How I Threw the Cutest Disney Dalmatians Birthday For My Son
Before I dive in, let me just say—this whole thing started with a bark. Okay, technically it started with my son Sebastian giggling every time a Dalmatian popped up on the screen during 101 Dalmatians. From the moment he could wobble, he’s been in love with all things dogs. So naturally, when he was about to turn two, there was only one answer to the “birthday theme” question. I mean, how could I say no to a face that lights up at the sight of puppies?
Now, I don’t have a party planning business or a Pinterest-perfect home. I’m just a girl in my late 20s, freelance writing my way through toddler naps and coffee breaks. But when it comes to throwing a birthday party—especially one with paw prints, bones, and way too many squeaky toys—you can bet I’m all in.
Credit: 101 Dalmatians party by MARIKO T. via Catch My Party
So here I am, sharing not just the highlights of Sebastian’s second birthday, but every little tip, laugh, and printable I used to bring this Disney Dalmatians birthday party to life. Whether you’re a fellow mama, auntie, big sister, or party-loving friend, I hope my story gives you the inspiration (and freebies!) to plan your own puppy-perfect celebration without losing your mind—or your savings.
Let’s start at the beginning, where the party first took shape… and it wasn’t in a fancy venue.
Hosting the Party at Home
When it came to where we’d throw the party, we had two options: splurge on a venue or transform our living room into a spotted wonderland. Spoiler alert—we went with the second. And I have zero regrets. There’s something so comforting about having a party at home, even if it means moving furniture and accepting that your couch will be covered in frosting by the end.
Credit: Mili’s 101 Dalmations party by BEE KREATIV via Catch My Party
I loved the idea of being able to decorate exactly how I wanted without worrying about rental fees or cleanup windows. We cleared out the center of our living room, laid down a white picnic blanket (which totally looked like Dalmatian fur once I added black felt spots), and strung paw-print banners across the windows. It instantly felt fun, cozy, and puppy-approved.
Credit: It’s Paw-ty Time! by Momo Party
If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard, that’s another great option. Picture this: a few balloon bouquets tied to garden chairs, little bone-shaped snack stations, and maybe even a “puppy play zone” for the kids. We actually had a backup plan for a backyard version, but a surprise drizzle kept us indoors. Thankfully, kids don’t care as long as there are cupcakes and chaos.
These FREE Birthday Invitation Will Steal the Show
Okay, let’s talk about this invitation—because, mama, it’s everything. If you’re anything like me, you’ve scrolled through online invitation sites only to end up gasping at the price of a single download. I once saw a $22 printable invite and thought, “Does this come with the cake too?”
That’s exactly why I decided to make my own. And once I finished Sebastian’s Dalmatian-themed invite, I knew I had to share it with other moms, too. So I turned it into a free editable Canva template—and it’s part of a complete Disney Dalmatians Birthday Party kit that includes everything you’ll need: the invitation, a backdrop, welcome sign, thank-you cards, and even food labels. All in matching Dalmatian style. All totally free.
The design? It’s playful, bold, and covered in paw prints, obviously. Sebastian’s invite had a crisp white background splashed with irregular black spots (just like a Dalmatian’s fur), plus a sweet cartoon puppy smiling up from the bottom corner. I added a banner of mini paw flags and the wording: “It’s Paw-ty Time!” in bold red, followed by all the party deets in a fun, bouncy font.
My favorite part? How easy it was to edit. I popped into Canva, typed in Sebastian’s name, changed the time, and voilà—done in five minutes flat. I sent it digitally, printed a few to hand out, and even saved one as a keepsake. I’m not even kidding when I say a few moms asked who I hired to design it. Creating and using this invite made everything feel official. And let’s be real—it’s the first glimpse your guests get of the party magic to come. That’s why it matters. But of course, an invite alone doesn’t throw a party—so we moved right on to the fun part: decorating!
CUSTOMIZE AND DOWNLOAD NOW ON CANVA!
Beginner’s Guides
Before you get too wrapped up in planning the rest of your party magic, let’s talk about invitations! Our free invitation templates are not only adorable, but they’re super easy to customize too. Whether you’re adding in party details like the date, time, and location or even a special note, you can personalize everything to fit your theme perfectly.
A. Download Instruction
Want to know how? Read this step-by-step guide to help you download and customize our free editable invitation templates:
- Scroll up the page until you see the “Download Free Editable … Here” button.
- A new page will be shown in seconds, and you will be able to see the preview of our template designs.
- Choose/click the “Edit Template” button (blue button).
- Now you can personalize our templates, like putting your son or daughter’s name, changing the font-size and color.
