Throw A Puppy Shower For A New Puppy Owner!

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Welcome A New Puppy With A Puppy Shower

I was single a  l-o-n-g time and spent a lot of money on baby showers, wedding showers and weddings in general. I did, however adopt my share of dogs and puppies and always wondered why I never got a puppy shower.

Now, let’s get this straight – by “puppy shower,” I don’t mean a long hose with which to douse a puppy prior to a dog bath. Oh no no no, my friends. What I mean is an actual party where my new puppy or dog (and I….) would be showered with gifts to welcome my new adopted puppy into my home. I never said anything to my friends about this as I didn’t want to make them feel bad, but it’s time to spread the word. And, I’m here to spread it.

Any dog owner will tell you that there are a myriad of items floating around their house that they never would have believed. And, who among us hasn’t stepped barefoot upon a chew bone? Plush dog toys, chew toys, dog bones – they’re all necessary items in the arsenal to keep a puppy from destroying our house and home. And, it’s a whole lot nicer if these items are given as gifts!

So, let’s get going. I’ll help you put together your very first puppy shower. Hopefully, it’s not your last!

Tips on Throwing A Stressfree and Easy Dog Shower

• Location, location, location is important for where to hold your doggy shower. If one of your friends has a large, fenced backyard, that’s the logical spot. If not, check around your neighborhood and see if there are dog parks. Here in Maryland, we’ve just got a few dog parks – largish areas that are fenced in with amenities such as fire hydrants (very important to dogs), shade, and water bowls.Click here to see a list of dog parks by state: Dogpark.com listing of dog parks. This is a helpful link if you’re going to be taking a road trip with your pet so keep the site bookmarked.If you choose a community area, such as a dog park, I’d suggest holding your dog shower in off-peak times, such as mornings or late evenings. Also, make sure that you have puppy poop bags available for everyone to clean up after their own dog.
• Decide whether or not guests to the shower can bring their dogs. Some newly adopted dogs may not be very well socialized and may be skittish when in the company of unfamiliar dogs. In this case, you definitely do not want to hold the shower for the new pet owner at a dog park! In fact, his or her own house might be the best place to shower the new pet owner and their new dog with gifts.
• Invite six to eight people only to the dog shower party if everyone will be bringing a dog. You can invite more people (equals more dog shower presents…) if they aren’t planning on bringing a dog, but any more dogs than six or seven will keep you really hopping.
• If you choose a community area, such as a dog park, I’d suggest holding your dog shower in off-peak times, such as mornings or late evenings. Also, make sure that you have puppy poop bags available for everyone to clean up after their own dog.
• Make sure wherever you hold your dog shower has a tall table for gifts. You don’t want to set baskets of dog chew toys or dog treats on the ground or everyone will just help themself. This is the voice of experience talking….
• If your new dog owner friend just adopted a dog and has everything they need, consider asking for donations to the rescue organization where your friend got their dog. I’m a big supporter of dog rescue and currently have four adopted dogs of my own. I love when people support me by donating money or items to the organizations from which I’ve adopted my dogs.One of my personal favorite rescues is located in Costa Rica – Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue. They are doing wonderful work in educating the public about how to properly care for dogs, including holding spay and neuter clinics.
• Serve food in appropriate dishes. I think serving chips and dips in small plastic, inexpensive dog bowls would be hysterical. These types of bowl can also serve as party favors for the guests. I don’t know about you, but I can always use an extra dog bowl for food or water.I think this Ethical Mediterranean Double Diner would look stupendous filled with chips and dip! And, it’s a wonderful dog shower present to leave behind.
• Bake a bone shaped dog cake or cupcakes. You read that right. I, however, would one bone shaped cake for the humans and would suggest making individual bone shaped cupcakes for the dogs.

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 K9Cakery Silicone Cake Pan, 10-Inch by 13-Inch, Large Large Bone Shaped Non-Stick Cake Pan K9 Cakery Bone Silicone Cake Pan, 9 by 5.5-Inch SySrion® Puppy Paws & Bones Silicone Baking Molds-Pan-Ice Trays Set of 2

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Dog Party Decorations Perfect For a Puppy Shower or a Dog Birthday Party

Whether you’re taking my advice and throwing a puppy shower or going the more traditional route and setting the stage for a dog birthday party, the very first thing to do is to find some good decorations for the gathering. Here’s some of my favorites:

Dog Tablecloths

Set the tone for the puppy shower with one of these adorable tablecloths. Each of these comes in different sizes so check them out. I particularly like the first one with the jumping dogs….just my humble opinion…..

