On their wedding day, it’s not uncommon to find couples who want all of their loved ones to be at the occasion, and for many couples, this includes having their shared pet at the venue for the wedding. There are several methods to prepare a pet for a wedding. Pet buddies make the celebration more memorable, but they demand extra care. Here’s how to prepare a pet to be involved in your wedding celebration.
Consider Your Pet’s Disposition
Not all pets are appropriate for a wedding, so consider your pet’s disposition. Is your pet violent or friendly? Is your pet a noisy creature? At the absolute least, your pet must be well-mannered and understand the fundamental ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ orders. You want your pet to be a lovely addition to your home, not a nuisance. Some pets are calm enough to be around humans, while others are overly exuberant and may cause distractions. Decide whether your pet’s temperament will lend itself to your wedding sort of circumstance before the wedding, and if it won’t, don’t try to train your pet in the weeks running up to your wedding.
Notify the Guests
It’s usually a good idea to let your guests know you’ll bring your pet to the wedding. Include this info on the cards and again on the invitation, since it serves as a warning to individuals with allergies and ensures that they may still attend your wedding. Notify your officiant as well. Some could refuse to officiate at a wedding involving animals.
Anticipate Potential Hazards
While you’re at it, if your pet’s wedding attire -or the venue- includes flowers, do your homework (or make sure your florist does!) since some are poisonous. Inquire with the wedding venue about pesticides or dangerous plants on the grounds and wildlife that may distract or endanger your pet. Also, keep the dogs protected throughout the reception, so visitors do not feed them. Also, certain wedding cuisine, such as chocolate, champagne, and bone-in meat, might be hazardous. You might need to contract specialist pet care such as a dog sitter to ensure your pet doesn’t partake in foods that could cause allergies or health problems.
Plan Ahead
Remember that for dogs to appear their best for important events, they’d need to undergo some basic pet care routines. They’d likely need a trim or clip, which should last around 4-6 weeks. It’s a good idea to groom them approximately a week before the big day. They’ll have more time to acclimate to a shorter haircut and get at ease with their new appearance. It is not the time for dogs to become accustomed to a new haircut when meeting new people or visiting new places. You should ensure enough time is created for rest before the wedding, especially if your dog has any grooming-related tension and excitement so that your wedding turns out to be joyful.
Bathe Your Pet
Pets often only need to be washed every few months, so prepare if you know you’ll be attending a wedding. Begin by spraying your pet’s coat with lukewarm water before bathing them. Start with a dab of shampoo on your palm and work your way down your pet’s body, gently rubbing the shampoo as you go. Rinse your pet well to remove all of the shampoo from their coat. Use only shampoos designed exclusively for your pet. Human shampoos can produce dry, flaky, irritated skin in dogs, increasing their risk of infection.
Drying Your Dog
After washing your dog, let them drip dry for a few minutes before finishing with a towel. You could also use a hairdryer (on a cold setting) to dry their fur if you want it to dry faster. You can also buy a specialized dog dryer for this purpose.
Provide a Haircut
It’s a good idea to clip or trim your dog’s fur after washing. You may require routine maintenance, such as clipping the hair on their belly and around their bottom to prevent it from picking up dirt and debris, or you may choose to give them a full haircut. When your dog’s hair is about 75% dry, it represents the best time to cut it. Based on how short you want their hair, you can cut it with clippers or sharp scissors.
Brush Their Coat
You’ll want your pet to be clean no matter the occasion. You can do this at home in a few simple steps. Brush your dog’s coat first, giving careful attention to any areas that are matted together. Hold your pet’s hair close to the skin and gently massage the mat with your brush, beginning at the end farthest away from your pet’s body and working your way up. Using a pair of scissors, cut off particularly challenging mats.
Cut the Nails
To cut their nails properly, you’ll need a guillotine-style nail cutter for this. Cut the tip of each nail at a slight angle just before the nail begins to bend under. Avoid cutting the pink vein that goes through your pet’s nails at all costs. The quick might be difficult to notice under your dog’s nails, particularly if they are black, so take your time locating them before you begin cutting. Look for dirt and debris on your pet’s toes while trimming their nails. In addition, inspect their foot pads for any injuries or foreign objects.
Consider a Groomer
You could also schedule an appointment with a dog or cat grooming professional. While it may be more costly than grooming your pet at home, they will be fully equipped to make your pet look its best for the wedding. They are also conversant with the unique demands of different breeds. Pet grooming services are frequently available at your local pet store. Furthermore, a fast Internet search should yield some additional local options.
