My Dog Was Invited to a Birthday Party

I would go even if it was for just a short time. What about a stuffed Great Pyrenees to give as a gift?

Why not stop by with the dog and drop off a little gift. I don't think they would expect you to leave the dog there and you don't have to stay long.

Why not just say he'll pop by and take him over for a short visit (like 15-20 minutes) so the kids can see him, he's made an appearance and that way you're not leaving the dog alone with all the kids?

Would that work?

Parties are pretty nutty at times with kids running around. I think explaining it just as you have to us would be fine. It made sense to me and I think you're just being responsible and considerate.

I've never heard of a dog being invited to a party, but it's cute. I would assume they would think you would come. Better just to clarify.

Good luck :)

I've been a member here practically since this site's inception.....so anyone know how long that is....

You've already received great answers, but just had to say that you have totally made my day!!!! Thank you!! This is absolutely one of the sweetest stories I've read here in the longest time :) I hope you take your gentle giant of a doggy to the party, take a picture, let him eat cake and and go back home.....how adorable that your neighbor thought to invite him.

I might put a bag around his neck with a gift, walk him over, and say that though he cannot stay, he wanted to bring a gift. Thank you for the invite.

I could see my DD doing that and I think you are sweet to entertain the idea at all. I don't think her parents would expect a drop off. I think your present idea is very nice.

How sweet is this!!

I would add a little heart to the bag and paint: "Spot loves Lily"

Ok. That is too adorable! Can you just go by with the dog to say happy birthday and say you cannot stay longer than 10 minutes. Let the girl pet him and have him deliver her a card (make it dog themed!!). Or if you want to get a gift get a stuffed dog!

Clearly you are meant to be your dog's "plus one" so I would go and make that little girl's day!

This is so stinkin' cute!
Glad he will be making an appearance.
I'll bet he was at the top of her list!

This is the cutest thing I've heard! I would talk to the parents and say because of his size you will attend with him and stay for a short time. Have fun!

My friend has a Great Pyrenees and she is an enormous walking marshmallow of a dog. So sweet and gentle, at all times.

I don't think people would actually invite a dog without the assumption that the owner would be there too, regardless of how the invite was worded. :-)

Well, this just made my day! Let them know up front that you can't drop him off, but you'd be glad to accompany him for a bit.

You are so sweet to want to get her a little gift too. I can't get over how cute this is!

I would make an appearance with your dog. No need to stay for the length of the party. Maybe speak to the mom in private beforehand and ask her what the best time to pop over for a few minutes would be. It might be the highlight of the party for the kids. But it could complicate other activities, too. So best to ask mom for the appropriate time and let her know you only plan to stay for x amount of time (15 minutes?). All the kids (unless one of them has a history of dog trauma) will LOVE it.

I would never allow my dog to be somewhere like that without one of us. You would still be liable should anything go wrong. And without the knowledgeable owner present, who's to say someone might do something that creates a bad situation?
Just go for a short visit. And a small gift with doggy prints would be lovely. :)

why drop him off?
if you can go, take him and a small gift, and let the kids enjoy him for a half hour or so then head out. if not, then sure, a little gift and a courteous decline are fine.
i seriously doubt that you were excluded. they probably didn't even think that YOU'D think that. your invitation is implied.
khairete
S.

I'd make a short visit with your dog for a photo op during the party.
You don't know how the dog will handle lots of kids (some of them strangers to your dog) running around - it might stress your dog out.
So go for a few pictures, maybe give a small gift and then you and dog go home in 20 or so minutes.

ETA: when I say you can't leave him - that you would come and stay for a little while...

I love the idea of the flower bag!! HOW SWEET!!

it's really sweet they invited him. I would tell them that you can't leave him with the party. He's around people he doesn't know and since he's so big, you don't want someone to get knocked over.

I too had a Great Pyrenees!! What LOVELY dogs!!!

I'm not going to get into the home alone thing....

I think that's it's implied that you bring the dog over for a petting session. I don't think they'd want you to just drop him off. That's weird. So go (for as long as you'd like) and stay with your dog as the kids pet him, lay down some ground rules for the kids and leave when you (or the dog) have had enough!

Go and have fun!!

Charming! I think you MUST go, and actually I assume that the child's parents assume you will go. First of all, some kids may be frightened, so you will be there to steer your dog away from nervous kids or help acclimate them to your pet. It's worth remembering that ANY dog, even the very best, can be stressed out by a whole bunch of children surrounding it, grabbing its tail, etc. And, birthday party treats, especially chocolate, are toxic to dogs, as you well know. So you have to monitor every tidbit of food dropped on the floor or offered to the dog by kids who don't know better. FYI I usually have biscuits in my pocket to give to a child or even delivery people who ring the door - I hand the biscuit to the person, who then offers it to the dog. It's a good thing for new children to do.

And yes, definitely make the child's gift from the dog, not from you! Too cute!

I love it!!1...This is the best I've heard in a long while!!!

IMO: Accompany your dog to the party with some sort of gift (from the dog, of course) and stay for a while!!!

Hope you all have a great time!!

I think it is great, esp considering the closeness this little girl has with the dog. This is something my daughter would want to do. If you have the time to attend and want to, I would let the parents know that you could bring him but you would not leave him without you there as well just to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone since he is so big. Find out what they plan for the party and maybe go a little later if they will play games first.

Aw come on, that sounds adorable. They must think a lot of you and your dog. I think the invitation is unspoken for you, I'm sure they don't expect you to drop him off like a child guest. I'd take a small gift, make an appearance, and then leave early. It was sweet. Heck, some people get a pony, they invited your dog ;) lol. Have fun with it.

I'm glad you're going to take the dog. Dogs are such great companions and comfort. Those two have definitely formed a bond! I think your gift idea is WONDERFUL! My heart is filled with happiness just reading this post!

Go of course! How sweet! I'm sure the parents expect that you will stay with the dog. What a wonderful connection your dog (and you) brings to the neighborhood. Enjoy!

I'm glad you've decided to make an appearance with your pooch, it sounds like it will mean a lot to the birthday girl.

For future reference, anytime your pet is invited somewhere, it is automatically assumed that the owner is invited as well, as the animals "handler". In the same way that a K9 unit dog wouldn't go to an event without its officer present.

Your gift sounds very personalized - perhaps your dog's paw print can go on the back of the tote, with the flower on the front, & "normal" prints winding around the bag?

Have fun! T. :)

Why don't you expect to stay with him? I never leave the kids at a party, I always stay so I'd stay with the dog too.