A puppy birthday is always a special day, of course. But there’s just something about a puppy’s first birthday that makes it even more special.
As a proud pet owner, you probably want to do something a little extra to mark this happy occasion. So, here are a few tips on how to celebrate your puppy’s birthday that will not only be a lot of fun, but will also be memorable.
Have Your Puppy’s Friends Come Over For A Birthday Party
Is your pup a sociable dog? Then there’s a pretty good chance your pooch has already made some friends around the neighborhood. Or, you might have friends or family members who bring their dogs over on a regular basis, and all of them love playing with your puppy.
If that’s the case, why not throw a surprise birthday party and invite everyone over? There’s simply not a better way to celebrate a puppy birthday – especially the first one. You don’t have to worry about inviting everyone you know who has a dog, of course. You can keep it small and still have a fantastic time. Just make sure someone is watching the dogs at all times.
One idea would be to have plenty of treats for all of your “guests” – just make sure to find out if any of the dogs who will be coming to your home have any kind of food allergy. Also, since there’s a good chance the dogs will be outside at some point, be sure to provide plenty of water and shade. They’ll be doing a lot of playing, so you don’t want any of the pups to get overheated.
Have Your Pup Pick Out Their Own Presents
Another good idea when it comes to figuring out how to celebrate your puppy’s birthday is to take them to your local pet store. Go to the toy aisle, and let your pup explore a little bit. Watch to see what toys they gravitate to.
Letting your pooch pick out their own puppy birthday gift might just help ensure they’ll actually play with the toy — and not just let it sit for months in your house or your backyard. Plus, you’ll have a blast watching your pup nose around to find just the right gift for their special day.
Make A (Puppy Friendly) Birthday Cake Or Treats
What are birthdays without cake? That doesn’t just go for a human birthday, but a puppy birthday as well. Lots of places actually sell dog-friendly cakes at affordable prices, and some online retailers will ship them right to your door in plenty of time for the celebration.
Now, if you prefer making your own first birthday cake for your pup, there are lots of online recipes you’ll find that are chock full of healthy recipe ingredients. Talk to your veterinarian to make sure that any kind of cake you give your dog will be safe.
Peanut Butter Treat Recipe
If you’re in the mood to make a quick batch of tasty peanut butter cookies that are safe and healthy for dogs, here’s a quick, easy recipe. Go to your local pet store and get a special cookie cutter if you want to get creative. They come in the shape of bones, stars, and more.
Ingredients
- 1 cup each of unsweetened, organic peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, because that’s toxic for dogs)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 2 Tablespoons of honey
2 ½ cups of flour (if your dog is allergic to wheat flour, you could substitute rice or coconut flour)
Instructions
- Set your oven to 350°F.
- Mix all of the ingredients to form the dough. Start with the baking powder, egg, and flour, and then add everything else. Stir until the dough stiffens.
- Sprinkle a little flour on the cookie sheet and then roll the dough. It should be about a half an inch thick.
- Use the cookie cutter to form the cookies into the shape you want.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
Cookies will be ready to serve once they cool down.
Plan Lots Of Fun Activities
The possibilities are almost unlimited when it comes to figuring out how to celebrate a puppy’s birthday. You could keep it low-key or go all-out, with party hats (a dog wearing a party hat is priceless) and other party favors. You could even fill a kiddie pool with tennis balls.1
If you really want to get creative to celebrate your pup’s first birthday, you can hide “treat toys” throughout your yard and have all your furry guests try to find them. Again, though, you’ll want to be sure to always supervise all the dogs at your party so they don’t get too carried away.2
Remember Your Human Guests As Well
Of course, if you’re going to invite some puppy birthday guests, they’re going to want to bring along their human parents. Don’t spend so much time focusing on the dogs that you forget your own friends and family members. Make some sandwiches or hors d’oeuvres. Don’t forget the chips and dip, soft drinks, and beer or wine for those who like an adult beverage.
Spoil Your Pup Even More Than Usual
You probably already spoil your four-legged child a great deal. But your puppy’s first birthday is a chance to do even more. You can fill a Kong puzzle toy with treats and watch them have an incredible amount of fun, or you can take them to the groomer’s for a “spa day” before their big party.
Take Them To A Restaurant That Welcomes Dogs
You might not want to have a party at home, but you still want to make the day a special one for your puppy. Consider taking your pup to a dog-friendly restaurant for a day of sitting on the patio with doggie friends. If your puppy is well socialized and loves to be around people and other dogs, they’ll have a great time.
Some restaurants even have menus that cater to dogs. They serve items like ice cream treats for dogs, chicken dishes, hamburger patties, and more.3
Take Them To A New Place
Have you ever thought about taking your puppy to a dog park? If you haven’t, their first birthday could be a perfect time to do it.
If you don’t want to try the dog park, you could do something like taking your pup on a different path than the one you usually take on your walks. They’ll love nosing around in a new area. Or, you could do something as simple as setting up some cones in the backyard as an impromptu agility course, or just playing some extra tug or fetch.
Enjoy Your Special Day With Your Beloved Companion
Whether you want to get creative or not, remember that the best gift you could ever give your puppy is spending extra time with them. They absolutely love you, and want to be by your side as much as possible. Carving out a day with your beautiful dog is the best way to celebrate a puppy birthday.
Learn More:
Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats And Recipes
How To Stop Your Puppy From Barking At Other Dogs Or Even People
Fun Activities For A Day With Your Dogs At The Beach: Info For Pet Parents
Sources
1 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/how-to-throw-epic-dog-birthday-party/
2 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/how-to-throw-epic-dog-birthday-party/
3 https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/9-restaurants-special-menus-your-dog-yes-your-dog
