HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY BILLY!

It’s Billy’s Birthday today, yiipppeee!

AND he turns 13!!!

I was only watching a video of Billy the other day as a 10 week old puppy, yapping and playing with Isabel.

Where does the time go?

I look at him and in his eyes I still see that puppy within.

Yes he’s slowing down a little bit, his walks aren’t as long.

He’s always been a sleeper, so I can’t say that he’s sleeping more because he always has done lol.

A bit like me, we both love a good Nanna Nap!!

And I still love him more and more everyday.

He gives me unconditional love and attention and he’s just the best.

I think it’s important to celebrate his birthday, whether he realizes it’s his birthday or not –  I know it is.

I even buy him a birthday card.  A lady at the shop said to me, ‘you know he can’t read it right?’ and I just replied, ‘I do but the card is more for me than him!’

I know I’ve gotten him a birthday card, just as I would anyone else I love and care about.

I celebrate my birthday, so why shouldn’t I give him the honour as well?

Do you celebrate your dog’s birthday?

There’s nothing wrong admitting if you do.

According to a study by the Psychology Today, 81% of pet owners know their pets’ birthday, and 77% have celebrated by buying their pet a present.

I also heard a statistic the other day that there are more dogs in Australia than people!!!

There’s no doubt that we love our dogs.

So why not celebrate their Birthday?

Here’s a reminder of how to go about celebrating your dog’s birthday, if that’s what you’re into!

HOW TO CELEBRATE YOUR DOG’S BIRTHDAY?

There’s not much to it really.

• What’s The Date – You just need to know when your dog’s birthday is, or if you have rescued a dog, you can celebrate ‘Gotcha Day’, meaning the day you adopted them and brought them home.  So this is the day you celebrate – mark it in your calendar.

• Doggy Cake – Decide if you’re going to make a cake or buy one.  There’s plenty of dog friendly options.  One year I made Billy’s birthday cake out of meat.  Another year I made cup cakes because then he could eat small amounts.  On another birthday Dean made him cookies, so there’s plenty of ideas.  There’s dog friendly recipes on the net also.  And there’s heaps of Doggy Birthday Cakes and treats you can buy for them already made.  This year I bought a doggy cake mix from Petbarn and will make that for him.

• Presents – Well you can’t have a birthday without presents – RIGHT?  You could buy them their favourite type of dog toy, treats, raw bones, doggy chocolate/treats, new bedding, collar, lead, harness, or bowls.   Sometimes it does get a bit hard when you believe your dog has everything they could possibly need, but they need to have something they’ll love.  Have fun with it, you could make up a basket of all their favourite things.

• What To Do – Something your dog loves.  You could go to the dog park, dog beach, a doggy cafe, go for a drive, a walk as long as it’s something they love doing.   Some people actually throw a dog party and invite other dogs over, if your dog is social then do that.  Be careful with food around all the dogs though.  You could invite your dog’s favourite dogs to the dog park or beach or to go for that walk with.  OR if your dog loves snuggles, snuggle with your dog.  The important thing is, is to do what your dog loves doing.

• Make A Fuss – we all like a little fuss to be made over us on our birthday, so do that for your dog.  It doesn’t have to cost much but just love on your dog for their birthday.

Have fun celebrating your dog’s birthday or Gotcha Day.

WHAT WE BOUGHT BILLY FOR HIS BIRTHDAY!!

Well it’s really hard to buy something for a dog who seems to have everything………..

That’s what I kept telling myself anyway BEFORE we went to the local pet store.

As soon as I walked in though, I was drawn to the toys, the treats, the doggy birthday cake mixes, the cookies…………you name it I wanted to buy everything for him.

So I settled on –

• a big tennis ball (it won’t last long but he has fun ripping them up);
• a harder rubber ball (even though he already has about 8 balls);
• a hard figure 8 rope for tug-o-war;
• some cookies in the shape of Easter Eggs;
• a packet of milky sticks;
• a small packet of ziwi peak treats;
• a bag of oven baked peanut flavoured cookies;
• a cake mix so I can make him a cake for his birthday;
• oh and don’t forget the doggy birthday card…………………….

We put all this in his birthday box (it has pics of dogs all over it) and encourage him to flip the lid and see what’s inside.

I’ll make his cake, we’ll put a birthday hat on him, sing him happy birthday, he’ll eat the cake and his birthday will be celebrated.

Let’s hope he enjoys it.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

Our dogs are important to us, so why not celebrate their Birthday or Gotcha Day (the day they came into your life)?

Have fun with it and make sure your dog has the best time.

It’s that simple.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – IF AND HOW YOU CELEBRATE YOUR DOG’S BIRTHDAY/GOTCHA DAY?