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Don’t Just Say Happy Birthday - Here's How to Celebrate Your Dog in Style (With Photos to Prove It!)

May 20, 2025 | By: Tracy Allard

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The dog-friendly “frosting” on Tipper’s nose say it all — this birthday was a hit.

On December 19, 2024, we brought home a scruffy little rescue from Carrollton Animal Services and Adoption Center. The week before Christmas wasn't the best time to adopt a new dog, but once I saw her face, I was a goner.

She was fearless, outgoing, had never met a toy that she didn’t like (or could destroy). We named her Tipper. Three short months later she turned 1 year old (according to her adoption paperwork, her birthday is March 19th), she’s still a firecracker and the spitting image (just a tad smaller) of our border collie, Rooney (hence why I needed her in my life!).

So how do you celebrate your rescue dog’s first birthday? You make it a party. And you absolutely include cake. But not just any cake — a dog-friendly cake. And not just any party — a photo session to match.

Celebrating Your Dog’s First Birthday with a Doggone Cake Smash

black and white dog in birthday hat with cake

A lot can happen in a year. Especially for rescue dogs.

Tipper went from a hot-mess shelter pup to a slightly more trained, confident part of the family. We wanted to celebrate that journey — and remember it. A birthday photo session gives you more than cute pictures. It’s a way to freeze this sweet moment in time, right before she grows into her next year of life and we hope mellows out a bit 😂.

Dogs don’t stay puppies forever. So why not throw them a birthday bash that includes them, celebrates them, and documents it all?

Introducing: The Doggone Cake Smash Session 🐶🎂

Inspired by the cake smash tradition for toddlers, the Doggone Cake Smash is exactly what it sounds like — a photo session where your dog gets their very own (safe-for-dogs) birthday cake to destroy, taste, and wear like a proud mess.

Think: your dog in a party hat, surrounded by balloons, licking frosting off their nose. It's playful, joyful, and full of the unexpected moments that make for the best portraits.

And yes, it’s as fun as it sounds.

Whether you’ve had your dog since they were tiny or they came into your life a little later, their birthday is something to celebrate. These milestone sessions aren’t just for show — they’re a way to honor their place in your family.

Years from now, Tipper’s birthday photos will be a reminder of how far she’s come and when her crazy puppy days feel like a blur, we’ll be so glad we made time to celebrate her first birthday in this way.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to plan a photo session or if your dog will behave. That’s the beauty of it — they don’t need to pose. They just need to be themselves. I'll handle the rest.

From choosing the right backdrop to finding a bakery that makes dog-friendly cakes, I guide you through every step. All you need to do is show up with your pup and a willingness to laugh when they dive into their birthday cake (because they will).

Want to celebrate your pet with their own Doggone Cake Smash Session? Let’s make it happen. These are the moments you’ll be so glad you saved.

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, and Certified Professional Photographer, holding the M.Photog., Cr.Photog., and CPP degrees from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), designations held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. 

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, family, and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Contact Tracy about your dog's Doggone Cake Smash session!
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