We're big fans of having our pets around at a party. Additionally, our guests know they're always welcome to bring their dog along for the eventful eve. That being said, one step of our party prepping process is pet-proofing our home to prevent any major catastrophe.
- If you are invited to a party and want to bring your dog, check with the host first to make sure it's ok. In Los Angeles, where almost everyone owns a dog, it's usually the norm to bring Fido along. But the host may have boarded her pooch last minute or is not mentally prepared to host an animal. It's always a safe bet to get permission first.
- As the host of many gatherings, we always make sure to trim our pets claws before guests arrive. While we don't anticipate our anti-social cat mingling with the guests, trimming claws beforehand makes us feel less stressed.
- Fix up a cozy spot in the bedroom for your furry friend and move all necessary items your pet may need throughout an evening (litter box, water bowl, etc). Your pet will feel safe and secure, especially if they don't have to go wandering into the main living area where all the guests are gathered.
- Dog-proof the eating areas to prevent food from going missing. Display food where it's unreachable to pets--otherwise, you'll may have an Epic Entertaining Disaster on your hands.
- Pick up some pet treats from the store before your big event. We've noticed that guests love feeding our dog human food (which can be a detrimental and cause an upset stomach). Having pet treats on hand will allow guests to give in to your begging pooch and keep you stress-free.
- At a large party, everyone may not be aware that your dog or cat will make a beeline outdoors if given the chance. Make sure to tape a sign on the front door letting guests know to keep the door closed due to a pets possible escape. If your pet is behind closed doors in the bedroom, stick a sign on that door as well--when pets are concerned, you can never be too safe.
- If your anxiety levels are high and you're worried that it may be too stressful for your pet with a surplus of guests, you can always board them at your trusted animal hospital. The relief knowing your pet is safe and sound is priceless.
Related Posts
- The Secret To Stress Free Entertaining
- Last Minute Party Prep From Speed Decorating
- Party Foul Forgiveness: No-Sweat Stain Removal
(Image: RachelleB.com from Macy's Manhattan window designed by Sam Joseph and Spaeth Design)
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Sheex Bedding
Eileen's Beachside Oasis Kitchen
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
wow... I've certainly done/seen the host pets being allowed around as long as they're not noisy or nippy, but I've never heard of people bringing their own pets along! I'd be waaaaaay too stressed to do that as a host or guest!
Do people usually really do that?? I would just be too nervous!
Sure ... I wouldn't bring my dogs anywhere, but when I had a yard I always invited people to bring theirs.
@CozyLittleCave: Sometimes inconsiderate people do bring pets along without letting hosts know in advance. I know someone who has a very old, sick, incontinent dog that he insists on bringing with him everywhere. The poor thing can't help but make messes in other people's homes. It's resulted in him being invited over less frequently.
I've seen dogs at places where there are yards, but only at those places.
What a great pic!
I'm trying to place the photo, it's disney world somewhere right? The ride through time, where you follow the family through the decades?
I'm really riding my broom tonight. Pets have no more place at an adult party than do childen. That's why there are baby and pet sitters. You should be concerned about your human guests and if they have any sense, they'd leave their pets at home. I personally have five pets. When I have a party, the animals are contained in non-public areas. Not everybody likes pets (or children or that matter).
^I'm pretty sure it's a department-store-window diorama of the
scene in A Christmas Story.
wow, i guess i'm not in with the LA dog culture in crowd, i've never heard of bringing your mutt along to someone's holiday party.
The only thing I would have added is to assure readers that most party guests won't judge you for the "please call the authorities, I'm being tortured" whining from another room: almost every dog I know whines for a short while at first when they hear a party they can't join (assuming you put him/her in their own space for comfort and safety). Typically I just tell guests that after a short time she'll lose interest and go back to chewing on a rawhide or even sleeping on her bed. And she always does. I'll peek in on her when she calms down and she looks like an angel with a rawhide.
I board my dogs when I have a big group coming over. Yes, it costs money, but then they're out of the way while I am prepping for the party and I can start putting food out whenever I want without having to worry about it "disappearing." Not only that, I have big, friendly dogs and not everyone appreciates their enthusiasm--nor could I leave them outside for too long, since they'd bark incessantly and annoy my neighbors.
As for the idea of bringing animals to a party--MAYBE if it's out in the country where they can stay outside (or be put back in the car if it's cool out), or maybe to a close friend's house with a fenced yard. In any case, I just cannot imagine showing up somewhere with them without asking!
