Dog Party Fun – The Miss Daisy`s Way

Dog Parties – The Miss Daisy’s Way Guidelines & Checklist The Dog Gurus thank our member, Debbie Oliver – founder of Miss Daisy’s Dog Camp, for sharing the party planning tips and information included in this checklist. You are our “Fun Factor Gauge of Success”! Planning Tips 1. Decide on your goal for hosting dog parties (fun, marketing, revenue, etc.) 2. Select dates that compliment your current business operations. Advance planning minimizes stress of parties and maximizes fun! 3. Select your party themes -­‐ be sure to involve your staff and have fun brainstorming creative ideas around your business, community, holidays or specific dogs or clients. See the appendix for a list of party themes Debbie recommends. 4. Create and collect party props – prepare a generic box as a backdrop to be “transformed” for each party theme. 5. Find sources for party supply items – cake, toys, goody bags, costumes, bandana’s, etc. See appendix for Debbie’s list of favorite suppliers. 6. Select an “activity” for each party theme, create a supply list and schedule purchases. 7. Create template for “goody bag” tags (birthday dog photo, holiday pic, etc.) 8. Focus on the details and embrace your party theme – note all the small details from Miss Daisy’s party examples that make you smile in the Step-­‐by-­‐
Step Party Instruction Guides. Party Success Tip #1 – Client Involvement o Create a party invitation – send out in advance of party day; see Appendix for examples. o Outline party day ambience and fun o Signage o Music o Costumes o Decorations o Photo backdrop for dogs arriving o Email a few “teaser” photos by noon on party day o Post “teaser” photos on FB page by noon on party day o Create go-­‐home “goody bags” Party Success Tip #2 – Take GREAT Party Photos o Go for “action shots” versus “posed pics” o Put colorful bandanas on dogs for their party pics o Take a low, dog level position and sport setting on camera to take as many pictures as possible as dogs enter through your gate entry prop Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
o Email select clients and post on social media initial good party pictures by noon on party day to get buzz and shares started o Consider investing in a good digital camera (Debbie uses a Canon Rebel and does have a second long lens for outdoor shots in their large playyards) o Video taping during party allows option to create great marketing clips to put on your YouTube channel and lobby display showing how much FUN you and dogs have at your center Party Success Tip #3 – Activity & Food o Plan an activity game for each party theme; this can be small group playtime with party themed toys or a game like barrel racing, ladder walk, dancing, jumping party props, etc. o Provide special party themed cake or treats and take photos of dogs enjoying their special treat (stay diligent to allergies, special diets and dog friendly ingredients). Debbie used a local dog bakery, but you can create your own and we’ve provided recipes and tips in the Appendix. Party Success Tip #4 – Party Take Home Goody Bags o Prepare a “goody bag” for each client to take home with their dog at pick-­‐up o Include a piece of the cake or treat that dogs enjoyed during the party o Thank you tag with photo of birthday dog or holiday image thanking the dog for attending the party Marketing Tips o Don’t by shy! Tell everybody you encounter about your dog party; especially your suppliers…you may be surprised on who’s social media, newspaper, magazine or TV show your pet center may be featured on. o Be Goofy or some character that relates to your party theme. As a leader you need to set the tone for FUN and your challenge is to surprise Debbie with your best party costume. o Check all photos for green dog body language (& happy staff) prior to sharing! This is a pet peeve of The Dog Gurus and we want our members to continue to lead the pack with the happiest dogs and staff shared on social media! o Plan on the time or outsourcing creation of videos and picture albums from your parties. Make posters for your lobby, share with clients, include on your website, YouTube channel and social media. Let your community know your center is the one pets go to for FUN! o Create a win/win relationship with your local dog bakery. Showcase their cakes and treats at your parties and don’t be surprised if they share your “fun themed cakes” on their social media pages and website. The relationship should also lead to client referrals for both businesses! Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Party Planning Checklist January o Set your party dates o Open paid dog birthday parties to clients for reservations o Book your calendar for holiday or other themed parties for the year Two Months Before Party Date o Create party invitation o Decide on party activity or game o Make prop & supply list and start shopping for props and supplies o Purchase bandana material and cut sizes for dogs that will attend o Reserve costume One Month Before Party Date o Select special treat or cake for party day and order o Prepare large prop for dog gate entry o Send out party invitation o Create party signage o Select theme music o Purchase party decorations Two Weeks Before Party Date o Check reservations and resend invite if openings are still available o Confirm all supplies are on hand for props, activity, food and goody bags o Ensure staff are scheduled appropriately for party week One Week Before Party Date o Check camera batteries and purchase/charge as needed o Confirm costume and treat pick-­‐up/delivery dates o Confirm with clients their attendance at the party o Start posting signs, decorating and having fun with a party day countdown (e.g., think safari binocular basket) o Print “goody bag” tags o Create dog schedule for party day (location, creation of playgroups, staff assignments, timing of events) Party Day o Start day with signs for drop-­‐off pictures and party theme ambience in lobby (outside decorations can be brought to area where dogs are playing once all of your dogs are there) o Staff in costume for party theme o Confirm staff assignments and day’s schedule o Get party dogs dressed in bandana and/or costumes o Props and activity room prepared for dogs o Dogs enter party room and engage in activity Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
o Take a lot of photos and video (Debbie: “we would have upward of 500 pictures for one party, don’t worry you won’t edit all of them, many get immediately trashed but that’s the key to getting good ones”) o Preview and send/post a few great party pictures by noon o Dogs eat cake or special party treat o Take a lot of photos and video o Review photos and send/post more great party pictures o Prepare “goody bags” and have in lobby for delivery to clients at pick-­‐up, can also play slide show of pictures in lobby during pick-­‐ups. o Have fun!!! Day After the Party o Clean and store large party props o Create or outsource creation of your photo album and party video o Share photo albums and video on social media o Meet with staff and create list of what worked and what needs improvement for next party o Reward yourself and your team for a party well done! Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Appendix A – Party Invitation Examples Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Appendix B – Themes & Activities from Miss Daisy’s Theme Animal House Barnyard Biker Rally Bob the Builder Carnival Chicago Bears Christmas Caroling Dancing Fiesta Fireman Garden Party Golf KFC Las Vegas Party Monkey Nutcracker Ballet Olympics Pajama Party Pigpen Party Pirate Raggedy Ann Red Carpet Rodeo Safari Sock Hop Sports team theme SpringBreak Superman Tennis Activity Running through frat house & food dog toys Jump hay bales; farm animal toys Tires in gates to jump through, leather dog jackets, customers come on motorcycles for photo ops Playing in shavings and plastic tool toys Jumping through hoop Playing with small footballs or chasing large ones. Get a PVC jump and have employees try to kick a football while dogs chase the ball. Small Fa LA LA jump down path or sidewalk. Although you wouldn’t want to do this everyday, howl with the dogs!! Get silly and dance with the dogs Pinata and play with margarita glasses (plastic ones) Stepping through ladder Kids plastic garden tools and sprinklers or hoses Get cheap kids plastic golf clubs for the dogs to play with Bucket weaving Vegas sign in gate or door for dogs to go under; play with giant cards and inflatable dice Hang frozen banannas-­‐ stuffed monkeys Twirl contest High jump, long jump, and running Playing with dogs in beds; watch TV; do toenails and pinky spongy rollers on dogs Boxes with trash signs on front-­‐put papers and food inside for dumpster diving Find Treasure -­‐ Gold Play with old Raggedy Ann dolls Inflatable Oscars-­‐lots of props available commercially Barrel racing Animal cracker hunting Record toss and silly dancing Those are fairly easy-­‐can normally get dog jerseys and play with footballs or baseballs or whatever based on theme. Props easy to get. Kids plastic pails and shovels-­‐put down sand over tarp-­‐fun beach backdrops easy to get. Beach umbrellas and towels Jumping tall buildings Playing with tennis balls and put a net (we used a ping pong net) in a gate or doorway for them to jump Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Appendix C – Sample Party Photo Collage Bob the Builder Birthday Party Gate or Doorway Prop-­‐ Large piece of foam core-­‐
