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Dogs And Parties

August 11th, 2008

Imagine.

The centerpieces are perfect, stylish and creative. The appetizers (does anyone know how to spell horderves?) wait on silver trays, the perfect temperature and flavor. The radio is playing Buddy Guy or Shakira or Etta James, and your hair is blessed by the gods, not too frizzy or flat or confused. A bottle, several bottles of wine, rest on the immaculate counter.

You sigh a content sigh, the kind that tells the world nothing can go wrong.

And sure enough, the peace is shattered by a bark. Its coming from the ground. You look down and there is your 3 month old puppy, eager to play.

Parties can be a lot of fun for people, but don’t forget about your dog. Doing so can be a nightmare for the both of you.

I spent the last couple days helping celebrate my friend’s wedding and amidst the chaos, the dog was definitely overlooked. It’s her first dog and her first wedding. In between the two, I’m sure she learned a lot of valuable lessons. As an observer, I did too. Enough, in fact, to be inspired to make a list of tips. What should the dog owner keep in mind when throwing a party? Cats are easier. They can hide under the bed for even longer than most five year old. Dogs, however, are curious, mischievous, and yet still overwhelmed by large groups of laughing humans.

1) This is probably the most important tip. Make time before the party starts to take your pup on a long walk or to the dog park. Let him get plenty of exercise. With any luck, he’ll sleep through the whole thing.

2) Place his kennel in a quiet room away from the noise.

3) If your dog is well behaved and enjoys strangers, allow him to come play. But, make sure your guests know the rules you try to maintain. (no jumping on the furniture, begging, etc.)

4) Party foods are often rich and greasy. Make sure your guests know what they can and can’t share with your dog. Keep an eye on the floor, making sure that there are no toxic crumbs.

5) Stick to your guns about obedience and training. It’s easy to get lax at a party, but its’ also very important that your dog listens to you in a chaotic environment.

6) Explain to any children present at the party that your pet is not a toy. It is a living creature and should be respected. (No throwing things at the cat!! or Waking the dog so you can play with him!)

And lastly, if you don’t think your dog will be well taken care of (too many children, too much to do) find a friend he can stay with for the night.

Posted in K9 Care | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Dogs And Parties”

1. jan says:

   August 11, 2008 at 10:11 pm

   It has taken a few problems but now my guys fit in well at parties when I finally was able to get my guests trained.
2. Saint Lover says:

   August 11, 2008 at 11:12 pm

   We don’t have parties because of our dogs. We have so many and people don’t like being around them so we don’t invite t. I have had one family gathering here and the dogs were locked in my bedroom… NEVER AGAIN.
3. chris says:

   August 12, 2008 at 12:54 pm

   These are wonderful tips. We often get so busy planning a party that we forget how tramatic it’s going to be for our pups. Even if they’re social creatures, a large crowd can be overwhelming for them. And people sometimes think it’s cute to feed the dog alcohol or snacks, which you’ll pay for later.
4. RTPBLOGGER says:

   August 15, 2008 at 2:18 pm

   My favorite dog /party story. My brother brought his GSP to our house for Christmas. He was REALLY excited and running around the house. All of a sudden, we all realize that it’s gotten quiet……uh oh. I run into the kitchen and there is Jasper eating an entire apple pie. To top it all off, he chucked it back up in the back seat on the car ride home!