Party Tips-Puppy Shower
Tips for Planning the Perfect Puppy Shower
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It's great fun to throw a puppy shower and there is truly no limit to how cute things can get. There aren't any rules when it comes to puppy showers, so you've got plenty of freedom here. For instance, it's perfectly fine to throw a puppy party to welcome an adopted adult dog home. And unlike baby showers, you don't have to rely on a kind-hearted friend or auntie-to-be to set things up; you'll cross no petiquette boundaries if you throw your own shower
What a great way to get together with family and friends, "ooh" and "ahh" over fun doggie stuff, and laugh over stories of housebreaking, training class and all the firsts that come along with a new dog. Puppy showers have practical purposes too; they can help you kick off your puppy's socialization process, by introducing her to lots of humans and canines all at once. Just keep in mind that it's easy for a puppy to get overwhelmed, and a scare at this impressionable age can turn into a deep-seated fear. Make the experience festive, but not so lively your pup's hiding under the sofa.
Puppy Showers are usually people only, with one canine guest -- the new arrival. You can have a shower before the dog arrives, to help the new dog parent get everything needed ahead of time, or after the dog arrives, to introduce him or her to the parent's friends. If you decide to host a human only event, you can still acknowledge your guests' four-legged furkids with gift bags for the puppy from his or her soon-to-be new playmates.
A party for people means you can have a buffet table, hold your party indoors among breakables, and generally have more flexibility than you can when you invite lots of dogs. If you do choose to invite other dogs there are some rules you should follow:
- If you're inviting other dogs, specify that only healthy dogs who are up to date on their shots can attend, since your young pup is still vulnerable to catching diseases until about four months of age.
- Adult dogs should be the calm, well-behaved sort as well, so your pup doesn't get too intimidated by the big boys and girls.
- You many want to consider the size of the canine guests when preparing your guest list.
- A 200 lb dog and a 4 lb puppy are not always a good mix at a social gathering, especially if you are restricted to an indoor area.
- How well the canine guests are socialized and behaved is far more important than size.
Puppies have short attention spans and collapse frequently for naps. Keep the organized part of the party to an hour or so; if the guests want to hang out and chat afterward while the puppy sleeps, all the better
Make Your Own Announcements/Invitations
You can make cute, personal new puppy announcements with a little imagination and some basic supplies from a craft or scrapbooking store. Here are some ideas to get you started:
* Put a puppy paw print on the announcement.
* Feature your pup's picture or her paw print on the front of a paper invite. And someday you'll be able to look back and wonder that she was ever that small.
* Give the puppy's name, age and breed
* Let people know when you're bringing the new puppy home
Location:
Many doggie daycares allow you to rent out their space for parties, or you can throw it in your own home, or at a dog park. If you'll be inviting other puppies and dogs, you may want to rent a venue or use your backyard, where there's less for the pups to destroy. Just remember that until about four months of age, when your puppy's shots have kicked in, she's vulnerable to picking up dog diseases even by just sniffing areas where unvaccinated dogs have been. Make sure a rented venue is well-scrubbed or stick to a home where the resident dogs are all up to date on their shots.
Decorations:
The decorations for the puppy shower can be as simple or as extravagant as you desire. A trip to a local party supply store will no doubt result in a large selection of dog-themed table-ware and other dog-themed decorations.
- A fun idea for a centerpiece is a bone-shaped or fire-hydrant-shaped dog toy box. Then, when the puppy shower is over, the guest of honor can use the toy box to carry home the gifts, as well as use the toy box to store her new puppy’s toys.
- Use inexpensive dog biscuits to decorate with. Tie one on to a gift bow for a cute touch. Write on them with a Sharpie pen to indicate place settings if you're serving a light meal. Glue them to tent cards or game cards. Write guests' names on them and put them in a fishbowl for door prizes. There are hundreds of uses.
- Set the scene with some paw print balloons and crepe paper, pink for girl puppies and blue for the boys.
- Continue the theme with tablecloths and party plates printed with bones, fire hydrants, paw prints, or other dog-related motifs.
- A homemade tablecloth sewn from doggie-print fabric trimmed in pompoms with inexpensive doggy toys, biscuits and rawhide chews arranged on the table.
- Cut out bone shapes or paw prints and tape on the walls.
- Pick a Theme: Mexican Fiesta, Hawiian Luau, Western, Mardi Gras, Movie or Celebraty "dog" stars, Popular Cartoon Dogs (Deputy Dog, Scooby Doo, Pluto)
One safety note: Make sure to keep any chewable decorations well out of reach of the puppy's eager jaws.
