Every doggie loves all the attention they can get.  Secretly they yearn for a celebration in their honor… that’s what all the howling is about.  Until Google develops an algorithm to communicate with our pets, we will have to make some assumptions regarding the details, which I have happily done.  Really, they just want what their simple human friends want… to be showered with love, treats and frolic carelessly with their best buds.

In this case, what you want is your party to go to the dogs.  Sure, you can have a party for any pet, but since I can’t wrap my head around cat wrangling I’m going to take the easier route here.  I mean really, this says it all –

So, a dog day afternoon at the park it is, for Spot, Pickles, or Lucky and all of his four legged friends.  Here is the top 10 list for a great day for dogs and owners alike…

1.  Party Theme
2. Invitation
3.  Decoration/ Location
4.  Pet Parade
5.  Photo Booth
6.  Games
7.  People Food Menu
8.  Dog Food Menu
9.  Doggie (Loot) Bags
10. “Special Feature” Party Pick Up

The dog party theme really depends on the personality of your pet.  Put yourself in their paws.  As a forlorn dog owner (current lifestyle and living arrangement not pet-friendly) I harken back to the blissful days of pet ownership.  My imaginary dog (until lifestyle permits) is a leggy, athletic, good-natured pup of the short haired variety.  And what the heck, also smells something like crisp line-dried linen and freshly-baked bread (might as well throw all of my fond childhood memories into one grab bag).

With this in mind, a Track and Field Themed Party to celebrate “Gotcha Day” suits for a day of stretching our legs and enjoying the great outdoors – grass underfoot, warm breeze in the air, and eager anticipation of a fabu party.

Anticipation is sparked by a well-crafted invitation.   I love the below invitation put together by onecharmingparty.  Although it doesn’t coordinate with my sports themed event, you could easily adapt it.  The hound’s-tooth pattern is very clever, and how fortuitous the USPS had dog stamps.  This party was just meant to be…

Now these pups are going to need some real estate to show off their athletic prowess.   Stake out a nearby local park to set up your picnic and play area using flags to mark your territory.  Colorful balloons or bunting will make your location easy to spot, and creates a festive atmosphere.  I like a red, white and blue theme to coordinate with my prize ribbons, but that’s just the matchy-poo kind of gal I am.

Now it’s a Pet Parade!  What better reason for you both to get dressed to the nines.  It is a party after all.  Since you are in your finery, might as have your photograph taken for posterity.  Photo booths aren’t just for humans anymore.   Get your compatriots photographed so you can put together a photo album, as well as for sending a keepsake print to your guests.

This segues nicely into your first dog party game (which would need to be outlined on your invite) – a look-alike contest.

Since we all don’t have our Dog Trainers Degree, I am limiting the games to jumping through a hoop and catch.  Heck, half the fun of being around dogs is watching them interact with each other.  Note I said interact, not intercourse, which gets everyone kinda edgy…

Not sure why, but this post has got me jonesing for comfort food; maybe it’s the nostalgia of my doggie days.  When I started with the hot dog in honor of our canine friends, the rest of this simple meal just fell into place, and the nice thing is that everything is tasty at various degrees of “warm”.  Hot dogs – street meat style with all the fixin’s, macaroni salad, and baked beans.  Yes, I think I just turned 6 all over again…

Hot Diggity Dog

Macaroni Salad – with Cheese AND Bacon.  Mmm, bacon…

Baked Bean-y Goodness

And I couldn’t resist this Fire Hydrant Cake … with a wave of my magic wand – Poof! it is the most dense, moist, chocolaty cake evah.   So lifelike, you’ll need to keep it elevated.

Now, I can’t say as I have ever put together a doggie menu before, but I think the above offerings could satisfy the pooches too?  Well except for the chocolate cake, this much I know having borne the brunt of a mischievous dog that found my stash of chocolate bars.  To keep our canines in fighting form, we can’t feed them an unhealthy diet of just comfort food.  A well rounded meal of Doggie Meat Loaf, Cheese Chunks, and a few tasty treats should do the trick.  How depressing that all the dog food is varying shades of brown… guess Yellow dye #5 is not so good for them either.

Doggy Meatloaf with Vegetables (selected from Allrecipes.com)

“This is a simple, easy and nutritious recipe to use as a substitute for canned dog food.”

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, stalks celery, chopped carrots, grated apple, cored and diced eggs slices, white bread, torn into pieces.

1 cup regular rolled oats, cup wheat germ (6 ounce) can tomato paste, medium potatoes, cubed carrots, chopped stalk celery, cubed.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a large roasting pan with oil and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, 3 stalks of celery, grated carrots, apple, eggs, bread, oats, wheat germ and tomato paste using your hands. Divide the meat mixture into four equal parts and make loaf shapes. Place the loaves in the roasting pan. Surround them with the potatoes, remaining carrots and remaining celery. Cover the pan with a lid.
3. Bake for 80 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the meat is cooked through. The internal temperature should be 175 degrees F (80 degrees C) when taken with a meat thermometer. Allow to cool.
4. Portion the food into containers with one loaf and one quarter of the vegetables in each one. Refrigerate. To serve, give your dog 1/3 of a container with each portion of kibble.

Cheesy Chunks for Dogs

1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or other mild cheese)

1/4 cup margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Milk:

1. Cream the cheese and margarine together using an electric mixer. Add the flour and mix thoroughly. Slowly add enough milk to form a stiff dough. Shape dough into a ball, cover, and chill for 30 minutes or more.

2. Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes.

3. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown and firm. Cool on wire rack.

Ginger & Banana Poochie Muffins– click through for the recipe…

 

Set out a few bowls of water and c’est fini!

Send these Peanut Butter Dog Bone Biscuits home in a doggie bag along with a rawhide bone and a dog toy to keep them entertained until their next party.

A DIY Doggie Toy – and machine washable too!

Being the socially conscientious pet owners that we are, of course the park will be left in even better condition than we found it.  And, I’m sure all your guests will be pooped by the end of the day too.

…Leaving you with my favorite doggie images reminiscent of my childhood – my dog Sabby, and another fondly remembered old friend, although mine was always knotted up or inextricably twisted around something…

What would your doggie include as part of his gotcha day?  I would love to see your comments.

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