 Party Pups Plastic Tablecover 100 foot Paw Print Paper Table Cover Puppy Dog Paw Print Plastic Table Cover – 54 Party Pups Plastic Tablecover Scooby Doo Party Plastic Tablecover – 2 Pieces

Dog Paper Plates

These paper plates are not only a great way to serve lunch at the puppy shower but are also disposable so there’s no clean up – that’s a win-win situation any way you look at it.

 Entertaining with Caspari Charlee’s Parade Square Salad/Dessert Plates, Multicolor, 8-Pack rachaelhale Glamour Dogs Dinner Plates (8) Puppy Dog Birthday Party Supplies Set Plates Napkins Cups Tableware Kit for 16 02lp Dog Paw Prints Birthday Party Pack Supplies for 16 guests – dinner plates, napkins, balloons Designware Party Pups Lunch Napkins -16 Count Puppy Dog Party Pups Birthday Party Supplies Set Plates Napkins Cups Kit for 16 Plus Stickers Ideal Home Range 20 Count Boston International 3-Ply Paper Lunch Napkins, Puppy Dogs Clifford The Big Red Dog Large Paper Plates (8ct) DOG LOVE PINK DESSERT PLATE(8/PKG)

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What’s a Puppy Shower Without Balloons and Dog Streamers?!

Any of these adorable dog balloons will delight canines and humans alike. Just please make sure to monitor the dogs if they’re playing with balloons – you certainly don’t need a trip to the ER due to your pup swallowing a deflated balloon.

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 12 White Balloons with Black Paw Prints – Woof! Mayflower BB021470 Puppy Party Mylar Balloon Bouquet SET OF 15 PUPPY DOG WALKING ANIMAL BALLOON PETS FOIL HELIUM BIRTHDAY PARTY Puppy Dog Balloon Craft Kit Party Activity – Makes 12 Anagram International Darling Dachshund Balloon Buddy Air Walker, Multi-Color Party Pups Streamer 30ft Crepe Paper Streamer 1.8 Puppy Dog Party Streamers

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Basset Hound Cake Toppers

Any new basset hound owner would love a cake decorated with his or her preferred breed at their (surprise?) puppy shower. Note: the cake topper below comes in various sizes all the way from a 2″ cake topper to a full sheet cake.

 Basset Hound ~ Dog Breed ~ Edible Cake Topper R & M Dog Cookie Cutter – Basset Hound 12 Basset Hound dog design rice paper fairy / cup cake 40mm toppers pre cut decoration

Dog Wine Glass Charms

Let’s face it; a party isn’t a party without a bit of wine to loosen things up. I love these dog wine glass charms – the perfect way to say ‘MINE’ without being rude.

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 Basset Hound Face – Dog Pet Wine Glass Charm Drink Stem Marker Ring Epic Products 83-007 Doggy My Glass Charms (Set of 6), Multicolor Dog Wine Charms or Glass Markers – Magnetic – Great Birthday or Hostess Gift for Dog Lovers – Set of 6 Cute Puppy Glass Identifiers 1.125 Inch Drink Wine Dog Bones My Glass Wine Charms, Multicolor Big Dog Magnetic Wine Glass Charms (Tags/Markers) Set of 6 Basset Hound of Beauty Wine Glass Oval Charm Drink Marker Warning Protected By Basset Hound Wine Glass Oval Charm Drink Marker Basset Hound Watercolor Teal Wine Glass Oval Charm Drink Marker Basset Hound Watercolor Orange Wine Glass Oval Charm Drink Marker

Dog Party Favor Bags

No one, human or canine, should leave a puppy shower empty handed. Fill the dog party favor bags below with bones for the puppies and small gifts for the humans.

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 25/set Paw Print Black & White – All-occasion Paper Favor Gift Bags – 2lb – 4-1/4×2-3/8×8-3/16 Puppy Party Favor Boxes – 12 ct Cello Bags Animal Print Large – Pack of 20 Pooch’s Paw Doggie Print Paper Medium Shopper Gift Bag – Quantity of 5 Paw Print Dog Treats Cello Birthday Party Favor Shower Gift Treat Bag 7x3x2 (10) Dog Party Favors for 12 – Paw Print Stampers (12), Dog Bone Erasers (24), Puppy Stickers (100), and Pet Shop TIc Tac Toe Games (12) Military Army Party Favors Boy’s Camouflage Bracelets Dog Tags Bags Toys 180 Piece Bundle Construction Pups Treat Bags

Puppy Shower Gifts For a New Puppy and His Owner

The process only starts when you bring the new puppy home – there is SO much one needs to get a dog settled into a new lifestyle. New puppy owners would appreciate any and all of the gifts below.