Games:
Games are always a must at a puppy shower. Be imaginative and tailor the usual baby shower games to puppy themes. There are lots of traditional baby shower games to draw on, and they take only some minor tweaking to make them suitable for puppy showers. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- A simple game of BINGO can be created using the new puppy’s name and dog-bone shaped game pieces.
- A jar packed with treats so that partyers could guess the number of treats in the jar for a prize.
- Guests walked around with dog-treat necklaces that they surrendered if they inadvertently said the words “dog” or “puppy.”
- They also vied for prizes by listing songs with “dog” in the title and matching photos of celebrities with their corresponding dogs.
- For a keepsake of the party, set out an album filled with pics of the puppy and plenty of blank pages for guests to add their dog-raising wisdom.
- Guess the pup's weight
- Who's that puppy? Guests with dogs can bring in pictures from their puppy stage. The person to match the most puppy pics to the right adult dog gets a prize. (This isn't much of a challenge, as you know. You're basically giving the other guests a chance to show off their puppies.)
- Name contest - If you're still searching for the perfect name for your pup, ask guests to come up with 10 suggestions and read them aloud. Add rules if you'd like, such as incorporating letters from your own name or the names of other pets. Guests can vote on their favorites. Another important rule: You don't have to accept the one they like best.
- Hide and seek the treat -This one's for the dogs. Stash treats around the room and send the puppy and his guests off on a wild treasure hunt. Of course, this is one to avoid if any of the dogs have food aggression issues to avoid dog fights.
- Round robins - Ask the guests to sit in a circle with the puppy in the middle. One by one, the guests call the pup to them, and ask her to sit, lie down--whatever commands she knows--before sending her on to the next guest. Whoever gets the quickest, crispest responses from the puppy wins.
- Pin the nose on the puppy - Enlarge a picture or draw a picture of a dog or puppy, and pin the nose (or tail) on the puppy.
- A memory game could easily be done by placing 15-20 dog items on a tray, giving guests 30 seconds to view it, and then seeing how many they can remember. If dogs are included in the celebration, fetch or dog races could be held, with the fastest dog winning.
Menu
The puppy shower menu will vary depending upon the time of day. If it’s a mid-afternoon puppy shower, simple snacks will suffice.
- If it’s a luncheon, be creative and cut sandwiches using a dog bone or fire hydrant shaped cookie cutter.
- Find human edible cookies in dog shapes like paw prints.
- Freeze ice cubes in fun shaped ice cube trays.
- Use ribbon with paw prints or fire hydrants to tie the tableware.
- Don’t rule out a casually elegant evening puppy shower, complete with scrumptious hors’ devours and fine vintage wine.
- There is the obvious barbecue with hot dogs.
- Cocktail hot dogs can be appetizers. Consider serving other hors d'oeuvres as well.
- A doggy version of chips and dip can be quickly whipped up using common milkbones dipped in a mixture of vanilla yogurt or cottage cheese with a little baby food fruit, honey and wheat germ added.
Dogs love nothing better than to be with their humans, especially during happy events
Ideas:
- Dip inexpensive dog biscuits in yogurt chips melted on low heat on the stovetop. Place on waxed paper to cool. They should be dry to the touch when cooled. Tie with a bow around the middle. Apply sprinkles before the yogurt has dried for an even fancier touch.
- Order handmade dog treats, baby bottle dog cookies, Dog Bone dog cookies, hot dog dog cookies, Adopt ribbon dog cookies
- A batch of puppy chow is easy to make and satisfies the sweet tooth of your human guests, while pups will go nuts for the puddin' pops. (Recipe's Below_
What to serve the dogs
Pup's puddin' pops
32 oz. nonfat yogurt
1 large jar of apple or pear baby food
2 tbsp low-fat peanut butter
2 tbsp honey
Directions: Blend all ingredients together. Freeze in either 3-ounce paper cups or ice cube trays.
What to serve the people
Puppy chow mix
9 cups Chex cereal (or cereal of your choice)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Directions: Pour cereal into a large bowl and set aside. In a one-quart saucepan, stir chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into large bag.
Add powdered sugar, seal bag, and shake until everything's well coated with the sugar. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. Serve the puppy chow mix in new dog bowls.
Party Favors:
Handing out pink or blue doggie bandanas to arriving guests helps put everyone in the party mood.
To keep the good mood going long after the party's over, send the guests home with goodie bags. Write the recipient's name with a colored sharpie pen on a dog bone, and tie the bone to the bag handle with a ribbon. Here are some ideas for what to put inside:
- This dog treat baking mix comes complete with bone-shaped cookie cutters and a doggie bandana. You can choose the treat flavor and color of the bandana.
