Tricks and Treats: How to Host a Howl-o-ween Party
You train your pup to do tricks for treats, why not go all out and host a dog Halloween party, complete with dog costumes? It will be a sweet contrast to the old humdrum costume parties you attend year after year. Pets make all of life better, even Howl-o-ween. Below are some tips for hosting your very own Halloween pet costume party.

1. Dog Costumes
The best way to get people to participate and dress up for a party is to offer prizes for the best costume. The same holds true for pet costumes. As the host, you won’t compete in the contest, but your pooch sets the costume attire bar for the canine invitees. In other words, you want a well-dressed dog. When you try to decide what costume your dog will wear, consider the natural look of your dog and go from there. Of course you could also display your pet’s inner super hero.

2. Who To Invite
Although you may be tempted to invite all kinds of pets to your party, it’s best to take time to consider the guest list carefully. Inviting cats to a party with dogs could be a pet Halloween party nightmare. Also think about whether or not your dog guests get along well with others.
Information to include on the invitations:
• Place
• Date
• Time
• That it is a Halloween pet costume party for dogs (and prizes will be awarded).
• If the party is in a dog park or a similar public location instead of your backyard, encourage guests to bring leashes.
3. Refreshments
If you’re going to host a dog Halloween party, you’ll need to have refreshments for people and puppies. To eliminate the possibility that the two types of food get confused, causing your human guests to eat the canine cuisine, make sure the refreshments you provide are clearly for the dogs, be sure to have plenty of water as well as an abundance of treats. A selection of bones add an appropriate atmosphere for Halloween as well as some chew toys for entertainment.
For your human guests, an ample supple of candy, caramel apples and hot dogs keep to the Halloween theme and satisfy hunger simultaneously.


4. Pet Costume Contest 2014
Rather than trying to corral canine guests and parade them in their dog costumes for the contest, provide a doggy bag (a trick or treat bag, if you will) for each dog with its name on it. Give each human guest five special treats that they can use to vote for the best costume. To place their vote, guests put a treat in the doggy bag of the dog they wish to vote for. Nobody is permitted to vote for their own pet. The dog with the most votes wins a prize. All of the dogs get to take home their votes as party favors. (Hint: to keep there from being hurt feelings, place one treat in the bottom of each bag ahead of time.)

5. Additional Entertainment Ideas
In addition to the fun that will happen with the pet costumes and the dogs interacting with each other, organize some Howl-o-ween games. Have pet owners show off their dogs’ tricks for some treats. Place a number of floatable chew toys in a small pool low enough to the ground for the dogs to bob for.


See all Halloween dog costumes and cat costumes by visiting us here>
Thinking of throwing a Halloween Party this Halloween for your pooch and friends? Check out our blog post suggestions for how to put together a howling good time by clicking here >
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