Party-Games-for-Dogs|Dog-Party

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May 2008 Bone-Mot™

Is Your Dog a Party Animal? Then Party!

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Product of the Month - Bicycle or Jogging Trailer for Your Dog

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Is Your Dog a Party Animal? Then Party!

May in most areas is a perfect time to have an outdoors party for you, your canine and his friends. Humans will be enjoying the summer holidays - Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day - in barbecues and picnics. Why shouldn't your dog and his buddies have a party day as well?

We spend so much time caring for our dogs, it's easy to overlook the value and need for mindless fun! Here are some tips to help you organize.

1. Decide when and where you want to have the party

Obviously, outdoors is best. Maybe your backyard or another owner's. See if your city has any park facilities it makes available for picnics when the guests have four legs.

You can have your party on a national holiday and have decorations to match or just pick a nice weekend day.

2. Decide who to invite

Your dog's friends and your friends. Don't overdo it. Six dogs is likely to be the maximum you'd want to deal with at one time. It would be nice if a friend or another owner agreed to help you party day.

It's best if your dog already knows the canine guests. The day of a party is no time to find out which dogs don't get along with one another.

3. Get food for humans and canines and mark accordingly

Pizza and sandwiches are fine for the humans. I don't recommend a barbecue because it can be difficult to keep one to six active dogs from running into a divinely-smelling barbecue pit or grill. Best to have food that comes prepared or is prepared before the party starts.

For your dogs, you can make treats (see my recipes at
http://www.toybreeds.com/treats.htm), buy treats, or have
natural foods such as bite-sized bits of low-fat cheese or apple slices with peanut butter. Many pet stores sell dog-friendly cakes.

If you're having something for the humans that's bad for dogs, such as chocolate, be sure to mark the food carefully as FOR HUMANS ONLY or
alternately, if the food isn't good for humans, mark it FOR DOGS ONLY.

4. Plan decorations, if any

You can go all out and decorate your backyard or keep it simple. One thing to do, however, is to have party hats (buy at Wal-Mart) for your dogs. They look adorable and these make great photos.

You might try to get matching party hats for dog and owner and try to have a variety of colors or styles so each owner/dog is different from the other.

5. Plan some entertainment

And plan for some down time when the dogs appear to be getting over excited (and they will). Take a break and let owners pet their dogs or play a more quiet game. Some suggested games (remember dogs are not sophisticated consumers):

Musical newspapers. Like musical chairs only having the dogs sit on newspaper sections.
Apple bobbing. Have at least two buckets, one for humans and one for dogs. Humans get the apples while dogs get cocktail-size frankfurters or halved hot dogs. Everyone who bobs for and eats an apple or frankfurter is a winner.
Simon says. Only the commands are from owner to dog with the standard doggy ones such as sit, down, leave it, shake, etc. The dog and owner who can do the most win a treat or gift.

6. Have a little doggy bag for every canine to take home

Put a couple treats in or a little toy in each one. Prepare them in advance and have each dog's name on one. Don't give out until your guests are ready to go home.

7. Plan on cleaning up afterwards

Pick up any doggy poo and plan to hose down the yard and patio when everyone is gone.

A party is a great way to spend some quality time with your dog. Go for it.

For more ideas: