How to Happily Include Your Dog in Your Wedding
February 9th, 2010 | Author: xan
20061008 – cousin Jennifer & Wix’s wedding – IMG_5162 – Jennifer, dog, Wix
Originally uploaded by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)
In an ever increasing trend in modern weddings, dogs are playing the role of groomsmen, bridesmaids, ring bearers and flower girls. Some couples even have their cats or birds participate.
More and more churches, banquet halls and hotels are making allowances for pets to attend. But just because you can have your dog at your wedding, doesn’t necessarily mean you should. There are many factors to review when considering whether or not Fido should be one of your groomsmen.
“Some dogs get scared or aggressive in the midst of a lot of people and activity,” explained Jennifer Burgess, a clinical instructor of animal behavior and welfare at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “A dog may be able to handle a crowd, but then add loud noises, strangers, children and a costume, and it may be pushed over the edge.”
Here are some questions Burgess recommends couples consider carefully when incorporating a four-legged buddy:
• Does the venue allow dogs?
• Is the dog comfortable around large groups of people and loud noise?
• Is the dog comfortable around children?
• Will the dog wear a costume?
• Will the dog have access to water, food and a place to relieve itself?
• Who will be responsible for caring for the dog before, during and after the ceremony?
• Will guests be uncomfortable around the dog?
The key is to have a plan for the dog and make sure its needs are attended to before, during and after the festivities. “During the festivities, dogs need to be supervised 100 percent of the time,” Burgess said.
“Brides and grooms should designate someone to supervise their dogs,” Burgess said. “This should be someone they trust and someone the dog already knows.” Close supervision is not only good for the pets, but also for the guests. Some animals can easily damage property or sneak food set out for the reception. Also, some guests may not appreciate face time with your dog, no matter how fond you are of him.
It’s also a good idea to bring treats to reward the dogs’ good behavior and to use in case there’s any difficulty getting them to respond to commands.
And as with everything, practice makes perfect. If you’re expecting the dog to walk down the aisle, carry the rings or perform some sort of trick, you should practice it with them several times beforehand and reward them generously. The wedding rehearsal is an obvious time for this since you’ll be able to practice in the actual setting.
After the ceremony, you may want to let the dog relax in a nearby hotel room or back at home if it’s close. Dogs often find being around so many new people quite tiring. If they do attend the reception, make sure they get plenty of chances to rest and take breaks from all the excitement.
With plenty of planning and forethought you can easily include your pet in your wedding and live happily, tail-waggingly ever after.
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