Member of the Wedding

  Posted on February 25, 2011  by Joy of Living  No comments

Are you or someone you know planning a wedding and plan to include your dog in the ceremony?  If so, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Expect the unexpected.  Even though you may include your dog in rehearsals and planning before the wedding, realize that your dog may not perform the tasks exactly as you’d planned, or maybe not perform them at all.  This is a very exciting, but stressful time for you and your pet, and with all the different activities and people around, your dog may act a little differently than you expect.
• Select a wedding photographer that’s familiar with photographing dogs.  Many people want pictures of the wedding that include their dogs, so hiring a pet-friendly photographer will help you get the best pictures possible of your wedding party, including your pet.
• Practice restraint when accessorizing your dog.   Many people like to dress up their dog if the pet is going to be a member of the wedding party.  Some pets embrace being dressed up, but others do not.  If your pet is one that doesn’t like to wear clothing, keep that in mind and consider  alternatives, like a more formal collar than he would normally wear.
• Appoint someone to be in charge of your pet.  Make sure someone is in charge of taking your pet for potty breaks and keeping track of him during the festivities.  Some pets are scared of loud music, if there will be a band at the reception  it can be upsetting to your pet.

Take these points into consideration as part of your wedding planning and your special day will be memorable for you and your pet!

Info for this posting from The Bark Magazine, Feb/Mar 2011 issue