This summer, families and individuals stayed inside more to limit their risk of catching the novel coronavirus. This downtime led to one unexpected happy thing—people all over got new dogs to bring some joy into their houses. Rescue shelters emptied and names piled onto long waiting lists.
If you’re one of these happy new dog owners, why not throw a party to celebrate this bit of happiness? While you need to take precautions, this is a rare opportunity to spend time with neighbors, friends, and family that you don’t see quite so much. For details on how to throw a puppy shower for a new arrival, continue on.
Make It a Playdate
A puppy shower is not a party unless you invite other furry friends along for the fun. Rather than a formal event, you can turn it into an outdoor playdate for all kinds of dogs to get to know one another. They’ll appreciate some socializing just as much as humans. Get some fun toys for the pooches to play with and enjoy laughing at their antics with their owners.
Plan for COVID
Any kind of party needs to be COVID-safe, but there are ways you can pull this off and still have fun. Being outside is one necessity—it eliminates the risk of a doggy accident on the carpet and limits your risk of coronavirus exposure. In addition, wear masks and try to keep at a distance from one another. To allow for ample puppy petting without adding to everyone’s risk, pass out gloves for people to wear and then dispose of after use.
Give Little Attendee Gifts
Another tip for throwing a puppy shower for your new arrival is to give gifts to your four-legged guests and their humans. Rather than making it formal and like a baby shower (where you get gifts), you can pamper others’ dogs with treats, bones, and some toys. To tie a bow on everything, give a little something to the dog moms and dads who come as well.
Doing these things allows you to kick off your entry into dog ownership and, if they behave, will get your pooch a friend for the future.
