(Editor's Note: Celebrating Safely During the Canine Respiratory Illness Outbreak
For our readers in areas affected by the canine respiratory illness, we've adapted our festive Dog Cookie Exchange Holiday Party into a series of at-home activities to ensure your pets stay safe this holiday season. Please see our special post for ideas on how to keep the holiday spirit alive from the comfort of your home, while keeping your furry friends healthy and happy. We have linked the post at the bottom of this article for your convenience. )
As the holiday season approaches, it's time to start thinking about how to spread cheer to every member of the family, including our four-legged friends! Just Add Rover invites you to start a new tradition with a twist: a Dog Cookie Exchange Holiday Party. This paws-itively delightful event is the perfect way to celebrate with your canine companions and fellow dog lovers.
Here's how to host the ultimate holiday gathering:
Invitations with a Dash of Love:
Craft personalized invitations for a select group of friends and their furry pals, including a unique dog-safe cookie recipe for each guest to prepare in advance. For a touch of festive fun, suggest an "ugly sweater" theme for the pups—there's nothing cuter than dogs in holiday attire!
The Great Cookie Exchange:
On the day of the event, have each guest bring their batch of homemade doggie treats to exchange. As the host, provide distinctively labeled goody bags for the dog treats to prevent any mix-ups with human treats. For the human guests, consider offering a variety of non-cookie snacks, like fruit and cheese trays, paired with some classic egg nog.
Bandanas and Bells:
Encourage creativity with a bandana-decorating session using plain bandanas, fabric markers, and non-toxic dog ink pads for paw prints. Non-toxic dog ink pads are a safe and easy way to add paw prints to the fabric. While the ink is designed to be washable, there’s no guarantee it will withstand a laundry cycle, so the bandanas may be best as keepsakes rather than everyday wear.
Here's how to create a festive keepsake:
Five Steps for Creating Paw Print Bandanas:
Step 1: Lay down newspaper or a drop cloth to protect your space.
Step 2: Press your dog’s paw gently onto a non-toxic ink pad and then onto the bandana.
Step 3: Decorate with fabric markers, adding holiday motifs or your dog’s name.
Step 4: Adorn each dog’s collar with jingle bells for a festive touch.
Step 5: Have pet-safe wipes or a damp cloth on hand for clean-up.
Caroling Canines!
With the dogs decked out in their holiday best, consider leading a caroling excursion in your neighborhood. Be mindful of local noise ordinances and the preferences of your neighbors. If outdoor singing isn't your cup of tea, host an indoor sing-a-long.
Get started with these canine carols:
Jingle Barks and We Wish You a Merry Dogmas! (Lyrics provided)
Jingle Barks (to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
Barking through the snow,
In a one-dog open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go,
Barking all the way!
Bells on collars ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to sing and wag,
A sleighing song tonight! Oh!
Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark,
Barking all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-dog open sleigh, hey!
Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark,
Barking all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-dog open sleigh!
We Wish You a Merry Dogmas! (To the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
We wish you a furry Christmas,
We wish you a waggly Christmas,
We wish you a playful Christmas,
And a happy New Bark!
Good treats we bring, to you and your kin;
Good treats for Christmas and a happy New Bark!
Oh, bring us some puppy biscuits,
Oh, bring us some chewy toys,
Oh, bring us some belly rubs,
And lots of joy!
Good treats we bring, to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Bark!
We love when you cuddle us close,
We all love a good long walk,
We all enjoy the holidays,
With our human flock!
Good treats we bring, to you and your kin;
Good treats for Christmas and a happy New Bark!
Resources for Your Party:
Looking for dog-safe cookie recipes or bandana decorating guidance? Explore our recommended resources:
Dog-Safe Cookie Recipes:
Bandana Decorating Ideas:
Let's create unforgettable holiday memories with our pets. The howl-idays are always brighter with a bit of bark!
Don't forget to capture the fun and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram using #DogCookieExchange and #JustAddRover.
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