The Do’s and Don’ts of Dogs in the Wedding Party

They say that dogs are man's best friend, but it seems now that they are women’s as well. One needs to look no further than the modern bride and groom and the growing trend of canine companions as members of the wedding party to see evidence of this love. What was once a rare and novel idea is now so popular that canine formal wear is big business. Some simply purchase a fancy collar and leash for the big day while others have dresses and tuxedos fitted for their pets to flaunt down the aisle. In fact, the idea is so popular that couples are hiring professional trainers to prepare their pets for the big day. While dogs in the wedding party can be adorable; the situation can also turn chaotic if things do not go as planned. Here are some do’s and don’ts for you, your dog and your big day.

Do: Start preparing early. Make sure that you practice walking, not jumping, sitting and staying with your dog before the big day. Try to make the situation as close to the big day as possible by creating an isle and inviting some friends over to clap and cheer from the sidelines to simulate wedding day action.

Don’t: Include your dog if he is not properly trained. While you want to share your special day with your best friend things can turn into a nightmare quickly when Fido decides he wants to jump on the guests or pee on the candle opera.

Do: Ask permission. While some churches, reception halls and banquet facilities will make exceptions to their pet policies; others will not. Make sure that you inform the person in charge of the facility to avoid any undue surprises on the big day.

Don’t: Wait until the big day to bring your dog to the wedding location. If you fail to introduce him to the location ahead of time he will likely be more interested than he should be in sniffing and exploring on the day of the wedding.

Do: Make arrangements for someone other than you to take care of oyur dog before, during and after the wedding. Make sure this guest knows that he/she will be responsible for watering, feeding and potty breaks while keeping your pal contained and under control for the duration of the event. If you do not want to burden any of your family or friends there are professional dog sitters or animal handlers available for hire to take care of this very big responsibility. You will be too busy to help on your wedding day so make sure this is taken care of beforehand.

Don’t: Choose floral arrangements for dogs. Wedding flowers often are constructed with wire that could injure the pet. Also, some flowers are poisonous for your pooch and he will likely try to eat them if they are hanging out around his neck or within reach of his teeth.

Do: Check with all the members of your wedding party to see if they are allergic to dogs. Make sure they are aware that your dog will be present and make sure they will be fine with it. While it is your desire to spend your big day with your dog it is best not to alienate a good friend or relative if they are uncontrollably allergic to dogs.

Don’t: Forget the leash! While your dog might be extremely well behaved it is super important that he is on a leash when out in public. Do not forget his leash in your mad dash to get everything ready for the main event.

Article submitted by a site with dog training collars, innotek systems and hidden fences.