Dog Party -- Pound Party

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  POUND PARTY

Written exclusively for
The PartyWorks.com
by Mary Ann Ross
May 18, 2006  

Littlest Pet Shoppe Cake Toppers
Re-usable durable hard plastic toys that you simply arrange on top of a frosted cake
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/7260

Invitations:
Make your own using colored construction paper and cut in the shape of a  dog bone or a dog house.  (If you feel very creative, add an additional piece of construction paper in the shape of the roof to add to the dog house so that when lifted, it would contain all of the party details (date, time, location, the birthday child's name, etc.)

Ask for Guests to Help the Animal Shelter
Ask guests to bring an item(s) to the party that will be donated to the local Pound. 

Gift ideas include gently used sheets and bath towels (great bedding), dog bones, canned dog food, dried dog food, dog cookies and treats.

Location
Your backyard is the best place... but a park or any outdoor location that allows dogs and children work great (be sure to check city laws for public locations prior to the party)

Food
Hot dogs are perfect, easy and inexpensive and dogs love them, too.  For humans, add chips, dips, condiments, buns and beverages to complete the meal.

Serving Food
To serve foods buffet style, the party theme will be carried out by placing foods in 'new' plastic pet dishes.  If money is not
To Serve Guests, purchase 'new' plastic unbreakable pet dishes
from a discount store and paint the name of a guest on eacg bowl as a party favor to take home.  Paper plates work great, too.

Other Recipes for Dogs AND Humans,
http://thepartyworks.com/article_info.php/cArticlePath/4/articles_id/19

Birthday Cake for "Humans"
Instead of a birthday cake, think about birthday cupcakes... soooo much easier to transport and serve.  Add and decorate ice cream, too.  There are many items available to create Puppy cupcakes, some of which are also inexpensive party favors. (photos are shown at the end of this article)

Birthday Cake for the "Dogs"
Cake is not good for our pets but with a little extra effort, you can make a Doggie Cake just for them.  Using canned dog food, spead it out in a cake pan and top with a Milk Bone (pet section of the grocery store) for decoration.

 Ice Cream Cups (optional)
Ahead of time, place a scoop of ice cream into a paper cupcake liner, place them all on a cookie sheet and put into your freezer for at least several hours to harden.  Set out little dishes of decorations for kids to decorate their ice cream cup.

Doggie Cookies for "Dogs"
Recipe and Directions at
http://thepartyworks.com/article_info.php/cArticlePath/4/articles_id/19

Doggie Cookies for "Humans"
Using a puppy or dog bone shaped cookie cutter (prepared cookie dough or your own recipe) makes the perfect theme cookies.  (photos are shown at the end of this article)

Time to Eat
Showing videos, especially for smaller children, is a great way to have them sit still and eat... show films such as 101 Dalmatians, Clifford, Lassie, Blue's Clues, etc.  A great quiet time, too, for adults to eat peacefully while the movie is on!

Party Activity
Provide brown or colored lunch bags that (ahead of time) you've written on each, "DOGGIE BAG" along with crayons, markers, etc. for each child to decorate their own special bag to take home treats and/or party favors.

 Party Favor and/or Activity

Dog Collars and Tags
Either make these ahead of the party or, if the guests are older, provide the materials to make their own. Provide colored pieces of felt in the shape of a dog collar, construcion paper and ribbon for doggie tags (adult guidance) plus glue and trinkets, glitter, etc. for added decorations.

OR... provide Cheerios and Fruit Loop cereals in doggie bowls and string from a craft store letting each child make their own edible dog collar.  (IMPORTANT NOTE:  This is not a good activity for toddlers and small children because of the string or cereal that they may put in their mouths).

Party Activity

Doggie Faces
Provide face paints.

Purchase them from a craft store or make-your-own with one of these recipes:

Finger Paint Pudding
(starting out with clean hands is a good idea!)
Ahead of time, simply mix instant pudding, add food coloring and place approximately one-quarter cup  of each color on Styrofoam meat trays.

-or-

Jell-O Finger-Paint 
Ahead of time, in a small bowl, mix dry gelatin with hot water 1 teaspoon at a time until a paste is formed. This will be grainy. By adding more or less water, you can make it the consistency you want it to be and place approximately one-quarter cup  of each color on Styrofoam meat trays.

HOW to Paint Faces
For toddlers and small children, paint their faces for them.  Older children can paint each other's faces.  Ideas include painting the nose red, adding black lines for whiskers and blue (where you would apply Rouge) on the cheeks.

Party Game

Doggie Charades
On individual slips of paper, Write one dog trick (roll over, sit, play dead, speak, eat, bark, etc.).  Fold each slip of paper in half and place inside a plastic dog dish.  The game is played by one guest acting out the dog trick and all the other guests trying to guess what the trick is.

Party Game

Musical Paw Prints
Prior to the party, cut out individual paw-shape from cardboard or heavy cardstock -- make them quite large -- place in a circle and play just like Musical Chairs.  To start, set out one LESS paw print than the number of guests so that when the music starts, one child will not have a paw print to sit on... continue removing one paw print each time the music stops until there is only one guest left who is then the winner. 

For toddlers that don't understand being taken out of a game, provide enough paw prints for the total number of children, play music and they all dance about, stop the music and they all sit on a paw print.  No winners, no prizes, just a lot of fun which toddlers enjoy the best.

 
Party Supplies and Cake Decorations Available:

Puppy Party Supplies
http://thepartyworks.com/index.php/cPath/17_246

Dog Bone Shaped
Candy Confetti Sprinkles
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_8/products_id/42

Dog Bone Plastic Re-Usable Cookie Cutter
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/250_249/products_id/637

Puppy Plastic Re-Usable Cookie Cutter
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/250_249/products_id/646
 

Clifford Plastic Rings
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_11/products_id/4532
Clifford Plastic Cake Pics
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_11/products_id/4520
Dalmatian Hard Sugar Decorations
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_7/products_id/774
Scooby Doo Hard Sugar Decorations   http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/1924

Blues Clues Plastic Rings
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_11/products_id/394
Dalmatian Plastic Rings
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_11/products_id/777
Blues Clues Cake Pics
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/3_11/products_id/392

           
Puppy Jumbo Mylar Balloon
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/4750

Paw Prints Latex Balloons
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_28/products_id/4273

CAKE
DECORATIONS

Add to cakes, cupcakes, brownies, ice cream,
Rice Krispies Treats, Jell-O and more to create
the perfect puppy dog party.

Edible Cake Art Image
Made of Sugar - EASY to use!
Simply lay on the top of a smoothly frosted cake
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/6766



Puppy Dogs Cake Pics


9 Pics - PLUS FREE Decorative Candy Sprinkles
Plastic, Re-Usable
Insert on tops Cakes & Cupcakes and Use as Party Favors
http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/7277



Dog Bone Sugar Shapes

6 White
Made of Sugar
Tint to match party colors
1-3/4 Inches Each
Simply Lay On a Cake, Cupcake or any dessert using a dab of frosting!http://thepartyworks.com/product_info.php/products_id/7031



Animal Crackers Cake Pan
Re-usable to create a variety of animals

Friendly Fido Dog Cake
Made using the Animal Crackers Shaped Reusable Cake Pan

  

http://thepartyworks.com/article.php/articles_id/975

Seeing Spots Dog Cake
Made using a Lady Bug Shaped Reusable Cake Pan
    


http://thepartyworks.com/article.php/articles_id/1883






Enjoy!

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