Are you among the large percentage of dog owners who throw birthday parties for their dogs? If not, you might be missing out on some big fun — for both you and your dog. And before you decide that it’s the silliest idea ever, think about it: people having fun, dogs having fun — what could be better? We have some tips for throwing a fun, safe, and manageable shindig to celebrate your dog.

When
His birthday of course. If you don’t know your dog’s actual birthday, choose the day you brought him home, or the day you first met.

Where
This depends on the time of year. In warm weather, your large fenced yard is ideal. If you don’t have a fenced yard, consider your local dog park or a dog beach. For inside parties, you’ll obviously want a dog-friendly locale, like a local doggie daycare or obedience school. Whatever the location, make sure it’s escape-proof.

Who
As much as you may wish to invite every friend you’ve ever had, first take into account your dog’s personality. Is he an outgoing, friendly pup that gets along with people, other dogs, and kids? Or does he prefer the company of a few familiar canine pals? Perhaps your dog is more people-oriented and not comfortable around a lot of other dogs. This should determine who’s invited. Regardless, it’s better not to invite dogs he’s never met; a party isn’t the best place for them to get to know each other.

What
Get creative and choose a theme or keep it casual. If your dog is into it, this could be the perfect time for a doggie outfit or hat. Every party needs activities. If it’s hot out, you could fill a kiddie pool, so the dogs can take a dip, or set up a sprinkler. A basket of new tennis balls will entertain your canine guests. Or combine both ideas and fill a kiddie pool with tennis balls: instant bouncy pit for dogs. Fill a bucket of water with tasty snacks, and let the dogs play “bobbing for treats” (maybe one at a time). You could also fill Kongs with treats and hide them all over the yard. Of course, all of this needs human supervision, since, as with children, what starts out as play can end in a tantrum or a squabble.

Food and Drink
What’s a party without food and drink? For the humans, consider dog-themed treats, like mini-hotdogs and sandwiches cut into bone shapes. How about a big pot of chili served up in a giant dog food bowl and trail mix that looks like kibble? Use dog-themed cookie-cutters to make cookies for your human guests. For drinks, there are several beers with dog-themed names to go along with the usual soda and water.

The birthday dog and his friends deserve some special treats, too. You can whip up some delicious party dog treats that are healthy and tasty. Make sure you place several bowls of fresh water around the venue, too. And, of course, the birthday cake! This dog birthday cake kit comes with cake mix, frosting, a bone-shaped baking pan, and even little candles!

Don’t forget the goody bags. Send your canine guests home with some treats to enjoy after the party’s over.

Dog parties share similarities with children’s birthday parties: lots of excitement and noise, a great deal of mess, maybe some disagreements, fun, and a bit of chaos. There are so few times in life when we can enjoy pure simple happiness, and what could be happier than a bunch of dogs, playing freely, misbehaving joyously, and generally having a great time?

 

There seems to be no end to the things scent-detection dogs can be trained to find. A dog’s nose is a powerful tool for discovery for everything from banned cell phones in prisons to deadly bacteria to bedbugs. Can that amazing sense of smell help to preserve an important part of humanity’s cultural heritage, as well?

Areas in the Middle East and North Africa are undergoing widespread looting of important archeological sites. War and political unrest have made many countries vulnerable to the loss of cultural property. According to the organization Red Arch Cultural Heritage Law & Policy Research (Red Arch Research), between 2012 and 2013, in a time of civil war in Syria, the declared value of United States imports of “antiques” from Syria climbed 133 percent. Similarly, the import of “antiques” from Iraq grew 1,302 percent during a period of unrest between 2009 and 2013.

Syria and Iraq are losing part of their cultural heritage, and the illegal profits are funding organized crime and terrorists. According to the United Nations Security Council, terrorist groups are looting and smuggling cultural property to build income and support their recruitment efforts. That makes it even more critical to stop the illicit trade of antiquities across the U.S. border.

So far, efforts to curb the flow of these stolen treasures have met with limited success. It’s difficult for customs officers to find artifacts that are hidden in crates and packages. Not to mention the added complication of falsified import forms. To turn the tide, Red Arch Research has developed the K-9 Artifact Finders Program. It hopes that dogs can be trained to help customs officers identify smuggling suspects by sniffing for illegally looted cultural artifacts at cargo facilities, airports, and other ports of entry into the U.S.

 

 

Red Arch Research has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Museum and the Penn Vet Working Dog Center to train dogs to sniff out smuggled artifacts. This is the first time this training has been carried out, and it requires actual artifacts to teach the dogs the scent they will be looking for. Artifacts, such as pottery, will be used. All will be lawfully and freshly excavated from the Fertile Crescent region in Iraq and Syria, an area that is a prime target for looters.

The first phase of the project will involve four dogs from the Penn Vet Working Dog Center’s training program that were chosen for their physical and mental abilities. This is precise work that demands a patient personality. The training techniques will be like those used for bomb or drug detection. First the odor of the pottery will be captured by wiping it with absorbent material. Then the dogs will be given several samples of material to sniff. When they smell a sample with the pottery odor, they will be given a treat. When they smell a sample that doesn’t have the odor, they will not get a treat.