- With tons of dog treat recipes on the internet, you can even make a variety of treats with a different one in each gift bag. For a fun twist, include the recipe in the treat bag so your human guest can make the dog treat again
- For guests without a dog, consider a bottle of wine decorated with a picture of your pup.
- Your party favors do not have to be edible. You can purchase tennis balls or other small dog toys as well. Consider packaging your favors in inexpensive gift bags, color coordinated to your color scheme and theme. Another alternative is Chinese take out boxes, which can be decorated with dog stickers.
7 Steps to a Successful Puppy Shower
1. Send out Puppy Shower invitations, or email them.
2. Allow guests to bring their pet, assuming they are all up to date on their vaccinations and do not have any communicable diseases. This will allow your puppy to get used to being around other dogs as well as people.
3. Think about the items you need/want now that you have a new puppy and register in advance. Registering for the items you need and want will minimize duplicate gifts and the need to return items. Registering with PupRwear is easy. Simply register and begin shopping. When you see an items you want simply click the 'Add To Wish List' button after you have select the size and color. You can delete items if you change your mind
4. Decorate using paw print balloons, napkins, & plates, bone shaped cake and/or cookies, etc.
5. Be sure to have enough treats, water bowls and poop bags available for the pooches who attend.
6. Allow for play time for the pooches to get to know each other and socialize. Keep in mind, if your dog will be meeting other dogs for the first time, be sure to introduce them to the other dogs in small groups first rather than putting them with a large group of dogs they don’t know.
7. Relax and have fun!
What to wear
Dogs have different tolerance levels for wearing clothes, so don't get too set on debuting your new pup all decked out in an elaborate costume. And beware of costumes that have bells or any other items that could be chewed off and swallowed. You don't want to end your puppy shower with a trip to the emergency clinic.
Gift Ideas
Gift Certificates:
It is definitely appropriate for the guests to bring gifts. Gift certificates are a wonderful choice, as the new puppy parents can use them to purchase necessities such as collars, food and water bowls, bedding, crates, and even puppy food. PupRWear is currently issuing Gift Certificates is several denominations. We will email the certificate to the recipient or we can email you a certificate to give.
Gift Registry:
* Gift registry & wish list service for Puppy Showers.
* It works much like a bridal shower registry: the “new mom” gets a Puppy Shower Gift Registry Checklist from PupRWear to create her wish list of items she needs and/or wants for her new pooch.
* Then you invite your guests to the shower informing them that the “new mom” is registered at PupRWear on a page that's devoted exclusively to your Puppy Shower Gift Registry. Friends then order online from the registry.
* Notify us of the shower and date and we will maintain the list up-to-date as items are purchased, to minimize duplicate items and the need for returns.
* A Puppy Shower with PupRWear is easy & fun!
Gift Suggestions
* Toys!! Lots of Toys are important. Interactivity keeps puppy occupied during alone-time, reducing separation anxiety & provides mental stimulation & fights boredom. We have a LARGE selection of fun toys from plush toys to water toys to Big Dog Tuff Toys.
* A scrapbook or photo album for many memories to come. You might even include a disposable camera, so that pictures from the shower can be included.
* Treats appropriate for puppies: easy-to-digest, small, soft treats. These are good for training and to help the puppy associate his new surroundings with good things.
* Blankets and throws for the puppy's crate or crib, or to cover the sofa or place on the floor for playtime.
* Mattress & crate cover to turn the crate into a cozy den. Crate covers not only make a pooch feel secure but also helps to reduce noises which can be the cause of barking. Covers also diffuse the light and stops drafts, helping your little one to rest better. The crate can be easily closed up.
* Gift sets, make your own, or choose a ready made one.
* A gift certificate to a training class or grooming salon.
* A map and directions to the closest dog park, along with a printout of the rules & regulations, a small hand towel for muddy feet, and a fetch toy. Put it all in a collapsible water bowl for a fun gift basket.
* Adorable puppy shirts, and girly tanks for protection from UV rays and to help with shedding. Getting a new puppy used to wearing collars, harnesses & clothes should be started at an early age, put the item on for a few minutes offering small treats and praise them, take it off if they aren't liking it. Continue putting it on and leaving it on for longer periods of time, remember to offer treats and praise each time.
* Carrier or totes for travel or taking your pup shopping, lots of colors, sizes and styles to make traveling with your pup easy.
* Strollers & joggers are great for giving that pup a comfy ride while you get your exercise. Some attach to your bike and some convert into a backpack.
We have a separate Puppy Section and a Puppy Shower Gift suggestion.section or your can do your own search.
Contact us if you need assistance, we will be happy to help pick out the right gift or assist you in the party planning.
HAVE FUN!