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Haute Dog Pet Photography
Senna
2-year-old European Doberman Pinscher
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Willie Nelson
12-year-old Chocolate Labrador
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Haute Dog Pet Photography
Penny
2-year-old Cavapoochon
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Haute Dog Pet Photography
Zeke
9-year-old Siberian Husky
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Haute Dog Pet Photography
Ranger
11-month-old Heinz Hound and a Four Paws, One Heart rescue in search of his forever family!
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Haute Dog Pet Photography
Billie Eyelash
1-year-old Australian Shepherd
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Bruno
7-year-old Pug
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Gracie
1-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever at Old Union Elementary
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Brandy
3-year-old Labradoodle
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Haute Dog Pet Photography
Athena
3-year-old German Shepard
Any dog parent will tell you that pets are part of the family. Whether they dress them up in custom outfits, buy lavish gifts or carry out conversations with them, pets are a part of our everyday lives. That’s why when it’s time to celebrate their birthdays, dog moms and dads alike never hesitate to go all-out for their four-legged family members. With the guidance of two local pet professionals, every celebration is bigger and better than ever.
Anything Is Paw-ssible
As a mom of seven dogs, Amanda Shaw understands the unbreakable bond between pets and their owners. That’s why she left her Ph.D. program in neuroscience and put her mind toward something she found more fulfilling – helping people make lifelong memories with their pets. Combining her two passions of pets and party planning, Amanda began her own business, The Barkday Planner, to create any custom-themed pet celebration you can think of.
Robyn Pope, Puzzle the pup and Amanda Shaw
“I’ve always been a planner at heart,” Amanda explains. “I plan our vacation itineraries, a lot of friends' birthdays and bachelorette parties, [but] planning for me was never something I saw I could do full time in an industry that I loved. I didn’t want to be a wedding planner, I didn’t want to be a party planner for kids – I wanted to immerse myself with pets. So when I put those two together, it was perfect.”
At the same time, Robyn Pope retired from the FBI after 14 years to pursue a career driven by her passions – photography and animals. Robyn started by taking end-of-life portraits of her own beloved dog, then transitioned into taking portraits of rescue animals for adoptions. As more people fell in love with her craft, she leapt at the opportunity to start her own business Haute Dog Pet Photography.
“I realized life could literally be puppies and rainbows every day,” Robyn remarks. “I’ve always been obsessed with my dogs and horses. They are my life, and I’ve realized how many other people out there feel the exact same way.”
After connecting through social media, Amanda and Robyn saw an opportunity to amplify their impact with a partnership. By combining their skills in professional photography and luxurious party planning, this dynamic duo creates and captures special moments that families treasure forever. Based in Dallas, these ladies travel across the Metroplex and beyond to make custom-themed parties come to life.
“Both of us create core memories, and that's the thing that really brings our work together,” Robin explains.
From conception to execution, they can bring any fur-friendly celebration to life, whether indoors or outdoors, maximalist or minimalist, thematic or randomized. Their celebrations aren’t just centered around birthdays either. Your pup can jump in on an Easter egg hunt with a few hidden treats, pose for the family holiday card or chow down during a pet Friendsgiving – the possibilities are endless.
"We put it all out there," Robyn says. "Everything that we have goes into every client that we work with, because we genuinely want other people to be as fulfilled and have the memories and experiences that we want to have with our own pets."
Although the idea of a pet party may seem a little far-fetched to some, Amanda encourages others to not knock it until they try it. Naysayers will quickly change their minds once they see their pup’s eyes light up, tongues out and tails wagging.
“[Guests will] pull me aside and they're like, ‘Really? This is all for the dog? I'm a little skeptical [about] this,’ and then they find me at the end and they're like, ‘This was freaking awesome,’” Amanda remarks.
As pet parties are becoming more popular, going all-out for our canine companions seems less unconventional. According to the Pew Research Institute, 51% of pet owners consider their pets to be part of their family. To many people, having a party for your fur baby is no different than throwing a party for a child.
