A plain wagon can become a festive float with a little
creativity and a handful of supplies.
Joining the Doggy Party “Rescue Me!” Parade but donʼt
know what to do for a float? Here are a few ideas to help
stimulate those creative juices to get them flowing. It
doesnʼt take much time or money and building a float can
be a great project to get the rescue family together
(Including the kids) to have a little extra fun! Look through
the materials below at the ideas weʼve compiled. See if
you can create a theme that matches your rescueʼs mission, your breedʼs traits or just a
fun idea your doggy might have given you! You can also look up ideas on-line. The
examples below can be put together in and evening or one weekend day, not to mention
it can be very beneficial to your rescue with exposure to thousands of people and the
valuable prizes.
Donʼt forget that audience participation goes a long way with the judges and that if done
right, people will remember your rescue. So candy, trinkets etc. that can be bought at
dollars stores, party city or oriental trading. Thatʼs not all, the pictures of your rescue float
could be in Houston PetTalk Magazine for all to see, the Doggy Party website and
attending media. So, good luck, happy building and we look forward to seeing your
creation at the party!
Materials for your Float:
A local craft store will carry most of the supplies you need to create a mini-float using a
child's wagon. Streamers, flags, garlands, balloons, pinwheels or battery-powered lights
can bring an ordinary play wagon to life. If you want to deliver a message or relate the
wagon to the parade theme, make simple signs using poster board. If a doggy
passenger won't be riding in the wagon, you can fill it with brightly colored silk plants or
stuffed animal mascots.
Basic design tips:
If you have a simple design in mind, some basic decorating tips can help you pull your
parade float together very quickly. Start by selecting a color scheme or theme and
deciding whether or not the mini-float will carry a passenger. Small children with the
rescue doggyʼs can be real crowd-pleasers, particularly if they wear appropriate
costumes. Attach metallic fringe to the sides of the wagon with ample amounts of duct
tape. Trim the fringe so that it doesn't drag on the ground. Drape fabric bunting over the
sides of the wagon to conceal the duct tape and secure it along the top slat with a needle
and thread or even a stapler. Simply stitch the fabric into place by folding an edge over
the top slat and drawing the needle through the slat opening to the outside fabric. Add a
few balloons or other decorative elements and your mini-float is complete.
Here are some ideas to get you started…
Take a Doggy Cruise…
Turn a pull-along wagon into a boat for a voyage down Main Street. It can be like a
vacation theme, an island theme or even a pirate theme. (Which we illustrate below)
Here are some step-by-step instructions.
What youʼll need
• 2 long pieces of scrap corrugated cardboard measuring at least 14 inches tall
(Large flattened boxes work well)
• Wagon
• Craft or box knife
• 1 intact 14-inch-tall cardboard box
• 1 roll each of red, white, and blue duct tape
• Small U.S. flag
• Small plastic bottles
• String
How to make it
1. Tape the cardboard scraps together to make one long length that can wrap around the
back and along both sides of the wagon. With a helper, hold the piece in place and mark
where the cardboard will bend around the back. With the knife, score along these lines so
that the cardboard will fold more easily. If necessary, trim the cardboard so that the boats
sides and back are about 14 inches high. Trim a curved top edge on each side, as
shown.
2. Cut two sides from the intact box to make a pointed bow, as shown. With a helper holding
the pieces in place on the wagon, tape the bow section and the main body together,
fitting them snuggly around the wagon.
3. To hold the cardboard in place cut four slits at the level of the wagons sides, as
shown. For each slit, cut an 8-inch length of white duct tape. Fold over the leading edge
of the tape and push it through the slit with the tapes sticky side facing down. Affix the
tape to the wagons interior and to the outside of the cardboard.
4. Cut a triangular piece of cardboard to fit on the top of the bow. Secure it to the boat
with red duct tape, and then wrap the top third of the boat in red tape, making sure to
cover the top edges as well.
5. Wrap the bottom two-thirds of the boat with white duct tape. Finally, apply a stripe of
blue duct tape where the red and white sections meet.
6. Poke a hole at the point of the bow with a knife, and insert the flag. Apply duct tape
stripes to the plastic bottles, tie one end of a length of string around the neck of each,
and tape the strings other end to the boats inside wall.
Other Fun and Festive Float Ideas…
Pirate Doggy Float
Construct a pirate's ship by adding appropriately painted cardboard siding to the wagon.
Add a larger cardboard box at the end to create a stern and a triangular configuration at
the front to form the bow. Use a painted broom handle with fabric attached for the sail.
Creative use of cardboard boxes and fabric can also transform a child's wagon into other
vehicles, such as a miniature automobile, covered wagon or airplane.
Space Doggy or Rocket Doggy
Since we live in space city, this is a great idea for a float. The rocket can also be a space
capsule or cartoon rocket made 100% from cardboard or glue on paper flowers like the
above picture.
Beach Bum Doggys
Use the same construction techniques as above but use a beach theme by having the
sides of the wagon can resemble waves. Have the group walking in beachwear or shorts
and hats. Carry pails, a beach ball, or maybe even small coolers with treats for the
crowds that line the streets. Add a battery operated CD and play Beach boy music.
The Red Baron Flies Again
This one is a little more time consuming but will make a great impression. Turning your
doggy float into Snoopy's Red Baron doghouse with the aid of a big cardboard box,
plenty of red and black paint and red tissue paper and vinyl fringe. Fill the wagon around
Red Baron dog with information about your rescue to hand out to the crowd. Your child
can sit alongside your dog and carry a blue blanket to look like Lines sitting by Snoopy
and throw treats out to the crowd.
Yankee Doggy Dandy
Make All American wagon floats that'll make a dynamite impression without needing
actual dynamite. Cover the wagon as described earlier, positioning vinyl fringe around
the bottom and using tissue squares and crepe paper streamers, make plenty of flowers
to cover the outside of the wagon itself in a combination of red, white and blue. Use
miniature flags, attached all the way around the wagon, to give the float more flair. Cover
paper towel tubes and round oatmeal containers with red, white and blue wrapping
paper or construction paper, make a cone of paper to go on one end of the tube and
insert a stick in the other end to make various sizes of pretend bottle rockets. And use
plenty of balloons and construction paper stars outlined in glitter to add the American
spirit to your wagon float. Doggyʼs can ride in the float wearing patriotic (4th of July)
outfits. Add a battery-operated CD player that plays patriotic music such as Sousa
marches and Aaron Copeland music.
Be a TV Star at Doggy Party!
Turn your child into a TV star by turning his float into a large TV. Using a good sized box,
cut large squares in the two big sizes of the box and turn it opening side down in a
wagon decorated with the standard base supplies of vinyl fringe and tissue paper
squares. Paint mock TV controls--power button, volume knocks and a speaker grill--on
the two big sides of the box under or down the sides of the box. Dress your child in
whatever TV character he or she wants to be--Lucille Ball, Underdog, Pebbles
Flintstone, Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob Square pants or any other favorite character-and sit him or her down in the middle of the box.
Other Float Ideas without using a wagon…
We Deliver
Use a moving dolly: Tie a cardboard box to a moving dolly, Have the rescue dog in the
dolly with a fun message of we deliver. Wear your rescue shirts or matching outfits. If
you have several of them together it will make a simple and fun float.
Baby Carriage Float
Use an old baby carriage or stroller and to show off your Doggy babies
Hot Doggyʼs
Great for Dashounds… Turn your wheelbarrow into a hotdog stand with umbrella and
dress the doggies in Hot Dog Costumes (Available online)