5 tips on Hosting a Dog’s Surprise Birthday Party was compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
My best doggie friend, Max, turned three years old right smack dab in the middle of the holidays. We were busy with holiday festivities and didn’t properly celebrate Max’s special day.
Now that things have slowed down a bit, I’m throwing Max a surprise birthday party and sharing 5 Tips On How To Host A Dog’s Surprise Birthday Party.
I also have the cutest puppy face cupcakes for humans. They made the cut in my 17 Best Cupcake Recipes.
Please Note: The cupcakes are for people only, not for your dog!
Hosting a Dog’s Surprise Birthday Party is Easy!
Hosting a Dog’s Surprise Birthday Party is super easy! We can talk openly in front of Max and he has no clue that we’re planning a surprise party for him. 🙂
Tegan, my youngest grandson, and designated dog whisperer can tell Max all about the party and Max has no clue.
Planning a surprise party for your best doggie friend is much easier than planning one for your toddler.
You don’t have to spell words like birthday, surprise, treats, etc. And Max has never asked me that age-old question, “How many days until my birthday party?”
We’ve been having much warmer weather than usual here in the southeast, so I decided we’d have Max’s party outside. Then I grabbed some paper and a pen and began planning the party.
5 Tips on Hosting A Dog’s Surprise Birthday Party
Let the kids help plan the party.
Your kids will come up with fun ideas that you would never think of in a million years. I’m always impressed with the suggestions the grandkids make. Sometimes I think they’re a lot smarter than I am.
Send out invites.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy invites. I created my own invitations and I’m sharing them with you. Print them out on cardstock and fill in the blanks.
Print the invites by clicking here >>> FREE Printable Doggie Birthday Party Invitation
Plan fun activities.
No one likes to just sit around at a birthday party. Plan a doggie scavenger hunt, frisbee toss, or have fun playing with bubbles.
Kids love bubbles. Guess what? Dogs love bubbles too.
They love to jump up and try to catch them. Be sure your bubbles are pet safe and non-toxic.
Have your dog’s favorite treats on hand.
Max’s Surprise Birthday Party calls for his very favorite treats. Max loves the taste of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Deli Cuts. I love that there are no artificial flavors or meat by-products.
Real US-farm-raised beef or chicken is always the number one ingredient and there’s no corn or wheat. Be sure and look for Deli Cuts at your favorite grocery store or online at Chewy.com.
I also keep Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Meatloaf and Savory Roasters on hand. All of these dog treats are safely made in the USA and cooked with the world’s best ingredients. My Max deserves the best!
Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Treats are intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Please watch your dog to ensure Nutrish treats are thoroughly chewed before swallowing. Break into small pieces for smaller dogs.
Don’t Forget Treats for the Humans
I made the cutest Puppy Face Chocolate Cupcakes for human guests. Be sure and keep the food for your guests away from your pets. These cupcakes are for humans only.
This was my first time using fondant and I realized it’s like playing with play dough. I’m not ready to bake a wedding cake, but the kids love my Puppy Face Chocolate Cupcakes.
I used a boxed mix for the cake. My secret to using boxed mixes is to always add a teaspoon of vanilla. It tastes homemade! Use a premade chocolate frosting to make things even easier.
For these cupcakes, my main focus was the fondant part. Feel free to use your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe.
For the puppy faces, I found a small box of fondant that includes all the colors I need.
Let’s make Puppy Face Chocolate Cupcakes.
You’ll Need The Following Ingredients To Make The Cupcakes!
- 1 chocolate cake mix plus oil, eggs, and water listed on the cake mix box (prepare according to the directions on the package)
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- Prepared Chocolate Frosting
- Pre-packaged Fondant in black, light brown, brown, pink – I found mine at the local Walmart.
Dust your workstation with cornstarch or powdered sugar and knead the dark brown fondant a few times until it’s soft and pliable.
Roll out to 1/8″ thick and punch out 3″ rounds using a cookie cutter. A canning jar lid can be used if you don’t have a round cookie cutter.
Place the dark brown fondant circles on top of the cupcakes.
Lightly smooth out the circles and repeat step 1 using the light brown fondant and a 1-1/2″ cookie cutter.
For the ears, I use a small heart cookie cutter and black fondant.
Cut the heart down the middle to make two ears.
You may need to shape them a little bit to look more like doggie ears.
Brush one side of each ear with water and attach the ears to the cupcakes, water side down.
Make the eyes and nose by rolling small pieces of black fondant between the palms of your hands.
Puppy Face Chocolate Cupcakes
Puppy Face Cupcakes are perfect for a birthday celebration. These cupcakes are easy to make using a boxed cake mix and premade/pre-colored fondant.
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake mix plus oil, eggs, water listed on cake mix box (prepare according to the directions on the package)
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- Prepared Chocolate Frosting
- Pre-packaged Fondant in black, light brown, brown, pink
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Place cupcake liners in muffin tins.
- Mix cake mix according to instructions on the package. Stir in one teaspoon vanilla.
- Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full.
- After baking according to package directions, let cool to room temperature.
- Frost with prepared chocolate frosting. Try to make the icing as smooth as possible and not too thick.
- Dust your work table lightly with powder sugar or cornstarch. Knead the dark brown fondant until soft. Roll out to 1/8 of an inch. Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to punch out circles from the fondant.
