People Share Their Views On Inviting People To Dog's Birthday Party
Rocky the Pit Bull’s birthday party started as a sweet idea, then somehow turned into a whole neighborhood event. One person was already planning presents, a special dinner, and even a birthday hat, and it got the wheels turning about inviting not just the dogs, but the people too.
That’s where it gets messy in the best, most chaotic way. Smiley Doggie Face has been known to lure in neighbor dogs and their humans for angel food cake and vanilla ice cream, but the invitees with the German Shepherd and the two Pit Bulls who dig under fences showed up with surprise on their faces. They thought their dogs bothered everyone, meanwhile the backyard party was basically a doggy meet-and-greet with pizza-level energy.
Then another twist hit, because April 22 is also one therapy-dog’s birthday, and the library kids already have a tradition of singing and sharing cupcakes.
The birthday boy:
You know, I've never thought of that. But it might be a fun thing to do. It would be a great excuse to get the kids to come over and have a small party with pizza, salad, and beer/wine. Maybe even a neighbor or two. Heck, I could even invite his "girlfriend" Bella the Pit Bull.
That being said, Ava and I always celebrate Rocky the Pit Bull's birthday. He gets a few presents, a special dinner (cheeseburger or steak), and even gets to wear his birthday hat!!!
The Birthday Boy…
Rocky and Bella…
Here is Smiley Doggie Face:
I have done that with Smiley Doggie Face before, and I not only invited the neighbor dogs but also their people. We had angel food cake and vanilla ice cream for everyone, and Smiley enjoyed playing with all seven dogs, from small dogs to large dogs like a German Shepherd and two Pit Bulls who liked to dig under a couple of fences to get to Smiley's backyard. (The people with those three dogs were surprised when they got the invitation since they mistakenly thought that their dogs bothered me.)
Here is Smiley Doggie Face:
Your dog doesn't understand the concept, but it will love the attention
It is a fun thing to do
We always have a party with a meat cake
We invite our friends who have dogs around, and everyone has a blast!!
Actually, my dog’s birthday is April 22, and I was thinking the same thing. Mine is a therapy dog, and she goes to the library where the children read to her. Last year, we took cupcakes, and the kids sang happy birthday to her. They ate cupcakes; she ate a dog biscuit.
But there is a local restaurant that makes pup-cakes, and I took her there two years ago. I am thinking I might get one of those as a carryout. You could give your dog some boiled chicken and rice as a treat. Or, you could ask your friends who know and like your dog to do a drive-by and hesitate as they pass her in front of your house to visit her.
I did the reverse, and I took my dog on a drive-by to a couple of houses Monday — she is depressed because she is on furlough from her dog therapy group and accounts. Usually, she visits seniors in memory care and the library where the children read to her.
So, she is very social, and she can’t figure out why people aren’t around. I drive her by a couple of dog therapy friends’ houses, and they came out on their porches and told her hello and acted all excited to see her. That made her happy.
That’s when Rocky’s birthday hat plan starts to sound less like a personal tradition and more like an invitation strategy for the whole block.
This echoes the birthday party tension when the family service dog had to stay “on duty” all night.
Meanwhile Smiley Doggie Face is out here hosting seven dogs at once, including the big German Shepherd and the two fence-digging Pit Bulls.
And the confusion lands hard, because the humans with those three dogs thought they were the problem when the party invite proved otherwise.
Finally, April 22 isn’t just Rocky’s day, it’s also when a library kid crowd sings happy birthday to a therapy dog over pup-cake dreams.
In the end, whether it's seen as odd or endearing, the practice of inviting people to your dog's birthday party is a personal choice. If it brings joy to you, your dog, and your friends, then it's a tradition that holds its own special meaning.
So, the next time you're considering a celebration for your furry friend, remember that in a world filled with stress and busyness, a bit of canine birthday cheer might just be what we all need.
The best part is, everybody shows up thinking they’ll be judged, then leaves acting like they’ve been invited into the dog’s inner circle.
Before you invite Bella the Pit Bull, see why one woman almost uninvited her emotional support dog.
Share this article:
