20+ Dog-Themed Puppy Party Activity Ideas for All Ages

Need puppy party activity ideas for your next dog-themed birthday party? I've got you covered. When hosting a children's party of any kind you want to keep kids occupied so it's at least organized chaos! I'm a big fan of having guests make their favors in a creative activity and I love incorporating a little educational time in there too. But there are lots more ways to get them involved. Check out all 20+:

Pick Your Pup – Adopt a Pet

• Adopt a Puppy (ages 5-12)
• Design a Dog Collar (ages 3+)
• Decorate a Dog house (ages 5+)

“Act Like a Dog” Puppy Party Activities 

• Doggy Dress up Photo Booth (all ages)
• Best Bark Contest (all ages)
• Feed Your Puppy (all ages)
• Eat Like a Dog (all ages)
• Play Fetch (ages 2-10)
• Newspaper Relay Race (ages 5-12)
• Obedience School Agility Course (ages 3+)
• Bone Scavenger Hunt (ages 2-12)

Dog Themed Crafts

• Paper Plate Puppy (ages 4+)
• Paint a Best Friends Frame (ages 8+)
• Toilet Paper Roll Dogs (ages 6+)
• Origami Pups (ages 6+)

Puppy Party Games

• Pin the Tail on the Puppy (all ages)
• Puppy Piñata (all ages)
• Doggy Poo Pick Up (ages 3-6)

Educational Puppy Party Activities

• Vet Check-ups (ages 5+)
• Collect Donations for a Local Shelter (all ages)
• Lesson on Dog Safety (all ages)
• Play with a Real Dog (all ages)

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Dog Adoption Pound Puppy Party Activity (ages 5-12)

When you're hosting a puppy party to benefit the Humane Society having guests adopt a plush dog is basically required. Set up an adoption station for each child to choose their new pet.

Design a Dog Collar

Simple Collar (ages 2-6): If you aren't using a ready made collar to dress the new pets, having guests decorate a collar for themselves and/or their new pet is another great puppy party activity. Simple collars can be made from ribbon or pipe cleaners and beads like these from Merry About Town.

Advanced Collar (ages 7 or 8+): You can even get fancy and make paracord collars with hand stamped metal dog tags like these from Pigskins and Pigtails! {I love ImpressArt for all my metal stamping!}

Decorate a Dog House Activity (ages 5+)

Once they've adopted their new pet it's nice to give them a comfy new home! Let kids decorate a gable box for a handy carrying case.

“Act Like a Dog” Party Activities

The best part of a party theme is getting to dress up and goof off! Gather the guests together for some canine fun!

Doggy dress up photo booth (all ages)

Something as simple as a paw print tablecloth can make a fabulous backdrop for a photo booth! Add some dog ears and photo props for a great time.

Best Bark Contest (all ages) 

Have a contest to see who can sound like a little dog, medium dog, and large dog. Who's got the best howl, yip, and bark? Hand out prizes to the winners.

Feed Your Puppy (all ages) 

The best part of any party is the FOOD! Set up a great dog-themed spread, like this one from Frog Prince Paperie, to keep the kids going strong. You can find a whole lot more Puppy Party Food ideas here.

Eat Like a Puppy Party Activity (all ages)

Once the menu is decided serve it up in a dog bowl and challenge the kids to eat like a dog! No hands. We saved the best for last with the cake and ice cream. You may want to provide a bib or apron for little ones to stay relatively clean.

Play Fetch – Tennis ball toss (ages 2-10)

Play like a dog! For little ones roll tennis balls back and forth to each other on the floor. For older kids use tennis balls to hit a target or make a basket, then retrieve them.

Newspaper relay race (ages 5-12)

Split up into two teams and have a relay race using rolled up newspapers as the baton. You may alternately want to use slippers as a baton as well. Apparently dogs are adept at fetching both! Just not my dog….

Obedience School Agility Course (ages 3+)

Train your pups to listen with an obedience school agility course like this one from Frog Prince Paperie. Give them instructions and see how well they can weave in and out of cones, crawl through tunnels, leap over jumps, or run over hula hoops. Adjust the difficulty based on age group. This is awesome gross motor skill practice while tiring out those wiggly bodies! {Anyone else a boy mom? ‍♀️}

Bone Scavenger Hunt (2-12)

Every good dog knows to bury his bones in the yard! Send your pups out to find all the bones for a fun scavenger hunt. Actually bury some bones in a sand pit. The older the kids, the harder you'll have to hide them!

Dog Themed Craft Ideas

Paper Plate Dog (ages 4+)

How cute is this little pup from Craft Create Cook? Make it easy for little ones to create this puppy dog by cutting out all the pieces and letting them simply glue pieces on. For older kids make a few examples and let them use their imaginations to create different kinds of dog breeds.

Paint a best friends frame (ages 8+)

Have a place to display your favorite puppy photos with a hand painted and accessorized frame. This easy DIY puppy party favor keeps guests busy while practicing valuable fine motor skills and creativity. If using acrylic paint I'd stick to an 8+ crowd.

Toilet Paper Puppy Dogs (ages 6+)

With a little prep work these toilet paper puppy dogs from Easy Peasy and Fun would be easy  peasy (and fun) to assemble for any age. For older kids provide a few template of different heads and legs and let them create their own versions.

Origami Dogs (ages 6+)

Simplify the origami art of folding paper with this basic dog shape by Red Ted Art. Keep this one for an older crowd if you want your dogs to look like dogs. Or provide stickers for young ones to decorate their pup.

Puppy Party Games

Some party games that will never go out of style. Perfect for all ages, you can't go wrong with the classics! Then add in a few new ideas with a puppy twist.

Pin the Tail on the Doggy (all ages)

Pin the tail on the…..anything! is easily adapted to any theme and beloved by all. Make the game more challenging by adding a blindfold and spinning guests around. Skip the spinning for younger guests and baby guests can have a go without the blindfold!

Dog Piñata (all ages) 

Piñatas have enthralled young and old since their invention! Darling shapes must be smashed open to reveal the treats hidden inside. What's better than that!? Getting to destroy something AND get rewarded for it! Looking for non-candy ways to fill a piñata? I've got you covered.

Dog Poo Pick Up (ages 2-6) 

We know cleaning up after your pet is a big responsibility. Give kids a bit of practice with a whole lot of twisting balloons. Then hand them a doggy doo doo bag to clean it all up!

Educational Puppy Party Activities

Veterinarian Check Up (ages 5+)

A puppy party is a great chance for some STEM learning about being a veterinarian. Explain what a vet does and why it's important. Then have each guest give their new pet a medical examination using a cute checklist like this one from Splendry.

Collect Donations for a Local Animal Shelter (all ages) 

If you are like my family and your kids have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF you might want to consider having guests bring donations for a local shelter instead of gifts for the birthday child. Talk to your child and you might be surprised at how excited they'll be about this!

Then put on the Puppy Party invitation what you'd like them to do, including an insert with requested items.

Lesson on Dog Safety (all ages) 

Right as the kids are winding down from eating their puppy treats is a great time to talk to them about dog safety.

• How to pet a dog: On back and tummy, stay clear of head until you know the dog well
• Not pulling ears or tails: Even a nice dog could bite if hurt
• Always ask permission before petting a dog
• How to approach a strange dog: Hold hand out palm down and let dog smell it
• When to leave a dog alone: While eating, when chewing a bone, or fighting with another dog

Play With a Real Dog (all ages) 

We love our black lab Jackson. He's been part of the family for 12 years and our kids have grown up with a large dog whacking them in the face with a tail, knocking them down, and giving wet slobbery kisses.

If you do bring a dog to the party please be sensitive to children who might be afraid. Especially of a large breed. Keep the dog on a leash to avoid any food stealing. And to keep your pet safe. They might feel a little frightened by so many children and try to run away! Only let kids visit the dog a few at a time.

Choose Your Puppy Party Activity Ideas!

I hope you found a few puppy party activities that appeal to you on this list. But most importantly I hope you have so much FUN! Puppy parties are a great theme and delight party goers of all ages.

Additional Puppy Party Reading:

• Dog Themed Puppy Birthday Party Ideas for Kids
• 21+ Puppy Themed Birthday Party Food Ideas
• Puppy Party Activities for Kids: {breaks down a few activities in detail}

Until next time my friend,