Schedule a Veterinarian Appointment
Ensure you schedule a visit to the veterinary clinic so your veterinarian can examine your pet and ensure that all vaccinations and topical ointments, such as flea, tick, and heartworm medications, are up to date. If your dog or cat’s lifestyle changes, your veterinarian can help ensure that your pet has everything they need to stay safe during your wedding. Before bringing your pet to the wedding, local animal health organizations may ask you to produce proof of immunizations and proof of their rabies certificate. This ensures the safety of the guests. You could also ask for a veterinary risk assessment to understand potential risks your pet could face at the wedding venue. If you don’t yet have a veterinarian, numerous options can help you find good veterinary services, such as a pet shelter or a pal with a dog. A healthy relationship with your veterinarian ensures top-notch vet services and is essential for your pet’s health.
Practice Training Ahead
Special events are usually held at unfamiliar venues and include individuals unfamiliar to your pet. This may be exhilarating as well as stressful for your pet. These circumstances might throw off even the most well-behaved dogs. The greatest method to guarantee your pet behaves properly at a special event is to train them early and practice daily. Don’t think that because your pet understands how to ‘remain’ in your living room at home, they will do so in the heart of an outdoor wedding ceremony. Practice simple commands as soon as you arrive at the event’s venue.
Breaking Bad Habits
If your dog has undesirable behaviors, such as leaping up to meet people or asking for food, do all you can to break them before the event. If you’re limited on time, determine which negative behaviors are the most troublesome based on the situation and work on them first.
Plan for Breaks
Pets require breaks for physical and mental stimulation and to relieve themselves! You don’t want your dog to pee during the wedding. Setting a plan can help you anticipate when your pet will want a break, enabling you to get up and stretch your legs. If your wedding site provides an off-leash area, this is a great time for your pet to get some exercise. Keep your pet on a leash if they don’t.
Use an Identification Tag
Every pet should wear a collar with an identification tag that includes your name, phone number, and address. It is a reality of life that dogs occasionally escape from the venue and may require support when returning home. If your pet is properly identified, the chances of his safe return to you are substantially increased.
Plan for Amusement
Your dog may become bored while sitting at the wedding and may fail to recognize the significance and enormity of the event while it is taking place. Having toys for solitary play or puzzle activities can help keep their minds active.
Acquaint Them With the Environment
Bring your pet to the wedding location before the big day, and have it attend the rehearsal to prepare your pet for its role if it’s included in the ceremony. Dogs enjoy sniffing and exploring new environments, so if you get that done early, they’ll be less likely to do so during the ceremony.
Dressing Up Your Pet
If you’ve decided to dress up your pet, the next step is to choose an outfit that is suitable for the event. Your local pet store will offer alternatives for dressing up your pet, such as birthday clothes and Halloween costumes. You can even purchase more customized clothes for almost every occasion online, such as a bow tie or unique collars for a wedding.
Avoid Uncomfortable Costumes
You should consider dressing up your dog for this particular occasion. Dressing your pet is alright, but be mindful of what you force them to wear. The safety and comfort of your dog should take precedence over how lovely they appear in their birthday costume. Check for little buttons they might choke on or tightly wrapped clothing around their neck. Clothing that is too tight around their belly may make your pet feel dominated. You should consider dressing up your dog for this particular occasion. Dressing your pet is alright, but be mindful of what you force them to wear. The safety and comfort of your dog should take precedence over how lovely they appear in their birthday costume. Check for little buttons they might choke on or tightly wrapped clothing around their neck. Clothing that is too tight around their belly may make your pet feel dominated.
Be Observant
Keep an eye on your pet’s actions while dressed up. Remove the costume if you observe them acting strangely or irritably. It’s possible that the attire is too hot, rubs them the wrong way, or is simply irritating. Finally, you are the greatest judge of your pet’s temperament, so use your best judgment. Pets who are dressed attract more special attention than those that are not. While this is normally a positive thing for pets, if your pet prefers to be left alone or is not friendly with new people, dressing them up may not be a good idea.
Engage a Sitter
While you’re in a day-of mode during the wedding, your pet will have to be fed, walked, and cared for. Delegate a friend, preferably someone who is already familiar with your pet, to act as the sitter (and provide fantastic goodies for rewards – and bribes!).
In conclusion, be ready to adapt to developments on the wedding day. You may have a certain picture of how your pet’s role will play out, but remember that little pets have minds of their own. Make a contingency plan in case something goes wrong. Accept the tiny eccentricities that dogs might bring to a party; it will make for a more enjoyable day. Lastly, if you feel your pet isn’t well-suited for your wedding, try not to force the occasion on it. Leave it at home instead and hire a friendly handler to oversee your pet while you’re away for the wedding.