Planning a Dog-friendly Halloween Party for 2010

Fall of 2010 will be upon us, along with one of the most fun holidays of the year. When else do you have a chance to dress in a crazy costume, eat lots of candy, and knock on all your neighbors’ doors? Halloween is an exciting time for children, teenagers, adults, and, well, dogs! Instead of leaving your pet out of your October festivities, why not throw a party that he can enjoy, too? Get ready to invite the neighborhood pets; this is going to be a fun party!

If you have ever thrown a dog-friendly party, then you know how much fun they can be for the pets and the owners. If you haven’t thrown a party, then don’t be worried. Pet parties are easy to plan, especially since the Internet offers tons of resources at your fingertips. Perhaps a tough part of planning is coming up with a theme. Lucky for you, you don’t have to pick out a theme since it is Halloween!

Once you have your theme, then you need to choose a day and time for the party. Even though you are hosting a Halloween party, it’s not a good idea to have a pet party on the same day or night as the holiday. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is all the commotion. If you live in a neighborhood, then more than likely you will have numerous kids knocking on your door. Even if all the invited dogs are completely socialized and loving toward children, you don’t want to create a situation that could produce a problem. It’s best to plan a party on a night when there won’t be a ton of trick-or-treaters.

Now, it’s time to send out the invitations. It’s up to you how early you send them out, but two or three weeks in advance is normally a good runway time. Instead of handwriting on a piece of paper and dropping it in the mail, use your resources and spice things up. Include a couple of treats or a raw hide in the invitation. You can even find edible invitations made especially for dogs. Use your imagination to invite all your dog friends. Don’t forget to include a "costume party" comment for the dogs and owners.

Once you have the invites out, it’s time for you to choose decorations and food for the party. Decorations are easy; you can use things around your home or visit a party supply store for Halloween-inspired décor. When planning the food, you have another chance to use your resources. You can order doggy cakes and treats online, or you can pick up canine cake mix at a pet store. You can even find homemade recipes all over the Internet. If you are unsure whether or not an ingredient is okay for dog consumption, then don’t be hesitant to look up the toxicity of the ingredient. If you choose to make the cake at home, consider purchasing a bone-shaped cake pan from a pet store. Once you have the dogs’ food in place, don’t forget to make edible arrangements for the owners!

When it’s time for the party, make sure you and your pooch have the perfect costume. Depending on the length of the party, you may come up with games to play on your own or you may want the attendees to bring some of their favorite games. Setting up a homemade agility course in your yard can also be tons of fun. As the dogs compete and play games, have tasty treats to reward them. The dogs and owners will appreciate the extra effort!

Halloween is a great time to plan a party. The theme is already set, and people are excited to dress up in silly and interesting costumes. To protect your guests and other possible visitors, try to plan the party around the holiday, not on it. Be creative in your planning; search out edible invitations or special doggy cakes. You can even come up with yummy treats in your own kitchen. But, in all the excitement, don’t forget about feeding the owners!

This article was provided by pet-super-store which is an online pet shop featuring great deals on pet doors.