Poop Bags Are a Wonderful Puppy Shower Gift!

There’s nothing worse than to walk a brand new puppy on a leash and not have a poop bag handy. Poop does, after all, happen. Don’t worry about buying too many poop bags for the puppy shower – there is no such thing….

 AmazonBasics Dog Waste Bags with Dispenser and Leash Clip – 900-Count Poop Bags, ** Earth Friendly** Pets N Bags Dog Waste Bags, Refill Rolls (16 Rolls / 240 Count, Unscented) Includes Dispenser Gorilla Supply 1000 Blue Dog Pet Poop Bags, EPI Technology, 50 Refill Rolls (Free Patented Dispenser) Pogi’s Poop Bags – 30 Rolls (450 Bags) – Large, Earth-Friendly, Scented, Leak-Proof Pet Waste Bags 880 Pet Waste Bags, Dog Waste Bags, Bulk Poop Bags on a roll, Clean up poop bag refills – (Color: Rainbow of Colors) by Downtown Pet Supply 1000 Pet Waste Disposal Dog Poop Bags, EZ Pickup Bags Pink (single roll, not on small rolls)

Pooper Scoopers Are Needed For Backyard Poop Patrol

There’s a few different type of pooper scoopers on the market. I prefer the Nature’s Miracle Jaw Scoop for Dash’s poop as he’s a healthy, growing dog with a lot of poop. John considers Dash a poop making machine. We have three other dogs also so we personally have three pooper scoopers in the backyard. That way, one is always handy when we need it – it’s a theory anyway….

 Nature’s Miracle Jaw Scoop, Jumbo (P-6008) Arm & Hammer 71034 Swivel Bin and Rake, Black/Penny GoGo Stik – The Totally Clean Pooper Scooper – Simplify Pet Waste Cleanup! Pik-a-poo Pooper Scooper, 28 Bag Scooper Adjustable Pooper Scooper and Bag Refill Pack (50 Ct) Combo Flexrake 68AR Raspberry Panorama Large Dog Scoop and Rake Set with 3-Foot Aluminum Handle

Puppy Chew Toys

Most dogs will start getting their adult teeth around five months – this was true of Dash. The fact that we’d started him early on with chewing toys instead of shoes or furniture certainly helped during this transition. Here’s some of the chew toys that proved to be popular with our own little basset puppy – please note, make sure to buy only USA made dog treats! A lot of treats from China have been blamed for dog deaths!

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 Nylabone Healthy Edibles Petite Lamb and Apple Flavored Dog Treat Bones, 4 Count Nylabone Romp ‘N Chomp Petit Chicken Flavored Freezer Bone Dog Treat and Chew Toy Nylabone Just for Puppies Extra Small Pacifier Bone Puppy Dog Teething Chew Toy PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist ‘n Treat Puppy Toy KONG Puppy Kong Toy, Small, Assorted Pink/Blue

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Mostly Indestructible Puppy Toys

I say ‘mostly indestructible’ because, in my book, there is no such thing as a toy a puppy can’t someday rip apart. The closest I’ve come to an indestructible dog toy is profiled in my article Goughnuts Dog toys.

Dash the Basset puppy loved plush toys. He would not only play with them endlessly but the exercise would tire him out and he’d collect them for his bed. We tended to buy funny puppy toys like this dead chicken dog toy. After all, we might as well have fun watching our basset puppy play.

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 KONG Rosie Rhino Cozie Dog Toy, Small Loofa Dog 12 Ethical Pet Lil Spots Plush Blanket Toys for Small Dogs and Puppies, 7-Inch, Assorted Outward Hound Kyjen 31011 Hide-A-Squirrel Squeak Toy Dog Toys 4-Piece, Large, Brown Multipet Mr. Bill Plush Toy, Model 16715 Outward Hound Kyjen 31008 Egg Babies Platypus Plush Dog Toys Squeak Toy Dog Puzzle, Large, Brown Lifeunion Pet Puppy Dog Chew Toys Squeaker Squeaky Plush Sound Duck Fun Novelty Dog Toys for Small Dogs Pecute® Pet Puppy Plush Sound Squeaker Pig Sound Chew Squeaky Pig Elephant Duck Random Color Dogloveit Dog Toy Aggressive Chew Squeaky Toys Mallard Duck Dog Toys for Small Dogs Tough Plush Interactive Dog Toy, 12-inch, Medium Ethical Mini Skinneeez Raccoon 14-Inch Stuffingless Dog Toy

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