10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Your Dog’s Birthday

Last updated on September 20, 2018 By Jen Gabbard 6 Comments

Our dogs are part of the family, so when it comes to their birthday (or gotcha day) we want to make it special. The good news is there’s plenty of fun and easy ways to make your dog’s birthday memorable.

So if you’re not sure what to do to celebrate your dog’s birthday don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. From hosting a doggie birthday party to having a doggie movie night, here’s 10 fun ways to celebrate your dog’s birthday.

1. Host a Doggie Birthday Party

If you’re looking for a way to make your dog’s birthday extra special it’s hard to go wrong by hosting your own doggie birthday party. Invite some of your friends and family over (along with their friendly dogs) to celebrate.

If you’ve never had a bunch of doggie guests over to your home before I recommend starting small. When it comes to doggie birthday parties there’s nothing wrong with keeping it intimate; having a few doggie friends over will be more than enough to make it a memorable day for your dog. You can serve dog friendly cake, give out “doggie bags” filled with treats & goodies, and play some fun doggie games.

If you’re going to be holding your dog party outside remember to make sure that all of the dogs have access to fresh water and shade at all times. And remember to keep an eye on things and make sure the dogs are supervised at all times.

2. Let Your Dog Pick Out a Gift

If you’re looking to get your dog an extra special gift for their birthday try letting them pick it out themselves. Take your dog to your local dog-friendly pet store and have them browse the aisles and pick out their own gift.

3. Make a (Dog Friendly) Cake or Treats

You can show your dog some extra love on their birthday by making them a special treat. You can make your dog a pupcake (dog friendly cake) by using some puppy cake mix, or you can make one of these homemade dog cake recipes:

• Doggie Birthday Cake
• Mini-Berry Almond Cake
• Grain-Free Peanut Butter Apple Cake
• Dog Friendly Cake

If you prefer treats over cake check out these 25 easy homemade dog treat recipes.

4. Explore a New Trail With Your Dog

How much does your dog love their daily walk? You can make your walk extra special on their birthday by taking them somewhere brand new. Explore a new hiking trail together or take your dog to a new park. To make it even more fun for them remember to give them some extra time to sniff around and take in all those new and exciting smells.

5, Pamper & Spoil Your Dog On Their Birthday

If you want an easy way to make your dog’s birthday extra special try pampering them. Spoil them and give them some extra love and attention on their special day. Give them a nice homemade meal, an extra long walk, a stuffed Kong, a relaxing doggie massage, and some nice cuddle time on the couch.

6. Turn It Into a Game Day

If you want to make your dog’s birthday a happy one turn it into a game day. Rather than celebrating your favorite team together set aside some time to play some extra games with your dog. Our dogs love to play, and engaging in some extra games on their birthday is a simple way to ensure it’s a fun day for them. Some of my favorite doggie games include:

• Fetch/Frisbee
• Hide & Seek
• Tug of War
• Food Dispensing Toys
• Find The Treats

7. Let Your Dog Unwrap a Present

My dog Laika gets a fun new toy on her birthday, and I make the unveiling process a little more exciting for her by letting her unwrap it. If your dog doesn’t have unwrapping experience keep it simple by using a gift bag. Remember to watch them closely — some dogs have a tendency to eat anything in sight, including wrapping paper and shredded bags.

8. Set Up a Doggie Playdate

Another simple way to make your dog’s birthday extra fun is by setting up a doggie playdate for them. Invite your dog’s best dog friend over for some play time. It may seem rather simple, but that one on one play time is really fun (and exhausting) for your dog. Just remember to keep an eye on things, and make sure the dogs have access to fresh water at all times.

9. Take Your Dog For a Swim

Most dogs love to swim, so if you want to make their birthday a fun one turn it into a swim day. You can take your dog to the local beach, or search for any dog friendly pools in your area. Just remember to keep an eye on your dog at all times, and follow the basic swimming safety tips for dogs such as bringing along fresh water and cleaning them off afterwards.

10. Have a Doggie Movie Night

One of my favorite ways to celebrate my dog’s birthday is by having a movie night. Put on your pajamas, make some popcorn, and cuddle up with your dog on the couch and watch some movies together. Bonus points if you watch dog movies.

How Do You Celebrate Your Dog’s Birthday?

How do you celebrate your dog’s birthday? Have you ever hosted your own doggie birthday party? Do you wrap your dog’s presents? Does cuddling up on the couch with your dog watching movies sound like a perfect evening, or is it just me?

Please share with your friends 🙂

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