Once the dogs have been imprinted on the pottery odor, their odor discrimination skills will be tested. If these tests prove the dogs can detect the odor of the artifacts, then Red Arch Research hopes to raise enough funds to move to the second phase of the project, testing outside of the laboratory. If the dogs can succeed out in the world, then the final phase of the project would involve creating a demonstration program for customs officers. These specially trained dogs might become the newest tool officers have to prevent the smuggling of archeological treasure and to recover and protect humanity’s cultural heritage.

 

Design experts recommend that when you decorate your home, you fill it with things that you love. What if what you love most is your dog, and dogs in general? You don’t have to turn your house into a kennel to show your love. Here are some ideas about how to artfully incorporate a dog-themed motif into your home using art, crafts, and home accessories that will immerse you in dog-related decor.

Hang It

Maybe you have family portraits, paintings of your kids, or oils of long-ago ancestors framed on your walls. It’s only fair to add a portrait of your canine family member.

• Think about how glorious an oil painting of your dog would look next to all the family pictures. This artist works from a photograph of your dog to create a unique 8” x 10” oil-on-canvas portrait.
• If you’re fond of watercolors, you can have that, too. Submit a photo of your dog, and get a watercolor painting or art print of your dog on unstretched canvas.

You can also celebrate your dog’s breed with everything from witty typography to a fine art giclee print. Need something just right for your cottage-chic house or farmhouse? A vintage-type sign — with a dog theme of course — will fit right in. Go rustic and witty, nostalgic or breed-specific.

Frame It

In these days of digital images, it’s nice to have an actual print photograph of your dog in pride of place. Of course, it’ll need a dog-themed frame! Etsy has dozens of choices in virtually any style. If you have lots of dogs or lots of photos of one dog, consider creating a gallery wall of photos, using the same style and color of frame for each photograph.

Display It

Some people just seem to be magnets for collectibles, and you may have all sorts of dog-related figurines or other treasures. Rather than space them arbitrarily around the house, consider creating a vignette on a mantle or tabletop. Groupings can even tell a story and will have more impact when placed together.

Put It to Use

Except for champion minimalists, most people’s homes have lots of useful everyday objects: bookends, planters, paper-towel holders, clocks, coat hooks, etc. Any (or all) of these can doggify your decor. For instance, these witty bookends will add a canine touch to your bookshelves.

A handy set of key, coat, hat, or towel hooks can go almost anywhere. Group them by a door or use one for a hand towel in the guest bathroom. There are probably lots of other places you’ll find to use them, too.
This handmade, cast-iron hook will fit into your country decor. Or add some color anywhere with rubber hooks. You can buy them in a pack of multiple colors or all one color.

Cozy Up to It

Every home needs some warm snuggly spots to nap, lounge, and hang with friends and family. It’s also an opportunity to add blankets, afghans, and pillows that celebrate your love of dogs.

• Play favorites by adding some breed-specific pillows to your sofa. These lively, dog-breed pillows are comfy, washable, and can even be used outdoors.
• If you’re handy, add your own artistry by stitching a dog design onto an open-weave cushion. Knitters can create a breed-specific cushion cover using a downloadable pattern.
• A few strategically placed throws or blankets provide the opportunity for spontaneous napping and can warm up a cold night.And it’s another opportunity for some dog decor. Snuggle up with a fleece and sherpa blanket embroidered with your favorite dog breed. If you’re going for rustic or shabby chic, try a handmade quilt with a dog motif.
• The living area isn’t the only place you can liven up with a dog motif. Warm up the bed with flannel dog-themed sheets.
• This duvet cover would be striking in a black-and-white bedroom and comes ready-made with muddy paw prints.

Cook and Dine With It

Cooking and entertaining hold so many possibilities for canine-inspired decorating, from kitchen tools to wine glasses.

• Scenic coasters displaying your favorite breed are like miniature pieces of art.
• Your favorite breed can help make everyday kitchen tasks — such as chopping veggies or rolling out dough — more fun, if you use a breed-specific cutting board.
• Every kitchen needs a clock. Besides, it gives you another chance for some dog decor. Go whimsical or rustic, and it will always be dog time.
• Dog-themed wine glasses will look great on a kitchen shelf and even better filled with wine.

Take It All the Way

Still not enough? Surround yourself with dogs! If there’s a designated dog room in your house or a mudroom or guest bath, dog wallpaper will definitely make a statement. A dog portraitist designed this black-and-white wallpaper, and it will enhance styles from retro to contemporary. If paste-free application is more in your skill set, you might like “Dog’s Life” wallpaper that looks like pen-and-ink drawings.

There are so many ways to incorporate your love of dogs into your decor, whether subtly with a few well- placed objects and artwork or exuberantly with dog-themed motifs everywhere. Browsing antique stores and rummage sales will take on a new purpose; a blank wall becomes a canvas, limited only by your imagination; and you’ll become surprisingly focused when hunting down the next great find. It’s all part of surrounding yourself with a celebration of man’s (and woman’s) best friend.

Find more incredible dog-themed products on the AKC Shop.