It’s Pawty Time!

Whether it's a birthday, “gotcha day” of adoption, bark mitzvah or graduation, there's nothing quite like a pawty for dogs and their humans. It’s a fun way to thank your best friend for all his love and loyalty. Our dogs are part of our family, so when it comes to their special day, there’s plenty of fun and easy ways to make it a memorable one. Hound or human, no birthday is complete without a party. The perfect dog birthday party is with the pawfect party members. Invite their furry friends and their humans over for a play date afternoon of canine shenanigans. If you’re looking to get your dog an extra special gift, try letting them pick it out themselves. What’s a birthday without a pawfect present? Take your dog to The Dog Stop, Metairie Small Animal Main Hospital, Jefferson Feed, or Nola Bark Market and have them browse the aisles to pick out their own gift. It’s fun to wrap up the gift and let your dog open it!

Every dog has his day, so commemorate your pup’s big day with special activities you’ll both enjoy. Dogs love their daily walks and you can make your walk extra special on their birthday by taking them somewhere brand new. Explore a new hiking trail or a new park together. To make it even more fun for them remember to give them some extra time to sniff around and take in all those new and exciting smells. Bring a picnic to share.

Another fun way to celebrate your dog’s birthday is by turning it into a game day. In addition to cuddling on the couch to watch the Saints game, set aside some time to play games with your dog. Some of my dog’s favorite games include fetch, frisbee, hide and seek the stuffed Kong, and tug of war. Spoil your pup by giving them some extra love and attention on their special day. Cook them a nice homemade meal or share yours; no dog has ever turned down peanut butter paired with his favorite treats.

You can order all-natural grain-free cakes, pupcakes, and treats for dogs in a variety of shapes and colors. The Dog Stop and Jefferson Feed stock a full line of birthday cookies and treats for an impromptu gathering or a birthday bash! Plan ahead and pre-order one of their custom cakes in your choice of colors. The Dog Stop will even host your dog’s birthday in a decorated room with a cookie treat included. They can even invite their doggy daycare friends! Photos will be taken and shared.

What's a birthday party without a jam-packed favor bag? Include some small toys, such as a tennis ball or chew toy, a handful of dog bones or jerky sticks, a party hat or bandana and, of course, some on-the-go treats for the humans, too. Pupsicles are easy peasy! My dogs love yogurt, bone broth, and veggies frozen in a Dixie cup or in traditional popsicle molds. Canine Creamery is the perfect treat for your pup or pawty. Made with homemade coconut milk and fresh ingredients, it is dairy- and gluten-free and made with love! Three flavors are always available, Strawberry BFF and Blueberry Wag, plus a seasonal flavor. You can purchase it at The Bird’s Nest, Ugly Dog Saloon, Wrong Iron, Pawlins, The Dog Stop, and Zeus’ Rescues. They will even deliver your Canine Creamery by messaging their Instagram or Facebook page.

Barkey Park is a privately owned and operated dog park in the Bywater at 3041 N. Rampart St. Their indoor facility offers doggie day care, positive reinforcement dog training, and The Nola Bark Market, a full line pet supply store specializing in healthy, affordable food at competitive pricing. Barkey Park is available to rent on weekends for private use for doggie birthday parties! Their quarter-acre park features an obstacle course, balls, two sheltered areas, and lots of trees and grass. Tables and chairs are available on request, as well as kiddie pools. They can also provide doggie ice cream or frozen yogurt and treat bags. Drinks and snacks for people are also sold inside. The cost is $45 for 2 hours, and $15 for each additional hour. Call 504-949-1525 for reservations and details! The park can be visited as a one-time event, or you can sign up for unlimited use monthly subscriptions, or you can buy a 30-punch card with no expiration date for occasional use. There is a small dog run which can also be rented for your private usage if your dog doesn’t play well with others. Barkey Park also features a self-serve dog wash tub where you can pamper your fur baby with a relaxing doggie spa or massage!

Nola Bark Market features everything you could want for your dogs and cats, including doggie cake and ice cream mixes, high quality healthy dog and cat foods and treats at competitive prices, collars and leads, games, durable “pit bull tested” toys, supplements, apparel, beds, crates, carriers, grooming supplies, training supplies, books, gifts and yes, even art!

Their structured Doggie Daycare, supervised by a dog trainer, is offered Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., for full or half days. Daycare is a great option for socialized dogs who needs a bit of supervised exercise and stimulation during the day. Their daycare provides fun, physical activity, mental stimulation and positive socialization. All dogs are temperament tested prior to entering their day care and will be grouped with dogs of similar size and/or temperament.

NOLA City Bark at 10 Magnolia Dr. within City Park is a 4.6-acre keycard-access dog park that offers a fun place to exercise the canine members of your family. Their 5-Paw dog park includes separate play areas for small and big dogs, water fountains, shade pavilions and on-site restrooms, water play area and doggie pools, and Mutt Mitts for easy clean-up. Entrance to the dog park requires a permit to ensure that all dogs have been properly vaccinated and spayed or neutered. No children under the age of 8 are allowed. It is open Wednesday through Monday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Tuesdays, it’s open 1–9 p.m. No food or drinks allowed, so plan to have your pawty refreshments at home or in City Park outside of the dog park’s gates. More info at 504-483-9377.

You can even take your pup on a fun staycation to celebrate! On the other side of the pond in Algiers, The Crown & Anchor English Pub has British vibes. It’s dog-friendly and so is the ferry to get there, so that’s a lovely outing on a nice fall afternoon. If you would rather stay in the Marigny, take your pup to Pepp’s Pub. It is named after a dog and filled with polaroid dog portraits. Dogs rule there!

Mid-City Lafitte Greenway is a great place for a leisurely stroll. There are four dog-friendly beer gardens along the way where you and your dog can rest and sip. Wrong Iron on the Greenway and Bayou Beer Garden, both near the bayou and the Greenway, have great food and many screens in case you want to be sure the Saints are still winning. Second Line Brewing sponsors adoption events and they’re located where the Greenway ends, and the new Skeeta Hawk Brewing are both excellent places to take a breather and refresh yourself and your pup. If you go to Skeeta Hawk, don’t miss dog-friendly Flour Moon Bagels next door! Try their tartines, an open-faced bagel sandwich artfully topped with cream cheese and colorful produce. Bagels pair nicely with Skeeta Hawk’s Belgians, IPAs, and European Lagers.

Family and pet-friendly Miel Brewery at 405 Sixth St. is also a great place to celebrate! You can reserve up to six tables outside at Miel for a group of ten or more. There is no cost to reserve tables and Miel will be open to the public as usual. Food is encouraged to be purchased through their scheduled pop-ups and food trucks to support small businesses. Bringing in your own snacks or desserts is permitted as needed to meet dietary restrictions, so feel free to bring in a birthday cake for the pups along with your own plates or utensils. You can run a tab if you'd like to cover the cost of beers on tap and non-alcoholic beverage options.

Let's face it: our dogs are spoiled every single day, but their birthdays are actually a legitimate reason for some serious doggy spoilage! Whatever you do, be sure to show your gratitude to your loyal friend by sharing unconditional love and special treatment.