Read to a Dog Birthday Party

Make your dog's birthday party serve a good cause by using a read to a dog theme. The dogs and humans will have a good time and you'll help promote literacy. These instructions will guide you through planning a very special birthday party.

Background for a Read to A Dog Birthday Party:

Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) is a real nonprofit that gets great results using registered therapy animals and trained humans who visit schools and libraries to provide reading companions for children. You can look up local READ programs on their website or adapt their ideas for a more casual dog birthday celebration.

Invitations for Your Dog Birthday Party:

Assuming you don't have registered therapy animals on hand, you can play it safe by inviting only dogs who are non-aggressive, predictable and love to socialize with people. Invite their human companions too because the dogs can't read to themselves. Ask people to bring a suitable book and have some on hand yourselves. If you're including any toddlers, one perfect title is Dog's Birthday: A Touch and Feel Book ($5.99) by Emma Dodd. Children can help the birthday dog open his brightly colored and multi-textured presents. Other good choices for children could be excerpts from Harry Potter about Fang the boar-hound or anything from the Clifford the Big Red Dog series. Adults could read The Hound of the Baskervilles or Mark Twain's A Dog's Tale.

Location for Your Dog Birthday Party:

If your dog is not territorial, you can have the birthday celebration in your own back yard. Otherwise, you may want to go someplace like a local dog park where you'll all feel welcome and comfortable. Dogs don't know it's their birthday so you can host your event on any pleasant day even if your hound was born in February in Buffalo.

Menu for Your Dog Birthday Party:

Make sure all the dogs have easy access to drinking water especially if it's a hot day. It's best not to interfere with their regular diet but have some treats on hand to reward them for being good guests. Get treats that are unlikely to disturb even the most sensitive stomachs such as Purina Veterinary Diets Gentle Snackers HypoAllergenic Canine Treats ($7.59). Let the humans eat cake.

A read to a dog birthday party theme creates a fun and beneficial birthday celebration. You'll have a doggone good time and may even help bring this great program to your own community.