Paws and Pours

Ready for a charming and unique spin on the holiday party? Host a gathering of your favorite friends and their furry companions, providing some exercise for the dogs, and comradery for their people.

My new favorite Lettermade cocktail napkins inspired this entertaining idea. I happen to have a spunky little dachshund and a beautiful bottle of Chambord waiting to be enjoyed with a few furry and fur-less acquaintances.  I am only inviting those who I know have compatible pets to frolic and amuse my boy, Kenny. We will sit on the porch, share a cocktail, catch up, and watch our four-legged babies run and play.

Where to begin:

Decide on a menu for both humans and their canine friends.
Create a buffet of simple appetizers for the adults, and bake some homemade treats for their pets. Think relaxed and casual. Set up your bar on the porch or an outdoor lounge area in the yard. Serve a signature mixed drink, or provide a variety of options. Tiny dog shaped charms could be placed on the stems of glasses to identify the guests’ drinks.

A thoughtful host considers all of their guests’ needs, and that includes of the canine variety.
Provide several water dishes for the animals. Purchase a few inexpensive bowls or get some galvanized tin buckets to fill. Place them at different points around your yard, to ensure that your canine attendees can hydrate at their leisure.

In addition to setting outdoor seating for your friends, scatter balls and toys throughout the yard, offering ongoing entertainment.
Make sure to have cleanup tools and plastic bags at the ready. It’s not glamorous, but a necessary element to plan for inviting animals to your home.

For fun party favors, hire someone to take and print pictures of the guests and pets during the event.
Or, prepare in advance and have an artist paint a small portrait of each dog. Alternately, hand out a new toy to each pair when they leave.

Sweet Potato Honey Dog Biscuit Recipe:

• 1 ½ tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons nut butter or sun butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup cooked sweet potato
• 1 bone shaped cookie cutter

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Once the dough has formed, knead it on a floured surface. Next, roll it out with a rolling pin, until about an inch thick. Cut into bones with the cookie cutter. Bake for 10 minutes or until the treats feel firm. Let them cool on a wire rack before serving. Serve at the party, either putting them in ramekins on the ground or giving owners to disperse to their pets.

I hope you love this idea as much as I am going to enjoy hosting it. A Paws and Pours party is a low-key, playful way to enjoy your close pals and their loyal pets during the Holiday season. Dogs give so much love and companionship, and it’s sweet to think of a gathering that includes them and shows your affection and appreciation.

You may also like Holiday Houseguest Etiquette. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest,  Instagram and Twitter.