- Place the 3-inch rounds of fondant on top of the cupcake, gently pressing to adhere to icing. Smooth out the fondant if needed.
- Refer to step 1 and punch out 1-1/2" circles using the light brown fondant. Draw a mouth using a toothpick. Brush with water and place on top of brown circles, near the bottom of the brown circle (muzzle) water side down.
- To make ears, I used a small heart-shaped cookie cutter and the black fondant. Cut the heart down the middle and shape into ear shapes. Brush with water and apply with water side down.
- Make the eyes and nose by rolling black fondant.
- The tongue is optional. The darker pink tongue is made by melting pink candy melts. I drew small teardrops on wax paper and filled them in with the melted chocolate. Allow the chocolate to harden and use a little melted chocolate to attach the tongue to the mouth of the puppy.
Nutrition Information
Yield
24Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 106Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 8mgSodium 175mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 0gSugar 12gProtein 1g
I printed them on cardstock, cut them out, and added ribbon for hanging. I’ve provided a free printable for you in case you want to make one for your dog’s birthday party.
Print the Bones Garland by clicking here >>> Bones – Garland
My Surprise Birthday Party for Max is a big hit with Max and the kids.
I have a few bags of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Dog Treats stashed away for Max because he deserves a treat once a day, not just during his birthday party.
Have you ever hosted a birthday party for your pet?
29 comments
Those cupcakes re the cutest thing ever!!! I love the idea of having a surprise birthday party for our dogs!!
What great tips. I would not have thought of this but you have thought of everything and your furry friend is very lucky to have you! Love those cupcakes too!
The puppy face cupcakes looks so cool. It would be nice also to have the kids involve and prepare the treats for the dogs and humans.
This is so fun – who knew dogs had parties? We don’t have a dog or a puppy but what a great idea for dogs. The cakes look so cute. I have used fondants and it really is like playing with play dough. Looks like the grandkids had fun too. I am always amazed at how kids come up with creative ideas that we adults don’t think of. So imaginative!!
This is a cute idea. Although with 4 dogs in the house, we’d be having parties all the time!
That is absolutely the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I love the idea of a surprise party for the pooch. P.S.Your dog is so handsome.
Awe what a paw-bulous birthday celebration. I love the thought of having a party for the fur babies.
My friend has a birthday party every year for their fur baby. She would love these cupcakes.
Wow, those puppy face cupcakes are super cute! I have never hosted a birthday party for my pets but I bet they would love all the attention.
I have never hosted a party for my dog, however after this, I am inspired. Super cute cupcakes, and adorable pictures! #client
I love this idea! If I only knew my dogs’ birthdays. It would be so cute to throw them a nice little birthday party. I love those puppy faced cupcakes.
LOL! This is awesome. I’ve never had a dog, so never thought to throw a doggie party! I have a cat, and well, they’re temperamental little beasts, so she wouldn’t go for it. Great post!
Our fur baby will turn 4 (human) years old on Valentine’s Day. Since me and my husband will be staying home that day, we’re just going to make it a very special birthday for our adorable fur ball. The puppy face cupcakes look so cute!
Those cupcakes are adorable!!!
While we don’t have a dog at the moment, I can see my boys wanting to have celebrations just for the dogs.
These are some great tips for a surprise birthday party for your dog. I love the puppy face chocolate cupcakes. They look adorable and delicious. Rachel Ray’s dog treats I have not tried yet on my dog but will have to pick some up. Thanks for sharing and Happy Birthday to Max.
I’ve never thrown a birthday party for my dog but it seems like a cute idea. I can’t get over how adorable those cupcakes are!
How fun! This party sounds like such a great time. We don’t have dogs but I have a friend with two dogs. I will share this post with her.
What a great ideas for a party! I absolutely love the puppy cupcakes, so yummy and cute looking!
Alli, this is the cutest idea! Love the cupcakes … I imagine your dog was really surprised, too! LOL Pinning this one all over the place 🙂
Sinea♥
Your dog is so cute! I bet the party was very fun.
Alli, you truly did more than visitors’ expectations. Thank you for rendering these helpful, trusted, edifying and also cool thoughts on the topic.
This is my kind of party! I’d much rather do this than any lame cocktail party.
Me too! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this article.I love it..I also have a boxer dog and now am ready to plan a treat for my loving Boxer dog.Thanks again for tips
What a cute idea! I absolutely love the puppy cupcakes, so yummy and cute looking! I should have done this for my dog’s recent birthday. I imagine my dog will be really surprised. Thank you so much this was very helpful.
I love the idea of having a special day for my dog. Even though I don’t really know his exact birthday I can celebrate the day I adopted him. I’m not so sure how surprised he will be since he lives life in the moment, but my family will really love it.
This is a great idea! Thanks for posting. We have to do a surprise birthday party for all three dogs on each of their birthdays.
Those cupcakes look amazing! There’s no way I’d be able to bake anything like that! You’ve got some talent! My Frenchie’s birthday is coming up and I can’t wait to spoil her!
I just visited your current post through your one other page. I am happy to know new points to celebrate with my puppy. I also have suggested it to my all 4 family members. Your post has given me some new points to consider and the images you used are surely attracting my puppy too.
I am sure to have a great birthday of my puppy next month