• Hire an agility trainer to set up an obstacle course for the pups to go through.  Buy small inexpensive toys to give as prizes.

• Blow up a picture of your dog.  Cut out his tail and make several copies and play pin the tail on the dog.  Or buy each guest a small charm for their collar and use these to “pin the charm on the collar”  Guest can then take theirs home as a gift.

• Buy rope toys and play tug of war.

• Bob for dog bones: Fill a tub or small pool with water and throw dog bones in.  Let each dog go “bob” for a bone, one dog at a time.

• Have each canine guest come in a costume and have a dog fashion show.

• Have Frisbees and balls available for a good ol’ fashion game of fetch.

• Provide disposable cameras for your guests to help capture the festivities.

• Dog-Owner Lookalike Contest:  Give prizes to human-canine couples that most resemble each other.

• Bone Walk:  Do a twist on the standard cake walk. Dog owners can help their dog pals trot around the numbered course while music plays. (How about “B-I-N-G-O”?) Stop the music and draw a number from a hat. The dog on the corresponding bone walk number wins a tasty dog bone or other treat.

• Dog Races:  Set up a start and finish line. On your signal dogs race to cross the line.

With a little planning, your pooch will have the happiest birthday ever. (At least until next year’s poochie party.)