One question that comes up surprisingly often when people start hosting more is this:
“What do I do with my pets during a dinner party?”
After all, pets are part of the family. They live in the house every day — so it can feel strange suddenly excluding them when guests arrive.
But when entertaining, a little planning around pets can make the evening more comfortable for everyone involved — including you.
🐱 Cats Usually Solve This Problem Themselves
If you have cats, you’re likely already familiar with their approach to social gatherings.
Most cats will happily excuse themselves and disappear the moment unfamiliar voices enter the house.
If you prefer to keep them tucked away, simply make sure they have:
- Plenty of food and water
- A fresh litter box
- A quiet room where they can relax undisturbed
They’ll likely sleep through most of the party anyway.
🐶 Dogs Are a Different Story
Dogs, on the other hand, often believe a dinner party was planned specifically for them.
If your dog is anything like mine, she wants to greet every guest, sniff every bag, and be in the middle of the action 100% of the time.
While that enthusiasm is adorable, it can sometimes be a little overwhelming — especially when guests are arriving, coats are coming off, and drinks are being poured.
For that reason, it’s often best to keep dogs in another room during the beginning of the party until everyone is settled.
🤧 Consider Your Guests
When deciding what to do, always think about your guests as well.
Some guests may:
- Have allergies to cats or dogs
- Feel overwhelmed by a pet that wants constant attention
- Be nervous or fearful around animals
Even the friendliest pet can unintentionally make someone uncomfortable.
Giving pets their own space during the gathering helps ensure that everyone feels relaxed.
🕯️ A Few Hours Is Perfectly Fine
The good news is that pets are incredibly adaptable.
Spending a few hours in another room with their bed, toys, food, and water won’t hurt them at all — and it allows you to focus on hosting without extra distractions.
If needed, you can always excuse yourself briefly to let the dog out for a quick break and then return to the party.
Your guests will hardly notice.
✨ The Goal
The goal of entertaining is to create a comfortable environment where everyone can enjoy the evening.
Sometimes that simply means giving Rover and Morris their own little dinner party in another room.
And that’s perfectly okay.
Here’s to happy guests, relaxed hosts, and pets who still get all the love when the evening winds down.
Cheers,
Colleen 🥂
✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Upgrade to paid on Substack so you won’t miss out on any of the fun dinner parties I’ve planned for you.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who love to entertain.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful and authentic.
✨ Download Dinner Party Menus here: MENUS
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook
Published by