1. Getting Started
How do I start?
2. Guests
Who to invite?
3. Location
Some great ideas for party themes
4. Food
It's all about the food
5. Activities
Keeping everyone entertained
6. Other Resources
Web sites to check out
Food
It's all about the food: Part 4 of 61. Water
Make sure you have plenty of water on hand for all your guests. You can provide separate drinking bowls for each of your canine guests, and fill them with mineral or filtered water. You can even make these a take-home gift; stylish ceramic bowls for each of the guests make a nice gesture. You could even get them personalized for each pooch.
2. Treats
The best place to go for treats is to your local doggie bakery, or you can order from many places online. Treats available are nearly as varied as offerings at a human bakery (Merry loves Pupcakes from Three Dog Bakery). If you're creative in the kitchen, there are dozens of doggie cookbooks you can buy to help you make something homemade.
Having a backyard barbecue? Treat your doggie guests to an extra-special dinner with their own grilled boneless steaks!
Of course, a birthday cake is an absolute must; again, you can make this yourself or order one from a local or online bakery. Styles can range from simple slab cakes to three-tiered extravaganzas - you're only limited by your imagination and your pocketbook.
3. Safety and Allergies
Regardless of whether you're planning a sit-down meal, buffet- style, or just snacks and treats, you'll need to think about making appropriate choices that are safe for the people and the dogs at the party. You don't want to have too many chocolate goodies available for the people if there's a chance the dogs could get into them. Make sure all people food, particularly onions and chocolate, is out of reach of all your doggy guests.
Planning for allergies and other food considerations for both human and canine guests will help to save surprises on the day of the party; be sure to discuss these considerations with parents of small children and owners of canine guests.
4. Other considerations
Check with the other doggy guests' owners to make sure you know what their normal food intake is so you can gauge how much food to have available; you don't want to starve your guests but you also don't want to make them sick.
As well, with the delicious array of dog treats now available from many doggie bakeries, you may want to make sure you label the food appropraitely at a buffet-style meal to ensure that no people accidentally bite into a dog treat!
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