If you want to be a good host, not everyone likes pets or children. In order to be good guests we lie to you and say we love pets, but we actually do not.
My dog is not getting shut up for visitors, and if people don't like my dog they don't have to come over to my house.
A cat I would shut up if it was a risk of running out the door in the crowd. That's for its safety not anybody else's issues, since my dog isn't a runner and doesn't steal food off of tables I have no concern about her presence.
If I had a dog that was perhaps still in the puppy-jumping-up-on-people or food-stealing stage that would be different.
It's true about L.A. people. The ones I know always want to bring their dogs over.
Although I generally never lock away our dog for parties, we do sometimes have guests with allergies, or who don't like our (very well behaved, but attention whore) dog very much, and so I just keep an eye on where she is in the crowd and give her a call over to me and a treat if I see her trying to get attention from someone who dose not appreciate it. The cat will mingle at the beginning, but usually heads into seclusion once the group gets larger.
As far as people bringing their own pets, it really, REALLY depends on who is invited. I have a few friends whose dogs and training skills I trust very much, and in an appropriate setting where the dogs would have plenty of space to be dogs, I would happily have them bring the dogs to my house. I also have friends whose dogs are wild, untrained, and liable to start fights with my own and other dogs. If those people are on the invite list, then there are no dogs at all, period.
If it's a day time, nice weathered party and you just happen to have a fenced-in backyard... sure, have a party and bring along a few dogs. But any other situation is asking for awkward situations: humping, licking, eating of people food etc. No thanks. Animals tend to want to push boundries and mark in unfamiliar territories. And forgive me, but I don't want dog piss anywhere near the punch bowl.
I just cannot imagine having people over as guests and making my dogs stay in another room. This is their home as well and they know all the people who come over and are genuinely happy to see them! If I had a friend who was uncomfortable around animals, I don't know how long the friendship would last. That being said, my pooch's are super easy going, so I guess I would say if your dog needs to be put away for guests, than you've got some training to do.
Other peoples' attitudes about animals are just no fun to deal with. That's why I shut my pets up when a lot of people come over. You never know when some jerk is going to "feel sorry for" your indoor cat and let him outside, or lecture you about using the wrong litter box or whatever, or "play with" your pet in a way that is dangerous or uncomfortable for the pet (or makes it go crazy). Sure, I don't invite these people back. But you can never tell if your friend's new girlfriend or whatever is going to turn out to be some kind of animal sadist. When my good friends are over a few at a time, sure, the kitties come out and make the rounds of every lap in the house.
And I always warn my guests that we are a household that includes animals. Allergies and asthma are no joke.
Very odd, here in the UK I can't imagine bringing pets to an evening do. Maybe a daytime one, if there was a garden and suchlike and the host ok'd it but I would worry so much about damage and escaping and eating things they shouldn't! Most people don't pet-proof because they don't need to.
If we take our dog anywhere like that in the daytime we would leave her in the boot of the car (assuming it's not too hot or too cold of course, and it's somewhere safe) most of the time and just let her out for quick walks etc every so often plus a decent walk before and after, plus not being there for too long. Otherwise she stays home, or goes to visit my mother-in-law for the weekend who also has a dog.
I was at an outdoor/indoor party in Cape Cod a couple of years ago and witnessed a Chocolate Lab snatching a whole wheel of camembert chesse. People gasped ....
I still love having pets around at parties, the more the merrier!
I love my pets and those who do not don't have to come to my parties. I do make sure to have some Zyrtec on hand for those with allergies. I also make sure I de-fur the couches, vacuum thoroughly, and keep extra sticky rollers around.
There's no "non-public" place to put my cat in my apartment (studio), but I'm always very careful about warning guests about potential allergies (and taking all of the necessary cleaning precautions). But honestly, it's never been that much of an issue. She normally hides for the first half of the of the gathering, comes out and peeks around for a few minutes and then goes out of sight to sleep.
"hey're always welcome to bring their dog along for the eventful eve"
I don't expect this and don't know anyone else who does. Insane.
A friend of mine just moved in to the apartment downstairs so we're having a party in a couple of weeks. This will be the first time my dog has experienced more than half a dozen people in the house at one time so I'm a bit worried as he's not great with visitors. However, the party is also a birthday for my new neighbor's two-legged pittie so everyone will know in advance that we're dog-friendly! Besides, I met her through the rescue I adopted my dog from so many of the guests are already very well-acquainted with my dog's naughty behavior.