What would a shower be without games? Here’s some suggestions for games you could play at your puppy shower –with both human and canine guests.
Games for Human Guests
• Guess Pup’s Weight: Provide pens and slips of paper for everyone to write down what they think your new puppy weighs. Closest wins! (Make sure they also include their names so you know who guessed what.)
• Agility Course: This one will also be under the canine guest list, but wouldn’t it be fun to see their people run it too? Fastest time wins! (Might have to improvise on some equipment, like tunnels, as most people wouldn’t fit through the dog-sized versions. Remedy: create your own by throwing sheets over tables or chairs for people to scamper through.)
• Pin the Tail on the Puppy: You’ll have to make your own “puppy pin up,” but there are a few of ways to do this. (1) Buy a pin the tail on the donkey set and simply paste a picture of your pup’s face over the donkey’s. (2) Enlarge a picture of your new puppy and then cut out tails to pin on. (3) For artistic types, draw a tail-less puppy to pin up and make tails for guests to pin on.
• Name the Pup: If you haven’t decided on a name for your puppy, having guests offer suggestions might help. Or, if you have named your dog, you could do a “What would you have named my pup?” Guests can then vote on their favorite name. Whoever has the most votes wins!
Games for Canine Guests
• Hunt and Seek Treats: When the pups aren’t looking, hide some doggie treats in places they can easily access them. Then turn them loose and let them find them.
• Agility Course: Many dogs aren’t trained on agility equipment, but you could still have a contest to see which pup completes the most obstacles or who runs the course fastest.
• Treat Puzzle Balls: Fill up some puzzle balls and see which pups know what to do with them. (Tucker’s all about treat balls, but Murph wasn’t interested in nosing it around. He didn’t mind picking up anything that fell out when I kicked it around for him when I tried to show him how to use it though!)
• Best Catcher: Doesn’t matter if it’s tennis balls, Frisbees, or stuffed animals. Whoever makes the most catches in a row wins!
Games for Human and Canine Guests to Play Together
• Command Mastery: Which dog knows the most commands? Put their people to the test to see who’s been training their dog how to sit, shake, lay down, heel, come when called, etc. Whoever performs the most commands wins!
• Most Unusual Trick: The basic tricks are easy and lots of dogs know those, but maybe your guests have taught their dog something unique. (Murph knows how to “belly up to the bar” to ask for treats and “stick ‘em up” when I pretend I’m holding him up with my finger guns. Cute, but even those are borderline standard. You might discover some talented pups playing this game!)
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