This lucky dog wears his birthday hat in style.
A 2006 survey showed that about 9 percent of dog owners have hosted a birthday party for their beloved pets. If you're thinking about joining their ranks, there are lots of creative and fun crafts you can do to make your canine celebration even more special. From the perfect gift to the most delicious treats, prepare for a doggie party that you and your guests will enjoy, whether they're canine or human.
Gifts Any Canine Would Love
Humans expect gifts at their birthday parties; why shouldn't your dog? Wandering the aisles of your local pet store will give you lots of ideas for things you can make to celebrate your dog's big day. Homemade doggie clothes, for example, could include a personalized dog T-shirt sewn to fit your pup, a climate-appropriate sweater or raincoat, or even a customized leash or collar to fit your dog's style. You can make all of these items by hand, often at a lower cost than store-bought gifts. And your handmade fashions will definitely fit your puppy's personality and body better than anything mass-produced.
Tasty Treats and Favors
A dog birthday party wouldn't be complete without something edible for both the canine and human guests. For the humans around the table, try having a cake made with your dog's picture on it (a service many cake decorators can now provide), or decorate it yourself to fit with the overall canine theme of your party. You also can make a canine birthday cake for the dog guests to share; some recipes are available at dog-treat-recipe-exchange.com (see Resources).
Of course, your guests also undoubtedly will welcome some treats to take home. You can make homemade dog biscuits and, with many recipes, can cut out the dough using a dog bone-shaped cookie cutter. Send a little bag of these biscuits--maybe with a cutter for the owner to use at home attached--home for every canine guest to enjoy.
Mini Dog Scrapbook Favors
Another possible favor for your human guests to take home could be a mini dog scrapbook. You can find small fabric-covered journals or notebooks at many dollar stores. After you get them home, decorate them with fabric paint, glitter and other scrapbooking accessories. After the party, you can provide copies of some of the photos you've taken to the human guests, who can add them to their new scrapbooks, along with photos of their own dogs. The scrapbook becomes a gift that keeps on giving, one which everyone can enjoy as a memento of doggie fun.
Tags: human guests, birthday party, canine human, take home, your guests