obviously your dog guests can use cell phones, laptops and PDAs inside. I'm referring to the other kind of business. You know - "business.")

D. Will you be prepared if a guest takes care of the wrong kind of business on your carpeting? Keep that in mind, and have some extra potty bags and cleaning supplies on hand, just in case.

E. Is there a park nearby that you're considering for you dog birthday party location? Check to see if you need permission or a reservation. Usually this is not a big deal, and generally only requires a phone call. If you're busy, have your dog call around.

F. Will you hold the party in your back yard? Are you prepared to pick up lots of dog poop when the party is over? (Pardon my frankness - it's a reality.)

G. Will the location have a clean and ample supply of water? Keep in mind that you'll want to have some large containers on hand to fill with water for your guests. In the summer months this is crucial for the safety and well being of your dog guests.

Dog Birthday Party Location Ideas:

• Your own backyard!
• A rented room at a dog-friendly hotel or conference center
  
• Renting space at your local dog bakery
• An off-leash dog park
  
• Know a friend with a farm or large piece of property? Ask them if you could hold your party there.
  

2. Create the Guest List

Who's it gonna be? Spud? Snoopy? Astro? Scooby-do? Well maybe you don't rub elbows with the K-9 celebs… How about a group of your dog's closest pals?

An important thing to keep in mind here to ensure the success of your party is that your guest list should consist of dogs that have already met - dogs that you know get along well. A dog birthday party is not the ideal time to bring a new dog into the social mix, and it's definitely not a good place for an aggressive dog or any dog you're unsure about. Things can get nutty at a dog party when the fun really picks up, and only dogs who can handle a party atmosphere should be there.

(Warning: There are those dogs who will go right for the lampshades at a party. You've seen them before - they wear the lampshade upside down, wide end up. When you ask them about it, they'll tell you some story about having had some kind of surgery...)

Don't forget to add animal-loving people to your list too! Even if they don't have a dog, that's OK. As long as they can appreciate and respect us, they're welcome. We especially like pushovers - oh, I mean, nice folks - who so keenly recognize a neglected, underfed, starving dog when they see one, and kindly share their food.

Now, once you've put together a preliminary guest list, take this quick reality check. Ask yourself these questions to make sure everyone will be safe and happy at the party:

A. How many dogs can I/do I want to manage? Take a minute now to think clearly about the number of dogs you can handle all at once in your selected location. (Remember I mentioned the lampshade story.) Try to imagine for a moment what the party will look like, in the place you'll be having it, with the list of guests you're considering.

Will there be enough room to breathe for everyone attending? Will small children or elderly people be invited? Not all small children and dogs make a good match, so be sure to keep that in mind. Also, some elderly folks have a hard time getting around, and they could easily be knocked off their feet by an overzealous dog guest.

3. Decide on Dog Birthday Party Invitations

Most people have access to a software program (say, Microsoft Word) that they can use to create a simple party invitation. If this is the case for you, you can choose to either keep it simple or go all-out creative. Handwritten invitations are perfectly fine too, especially for smaller gatherings. The important part, of course, is that you provide the vital stats about the party, like time, date, and location.

If you ask that guests RSVP, you may want to ask them at that time to also provide the name and number of their vet so that you can have that information on hand for each of your K9 guests at the party. Just in case.

Also ask yourself if you'd like people guests to bring anything with them - things you may not want to provide, like potty bags, a water bowl, a dog blankey, or special foods their dog may require, etc. And you may want to consider requesting on the invitation that K9 guests refrain from bringing a K9 friend, since you want all of your dog guests to know and like each other in advance of the party.

If you don't want to create your own, you can buy dog birthday party invitations online, or look for a dog theme card at your local card store. (Note: We'll be offering some at Dog Treat Recipe Exchange soon.)

4. Dog Birthday Party Theme Ideas

You can base your dog's birthday party on just about any theme you can imagine. Almost any party theme for people can be modified to make for a great dog party theme.

I suggest you do an Internet search for "birthday party theme" and see what comes up. Let it get your creative juices flowing. And as you do your research, think the theme through - the activities, the creative props you may need, etc., and how it would work with a group of dogs.

5. Food!

~ Water ~

First and foremost, be sure to have plenty of clean (preferably filtered) water on hand for all your guests. You may want to provide separate drinking bowls for each of your dog guests, or ask them to bring one from home. You might consider buying, like I did, a stylish yet inexpensive dog bowl, and make these a take-home gift for your guests.

~ Dog Cookies and Dog Birthday Cake ~

Note: Remember not to overdo the food with your dog guests. A dog's intestines often become irritated with a new type of food, or too much food. (Could be messy.) Also check beforehand with humans to find out about any allergies their dog may have. And please remind your guests to party in moderation.

To make for a very happy birthday dog, bake her a homemade dog birthday cake (the cake is an absolute must!), along with a few batches of home made dog cookies.

If you absolutely had to, you could call your local dog bakery to place an order, or order online. But I encourage you to create from scratch. You may not think dogs know the difference. I assure you this is not the case.

If your dog birthday party is going to be outside, why not throw some meat on the grill and make an extra special dinner for guests with grilled boneless steaks! (OK... or just burgers.)

6. Party Activities

Trivial Pursuit and Cranium are definitely a possibility for some breeds. But others may get bored with that kind of cerebral activity. Twister is a possibility too, but larger breeds could be at a serious advantage there.

Better stick with these indoor party entertainment ideas:

• Kong toys (those rubber dog toys you can fill with treats) filled with cheese, peanut butter, or a dog treat. (One for everyone.)
• Have a contest for "best dog trick."
• Pick up a few rope toys for a quality game of tug of war.
  
• If you chose a theme party, have a "best costume" contest.

If your party will be held outdoors, possibilities for fun increase significantly:

• Have several balls available so there are at least one ball per guest and play free-for-all fetch. (One of my personal favorites.)
• Frisbees are great too, especially the rubber, "dog" kind.
• Rent or buy agility equipment like a tunnel for the dogs to race through; make sure you have lots of training bits or other treats to offer them when they run through successfully!
  
• Bobbing for biscuits. Fill a small tub or child's pool with water, throw some biscuits in, he who gets them out fastest wins!

Whether your party is indoors or outdoors - be sure to take pictures! You'll want to relive the fun at a later date. Plus, pictures make a great gift for the dog-loving friends who attended the party.

You don't have to take full responsibility for documenting the party though. Get help from your guests by handing out disposable cameras.

One last tip - remember to hide the lampshades.

Party on,
Libby