Recipe(tried): Dog Birthday Party Fun

My husband and I recently held a birthday bash for our six-year old cocker spaniel, Cowboy, the best dog in the world. While searching for party and game ideas on the internet I noted a void of information and made it a point to share our experience with others who may be struggling with canine party themes. I must mention that the party was actually a joint celebration for my coworker's two yeart old pit bull, Tucker, who also has a birthday in January. First, we used sidewalk chalk to draw large, colorful paw prints on the walk up to my front door, ending with a request to "Wipe your paws". The living room was decorated in traditional happy birthday banners and balloons (Taped high and well so the guest dogs wouldn't try to eat them). One corner table displayed the doggy bags ang party bandannas for each dog guest. For the bandannas I simply purchased three yards of fabric (Sesame Street Birthday Balloons) and used pinking shears to cut them into triangular shaped pieces of varying sizes. Each guest, including another pit bull, a shar-pei, a black lab, a maltese, a pekenese, a miniature schnauser, an englih bulldog, a collie mix and a chihuahua, got a bandanna on as soon as they arrived. The treat bags were brown paper craft bags which I purchased for $.40 each and hand stenciled with paw prints and sayings like "WOOF WOOF" and "GOOD DOG". Inside were homemade dog biscuits (many recipes online), gourmet treats such as bagel bites and pizza chews that I purchased at a local pet bakery, basic snacks that I bought in bulk such as milkbones and puperonies, and a petsmart tennis ball that came out of a package of six. For food the dogs enjoyed more homemade treats and tasty gourtmet snacks on one table while we humans had finger sandwiches and chips and veggies on another table (some of the dog snacks looked so delicious I was a little worried someone would eat one by mistake so I was sure to let everyone know which table was which). I was sure to have many large bowls of water around so that every dog had access to a cool drink. We have a large fenced back yard so that is where most of the action took place (except for the times the hungry dogs returned to the food table to request more snacks). For games we had bobbing for hotdogs where one at a time each dog had the opportunity to fish a half hotdog out of a large plastic bin with 4-6" of water in it (every one of them figured out a way to get that snack!). Then we brought out the cat-shaped, small milkbone-filled pinata (kinda morbid, I know) and let the dogs smell it and play with it to gain their interest. Once all of them cought on, it didn't take long for that poor cat's head to come off and the treats to start flying! Later after the dogs enjoyed time playing catch and fetch outside, we had obedience trials for best sit, longest stay and most unusual trick for prizes inside. Hindsight, we should have chosen just one impartial judge because all of the dogs did so well it was hard to award winners! We also had a contest where, in pairs of two, we placed large towels over each sitting dog and whoever got it off first won. Prizes included award ribbons for first thru third place and various inexpensive toys and treats. A contest for the people involved filling a small pet treat jar from Petsmart with tiny milkbones and taping the number of treats to the inside lid. Everyone then had a guess at how many there were and the closest guess got to keep the jar. Finally we sang happy birthday to Cowboy and Tucker and the dogs ate their bone-shaped carrot cake (which we bought for $20 from the pet bakery) while we humans had cupcakes. All of the guests left with full bellies and doggy bags, and Cowboy and I were tired and smiling when the last dog trotted down the walk towards home. And, just because I know you're curious: Yes, there was one accident inside the house but it was quickly cleaned up with the wet-vac that I had on stand-by just in case!