covered with brick plastic back drop-­‐cut around bricks for opening. Zip tied to sides of fence. Google Bob the Builder images, print poster size and double side tape to foam core along with the Happy Birthday. Make sure photos are cropped to show only prop. Activity – Playing in Shavings Colorful Bandanas & Toys Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Appendix D – Dog Cakes Dog Guru Susan shares recipes and ideas for baking your own dog cakes. Archie’s first birthday cake. Large cake pan – made with recipes that follow and decorated using frosting tubes/tips and sunflower seeds. Peanut Butter Dog Birthday Cake 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking soda ¼ cup peanut butter ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 cup shredded carrots 1 tsp vanilla 1/3 cup honey 1 egg Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a cake mold sprayed with nonstick spray and bake for 40 minutes or more depending on final cake size selected. Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
For small bone shaped mold double the recipe and for large cake mold double again (4 times the ingredients listed). Double recipe to make 2 extra large cupcakes and 12 regular cupcakes. Cinnamon Frosting 8 oz block of cream cheese softened ½ cup plain yogurt ½ cup whey powder 3 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp honey Makes enough frosting for small cake with leftovers. For large cake increase to 2 blocks of cream cheese and 1.5 cups whey powder; increase yogurt as needed to achieve consistency for spreading. Decorative Frosting Cream cheese -­‐ softened Yogurt Add: Carob Powder – for dark brown frosting only Orange Food Dye (preferably natural without chemicals) – for orange frosting Pipe through icing bag and tips as desired. Keep cake refrigerated until serving. Dog Bone Shaped Cake Pans & Paw template: See links to purchase in the blog post or product description on our website. Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Appendix E – Miss Daisy’s Favorite Suppliers Props, Supplies and Banners Oriental Trading – Props and supplies Shindigz Party Supplies – Props, supplies and backdrops Party City – Cheap rolls of backdrops or plain lightweight vinyl Your Local Fabric Store -­‐ Make sure to watch fabric stores for sale on prints and buy ahead, we’ve even planned parties around cute fabrics Etsy – Dog clothes and props Software for photos and signs Smilebox – After party marketing, can add music and post on facebook or send to owners Scrapbook factory – use to import pictures and print poster size, invites, gift tags, signs for front Photoshop – Harder learning curve but use to take picture of just dog and put in different background Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver
Appendix F – Things to Think About From Miss Daisy’s If you do not test for toy or food guarding issues, you will either need to do individual activities or start that process for parties. It will make parties A LOT more time consuming if everything has to be done individually. If you charge the dogs that are attending an extra party fee, you will have to come up with a way to make sure you included everyone in pictures, this can be difficult to do, especially because you don’t know until you are editing pictures the ones that came out good and are really party worthy. This was one of the reasons we did not charge for parties, I really didn’t want to give anyone something to complain about and it’s a difficult task to make sure everyone was included unless you limit dogs attending to 10 or 15. But, in my case, additional revenue and campers was not my main goal. One of the main reasons I did parties for so long is it gave my very creative employees something to do with their talents, it was A LOT of fun and seemed to help employee morale. One of our favorite party time activities is viewing party pictures together. We would put dogs up for naptime, 15-­‐20 minutes early so we could all view pictures together, after all the pups were more tired than normal because of the extra activities. I understand that this will be very dependent on facility setup. When I told one of my very key employees that we were doing this with The Dog Gurus, she said there is no way you can put a number on employee longevity but it should be considered because that is a big bonus of the parties for key people. You will probably not make back enough for each party to pay for the employee prep time needed, but in the long run it's really cheap advertising and great for employee morale. The word of mouth for these events are priceless! We charged the birthday dog's owner a flat fee and often went over a list of props we found and they reimbursed us for them. They paid for the cake and any outfit the dog wore. Last but not least most important thing Do not plan too many parties, especially at first. The ‘fun factor” will definitely be affected. We had one themed birthday party per month along with holiday parties for a couple of years and it was WAY too many. Copyright 2014 by Robin Bennett, Susan Briggs & Debbie Oliver