Throwing a party for Fido can be lots of fun and you don't want it to be spoiled by dog party safety concerns.
When you get a lot of puppies/dogs/people together there's always the potential for mishaps and squabbles.
To make sure everyone (fur-children and humans) has a great time at your dog party and stays safe, follow the guidelines below.
Safety Tips & Hints
Most of the potential dog party safety issues can be avoided with a little bit of planning and preparation.
Outdoor Safety If your dog party is being held outside and the weather is even a little bit warm, make sure there's plenty of shade and lots of fresh, cool drinking water for your guests.
It's not much fun partying in the rain or cold so if your dog party is being held in cold or wet weather try to make sure there's an alternative, indoor venue in case of bad weather.
Friend or Foe? When making the guest list for your dog party it's best to choose pups that are already familiar and friendly with your furchild.
Dog party safety is improved if there aren't any 'unknown quantities' such as unfamiliar dogs that could be potentially dominant or possessive.
All for one Keep all pups either leashed (especially important if you're in an outdoor, public space) or unleashed. If some of the party-goers are running free while others are tethered to their parents it could lead to trouble.
A pup that is restricted by his leash can feel intimidated or threatened by one that is running free, and may react defensively or aggressively.
The land of plenty To avoid a dog party safety problem caused by squabbling pups, make sure you have plenty of toys, snacks, food and water bowls. That way no one feels the need to fight over possessions or amenities.
Keep treats/prizes small All the treats you use as party prizes or whatever need to be kept to small, one-bite size. This helps to prevent the greedy puppy who's guzzled his snack already, from trying to steal someone elses. Guarding and protecting food is something you don't want to see at your party.
Pick up quickly Make sure any doggie messes or trash is picked up immediately. It doesn't matter who made the mess - if you see it, clean it up. Provide plenty of 'poop bags and scoopers' and let everyone know what's expected.
You don't want 20 puppies running through a pile of doggie poop or eating paper plates, foil or food wrappers. Those are definitely dog part safety issues better avoided!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T If your dog party is being held in a public place respect the other people around you. Don't let an over-enthusiastic pup romp all over the place or bother others. Strange dogs may not welcome the intrusion (and neither may their owners) which could put a bit of a damper on the party atmosphere.
Also, don't forget to clean up any messes before you leave and always pick up your trash.
Don't over-react
One of most people's biggest dog party safety concerns is that the pups will get into a fight, but if you follow the guidelines above the chances of this happening are slim.
If a little squabbling begins it's often better to let the pups sort it out themselves if possible.
bit of growling, snapping or posturing is not usually a big deal and the 4-legged party guests will soon sort out the 'pecking order'.
It's not a bad idea to have a garden hose connected to an outside tap just in case though. If a couple of the guests get too rowdy or a minor scrap looks like turning serious, a quick soaking with a strong jet of water will put a damper on things.
As soon as the trouble-makers have separated, leash each one and keep them away from each other for a short while. Re-direct their attention and remove any object that they may have been fighting over.
A dog party should be lots of fun! As long as you use common sense and pay attention to the tips above, everyone should have a wonderful time and there shouldn't be any dog party safety issues to worry about!
If you're looking for ideas for fun dog party games, check out our
Dog Party Games
page for loads of ideas. We've also put together tips and advice on making perfect
dog birthday cakes
. There's a neat 'dog-friendly' recipe plus plenty of ideas for ingredients, frosting, decorating and more.
If you know any other puppy parents who may appreciate these safety tips, please feel free to share it with them!
We've designed our FREE monthly e-zine 'Puppy Pawprints' especially for you! It's packed with exclusive and original articles, information, tips and whole lot more.
Don't miss out on this valuable FREE resource. Sign up today.
