Ring In the New Year With Your Dog!

Who doesn't enjoy a good party? I know I love a great celebration. My dogs, Petey and Harley,  love being included in our festivities, and enjoy having related dog stuff there for them to play with. They love all the attention they get from our guests, plus the special treats they receive. Usually by the end of the evening, they are tired, just like us!

To make the celebration as pet-friendly as possible, we get some dog supplies for them to have during the party, usually some new dog toys and some special dog treats. All of our family and friends know what they are allowed to have for treats and what is off limits. We will lay and label their dog treats out on our food table, so that way if the dogs are by the food table, (and since they are dogs, they will be near the food table), someone can pass them a savory treat. I really take pleasure in their being included and, at the same time, it's a healthy treat. As for healthy treat ideas, Petey and Harley really enjoy vegetables, so we have a special bowl just for them with some of their favorite veggies.

We always have lots of sweets out for our guests to enjoy. Another way we include Petey and Harley is by baking them some dog-friendly cakes. It only takes a few minutes in the microwave to bake, we decorate them. Out little guys just gobble them up!

During New Year's Eve, we have always celebrated by making hats out of construction paper. My family did it while I was growing up, and we still do it now. So, as a party favor, every guest gets a bag of supplies to make their own hat to wear when the ball drops. Naturally, we like to include Petey and Harley in this activity. They look so adorable in their hats! In the past years, we 've made them out of construction paper, and we also have taken their old hats and just added some fun decorations to them. Needless to say, they enjoy getting the treats and playing with their new dog toys more than wearing the hats.

No matter how you celebrate with your dog this year, always remember it's all about building a lasting relationship with him. From all of us here to all of you there... Have a fun and safe Happy New Year's Eve!