- Once you finished with the editing, you can download the final draft (Go to File > Download > Select the File Type (PNG is the best option) > Download.
B. How to Print the file?
“Steps for printing our templates”
- Save the image you want to print to the computer or to a flash drive if it is not saved already. (Step 5 of Download Instruction).
- Go to the file explorer and find the file. Double click the image.
- The file will open in Windows Photo Viewer
- Go to print at the top and then go to the print option
- Select the color printer if you want the photo to print in color
- Select the print size you want
- You may want to play around with the “Fit picture to frame” option. Sometimes that option will allow the photo to print closer to the border, but sometimes it will cut off the edges of the photo.
- Hit print and Voila!!!
Looking for more ideas? We also have these for you, Need other ideas? Please show some love to these template designs, 101 Dalmatians and Lovely 101 Dalmatians birthday invitation templates. If you want to see other related theme and you want the freedom to personalize it on Adobe Photoshop, Canva or any Image/Photo editing apps, then you will love these:
- 22+ 101 Dalmatians Baby Shower Invitation Templates
- 101 Guide to Hosting a 101 Dalmatians Birthday Party
Puppy-Themed Snacks and Treats
No party is complete without food, and this one was no exception. I didn’t go gourmet, but I did have fun turning everyday snacks into puppy-themed cuteness. The secret? It’s all in the names. We served “Pupperoni Pizza Bites” (aka frozen pizza rolls, let’s not pretend), “Fetch Sticks” (pretzel rods), “Kibble Crunch” (a mix of cereal, marshmallows, and chocolate chips), and “Puppy Punch” (just fruit punch with floating paw-print ice cubes made in a silicone mold I already had).
Credit: Pupperoni Pizza by Dennis Lee & Food is Stupid
But the star of the table was, without question, the cake. I went with simple vanilla cupcakes, topped them with white frosting, then added black chocolate spots. I called them “Dalmatian Pupcakes,” and the kids devoured them like they hadn’t eaten in days. One of them even tried licking the wrapper clean, which, I mean, mood.
Credit: 101 Dalmatians Cake by Intensive Cake Unit
Everything was labeled with little printable tags from the free kit—nothing fancy, just cute fonts and matching puppy icons. It made the table feel extra pulled-together, even though I had made most of it the night before with dry shampoo in my hair and a toddler wrapped around my leg. And with full bellies and frosting-smudged noses, the kids were more than ready for what came next—games, laughter, and a coloring station so cute it deserved its own tail-wagging headline…
The Cutest Party Game & Coloring Corner
After snacks were devoured and cupcakes mysteriously disappeared (along with a few napkins and one very confused juice box), it was time to shift gears. Toddlers, as you probably know, have the energy of caffeinated squirrels. And mine? Fully charged. That’s when I quietly tiptoed to my secret weapon: the coloring corner.
I called it “The Puppy Pound Art Station,” and it was a game-changer. I had printed out a stack of Dalmatian-themed coloring pages—everything from smiling pups to bone-shaped frames kids could doodle in. I laid them on a little folding table with crayons, dog bone stamps, and a whole bucket of washable markers that, yes, still somehow ended up on the wall.
Credit: 101 Dalmatians Coloring Pages by Monday Mandala
One little boy scribbled a mustache on his Dalmatian and named it “Detective Woof.” Another spent 10 straight minutes coloring in a single paw print. Madison, Sebastian’s bestie, colored four whole pages and demanded each be displayed “like in an art museum.” So of course, I whipped out clothespins and string and made her dream come true.
Conclusion
Watching Sebastian toddle around in his little puppy-print onesie, clutching a balloon like it was his best friend, surrounded by friends, laughter, and so much love… it filled me up in ways I didn’t expect. It reminded me that it doesn’t take perfection to make a day feel magical. Just a little imagination, a few helpful printables, and a whole lot of heart.
This party wasn’t about impressing anyone or keeping up with Instagram trends. It was about Sebastian. It was about family. It was about creating joy in a time where joy is more important than ever. And you know what? That’s what birthdays should be all about.
FAQs:
1. Is this theme best for toddlers or older kids?
Honestly? It’s paw-some for both. We threw it for Sebastian’s second birthday, and it was perfect. But older kids love the puppy theme too—especially if you add fun games like “Adopt a Puppy” plushies or bone scavenger hunts. The best part is how easy it is to tailor this to different age groups.
2. What if my child doesn’t know what 101 Dalmatians is?
Totally okay! The beauty of this theme is that it’s all about puppies, which every kid loves. Whether your child has seen the movie or just squeals at every dog they pass on the street, this party is all about playfulness, cuteness, and good old-fashioned tail-wagging fun.
