Name a more iconic duo: peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, a girl and her dog. When it comes to celebrating the dogs who make our world go round, I don’t believe in doing anything halfway—especially not for Puzzle, affectionately known as P-Nut. For her third birthday, The Barkday Planner went all-in with the design, including a peanut butter and jelly-themed party complete with a custom cake, themed cookies, plush sandwich toys, and treats.
Celebrating Puzzle’s birthday each year has become one of my favorite traditions—a joyful pause to reflect on how much she’s grown, how much we’ve been through together, and how lucky I am to call her mine.
Planning the Ultimate Dog Birthday Party Photoshoot
Choose a Theme That Reflects Your Dog’s Personality
The best parties start with a great theme. For Puzzle’s third birthday, we leaned into her squishy, sweet personality with a peanut butter and jelly theme. My birthday girl posed proudly in her party hat and “Peanut Butter” bandana, surrounded by swirls of purple and gold that looked like they were painted in actual jam. There were pup-safe cookies shaped like toast and jars of peanut butter, a towering three-tier “sandwich” cake stacked with peanut butter and jelly layers, and a giant plush sandwich pal to match. Every detail was a little whimsical and a lot of fun—just like Puzzle herself.
Dogs Deserve to Be Celebrated
I celebrate Puzzle’s birthday every year because I can’t imagine not doing it. She brings so much joy, chaos, and comfort into my life, and I want to mark those milestones the way I would for any member of my family.
This birthday hit a little differently. There is an old Swiss saying “Three years a young dog, three years a good dog, three years an old dog, everything else is a gift from God.” It’s hard to believe my big girl is already three. She still has the same goofy grin and sparkle in her Disney princess eyes, but I can’t believe we’re moving into the next “phase” already. Watching her grow up has been beautiful and bittersweet.
Turn It Into a Tradition
Mark your calendar for an annual session. It becomes a cherished ritual, a time to reflect and celebrate. For me, it’s a way to slow down, soak it all in, and say: I see you. I love you. And I’ll never forget this moment. This photo series is one of my favorites – each year Puzzle eyes up her cake and waits patiently for the go-ahead.
Celebrate the Love
Whether your dog is a sprightly one-year-old or entering their golden years, they deserve to be celebrated with the same joy and intention we reserve for the humans we love. Dog birthday photos are about more than cute pictures. They capture legacy, love, and the little moments that matter most.
Puzzle is my best friend, my studio muse, and the heartbeat behind everything I do. Photographing her birthday every year is my way of saying thank you—for every cuddle, every laugh, every moment.
So go ahead—bake the cake, dress them up, book the shoot. Because these are the memories you’ll carry in your heart long after the party ends.
Here’s to peanut butter, jelly, and every single day we get with the dogs who make our lives feel complete. 💜🍞🥜
