A Guide to the Pawfect Dogust 1st Birthday

With August 1 right around the corner, that means the universal day for all shelter dog birthdays is almost here! In 2008, the North Shore Animal League America coined August 1 to be known as DOGust 1st, the universal birthday for shelter dogs. Now, any shelter dog, homeless or adopted, can have a day dedicated to them where they can (and should!) enjoy a little extra love and affection.  To celebrate, we are offering this guide to make sure your dogs have a PAWFECT Dogust 1^st birthday.

GUIDE TO A PAWFECT DOGUST 1ST BIRTHDAY

Get your party gear on!

OK, so maybe not every dog wants to put on their party hats, but a nice birthday bandana or a festive collar can be sufficient. It will be sure to put you and your pooch (or at least you and everyone else) in the partying mood.

Fun activities

It’s my pawty and I’ll bark if I want to! Indulge your dog in their favorite activities during the day. Enjoy finding new sticks to carry around? Go on a hike. Want to do some swimming on a hot day? Take a dip in the pool or head to the beach. Maybe your dog isn’t too keen on doing much of anything and would prefer a nice, long, day-time nap. Whatever your dog’s preference may be, it’s their day, so let them lead the way!

Other fun activities include:

1. Visiting their doggy friends
2. An extra-long walk or run
3. Getting ALL the belly rubs
4. Going to a park
5. A car ride with the window opened – just a little!

Birthday cake

It isn’t a birthday without cake, so call up your local bakery (that is familiar with baking for dogs, of course) or roll-up your sleeves and put some love into making a special doggy cake for your dog. Luckily, we here at Jolly Pets took some time to try out a dog cake recipe for you – office dog approved. As always, be sure to read over the ingredients carefully to ensure your dog can enjoy their cake fully, allergic reaction-free.

Doggy Birthday Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

2 eggs, separating yolks from whites

¼ cup flavorless oil (such as coconut, vegetable, etc.)

1/3 cup applesauce (no sugar added)

1/3 cup peanut butter (free of xylitol and palm oil)

1 cup grated carrot

1 cup whole wheat flour

Extra peanut butter for frosting

Decoration Ideas:

Favorite treats

Freeze dried fruits

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit (176.6° Celsius)
2. In a large bowl, mix grated carrots, oil, egg yolks, applesauce, and peanut butter, until smooth.
3. Add in 1 cup of wheat flour to wet ingredients and combine until fully incorporated.
4. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until light and fluffy, with small peaks beginning to form.
5. Gently fold in egg whites to the rest of ingredients, making sure to not overmix and lose air. The batter will have a consistency somewhere between cookie dough and muffin batter.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes in a mold of your choosing (ours was 10 inches x 7 inches) and allow to cool in the mold for about 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely to room temperature and then frost with peanut butter and decorate.

Remember that all things are enjoyed in moderation, so to avoid any upset tummies, we recommend only a small piece of cake at a time.

And last, but not least…

PRESENTS!!!

Of course, presents aren’t EVERYTHING, but they sure are nice – your dog would agree, too! Take them out to the pet store to pick out a gift of their very own or maybe order them that cool ball they have been wanting for a while.  Treats are another great option for a present, because why not have a birthday cake plus a little extra, too?

Dogust 1^st helps remind us that there are many amazing and wonderful shelter dogs out there in need of a home. Take part in spreading awareness of adoption events near you or supporting your local shelters where you can. Every dog deserves to have a special day, so on behalf of the Jolly Pets team: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!