Okay, we admit it – we love to spoil our dogs. What can we say? Our four-legged friends are family, and we want to celebrate them accordingly.We know you feel the same way about your dogs. So if you have a pup with a summer birthday, why not throw your pet a party?

Yes, dog birthday parties are a thing, and more and more dog owners are jumping on to this trend. If you want to join in on the fun, consider these tips for having a great and safe time with your pooch’s party.

Choose a Time and Place
If your pup has a pedigree, the papers should show his or her date of birth. Host your party on the weekend closest to the actual day so that it’s convenient for your guests.
What if your pet was a shelter dog, or was adopted from a rescue? You don’t have to know the precise day in order to celebrate. You can choose your own date and throw your party then.
Your very own backyard will work great as an event space if you have the room to invite friends and their dogs. If you lack a lawn, try hosting your party at a local open-use park or dog park.
Encourage guests to leash their dogs as appropriate, and ensure that there’s always plenty of human supervision. The last thing you want at your doggy birthday bash is for a scuffle to break out.

Grab the Right Supplies
You’ll need to make sure you provide food and toys for your canine guests that will be safe for them to enjoy. Here’s what to have on hand before your guests arrive:

• Plenty of water bowls (make sure you check them periodically so that all the pups invited always have water available)
• A wide variety of toys. You don’t want to have a limited number of toys; this could encourage fights if not every dog has something to enjoy.
• Doggy-appropriate treats. Try making homemade dog treats or purchasing a dog birthday cake from a specialty bakery. Again, ensure there’s enough to go around and consider separating pups when it’s time for them to enjoy food.

Make sure grab people party supplies for your human guests, too!

More Tips for a Happy Birthday Party
Your four-legged guests are likely to be thrilled with the opportunity to hang out and play with so many other dogs. But you don’t want to neglect your two-legged guests.
Consider organizing games or contests for the party. You can have pup races, set up a mini agility course and see which team does the best, or host an impromtu (and highly informal) dog show with crazy categories in which to compete.
Be sure to write thank-you notes to guests that came out to enjoy the festivities. If you do happen to whip up a big batch of birthday treats for the party, bag a few of them up for your friends to take home.