“It’s one of those things where people are becoming a bit more accustomed to it than they were five years ago,” Amanda says. “It’s acceptable for human kids. Why isn’t it acceptable for my kids?”
Planning A Pooch Party
Planning a pup party is not far off from organizing any other celebratory event. When deciding on a location, the most important thing to remember is your audience – slobbery, vocal and rambunctious. The larger the party, the more likely it should be held outdoors, such as a park, pet resort, backyard or off-leash venue. For smaller gatherings, homes and pet-friendly patios offer the perfect space if you’re OK with replacing goody bags with doggy bags for emergency cleanups.
“There are several factors that come into play to ensure the pet is comfortable, the setting isn't too overwhelming for the pets and that it's an overall good fit,” Amanda notes.
Once you’ve picked a spot, it’s time to invite the pack. Buddies from the dog park, neighborhood pals and furry members of your family and friend groups can get their wag on, but beware of the party poopers. Dogs who tend to be aggressive or territorial may be a biting risk, while young puppies or ill dogs pose a risk to themselves and others. And although it’s a pet party, don’t forget the humans. Designated dog-free places to sit, mingle and eat are essential to ensuring everyone has a ball.
“Make sure it's safe and fun — I'm super big on those going hand in hand,” Amanda says. “We monitor the play, especially if it's off-leash, to make sure the dogs are safe throughout. If we see any [aggressive] behaviors, we need to remove them from the situation, allow them to calm down and have fun.”
Creativity knows no bounds when it comes to choosing a theme, and dog parents are willing to spend several hundred to thousands of dollars to spoil their pup. Your pet could have a “Mean Girls” or “The Office” party, a gathering of cowboys and princesses, a “Super Mario Bros.” celebration, a Chanel and Prada bash (or “Chew-nel” and “Paw-da”) and even a retro-themed social with record players, roller skates and rotary phones.
“It's just like the children's party you see on Instagram or the beautiful Pinterest party — it’s just literally tailored to a dog,” Amanda describes.
Unleash The Fun
Decorations like light-up marquee numbers, party hats, backdrops, balloons, signage and other thematic touches are great attention-grabbers, but what makes your pet’s big day truly special are the details that reflect their personality.
Engage partygoers and pets alike by having an area where they can play games, including frisbee, catch and tug-of-war, as well as a photo booth and paw-painting space for fun keepsakes. While the humans are entertained, your pet and their pup pals can enjoy activities such as a ball pit, inflatable pool, bubble machine, race and obstacle courses and a treat-driven scavenger hunt. Mark the occasion by praising the good boys and girls with homemade dog-friendly treats and a cake for the cutest frosting-covered nose moment. Incorporating stations with your pet’s favorite treats, toys and activities will keep the paws moving and good times flowing.
“Stations are a fun and interactive way to keep the guests entertained, both the furry guests and the humans,” Amanda exclaims.
With a celebration of this caliber, you’ll want to have the cameras on hand and ready. Whether you’re equipped with a smartphone or professional camera, endless photo opportunities await with all of those precious puppy-eyed looks everyone loves.
“Partygoers can grab great snapshots by getting down to the pet's eye level and watching for the perfect head tilt,” Robyn explains.
If you’re not as confident in your photography skills, enlist the help of a professional so you can focus more on making memories rather than documenting them.
“It's more than just a party — it's an emotional moment and a memory-making experience,” Amanda says. “[Parents] can reminisce and look back on the videos [and] professional photography that captured them diving into their first birthday cake.”
After a fun-filled day with all of your pet’s favorite people, treats and toys, give yourself a round of applause for celebrating them with loads of love and style. No matter the age or occasion, our furry family members deserve the same care we show ourselves. Whether you take on paw-ty planning from start to finish or have a professional assist in making the magic happen, your closest companion will raise the woof with joy every time.