Barks and Wedding Bells

Kari Meyer, ZimmVet Manager

How to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding day! Its an exciting time for you and your partner! It’s only natural to want to include your fur-baby too! There’s so much that goes into wedding planning, and preparing your dog is no exception. Lucky for you, ZimmVet is here to help with tips, tricks, support, and resources to help your Dog of Honor, Flower Dog, or Ring Barker put his best paw forward on your special day!

A Pawsitively Perfect Plan

This may seem like an obvious point, but it is important to discuss your venue, photographer, and hotel’s pet policy. Ensuring that you are clear on the vendors’ expectations will prevent any surprises the day of. If your pet is unable to stay with you the entire day, consider booking them a stay-cation for the evening. ZimmVet’s Pet Hotel check-in time is 12pm-6pm Monday through Friday and 5pm-6pm on Saturday and Sunday. If these times are inconvenient, ask our Concierge about the Extended Hours option. We’ll care for your pet overnight and they’ll be bright eyed and bushy-tailed when you are ready to pick them up the next day or when you come home from the honeymoon!

Above all, it is important that your pet’s basic needs are met during the big day. With so much going on, it’s a great idea to designate a handler to care for your dog. This person’s main focus for the day is ensuring that your furry family member is given food, water, naps, and plenty of opportunities to relieve themselves throughout the day (and the cleanup is prompt and discreet!).

Bringing your dog’s kennel or bed so that they have an opportunity to rest is of utmost importance, it can be a long and draining day and a private space for a nap is much needed for your dog. Other items to bring for the handler would include: food, water, bowls, treats, fecal bags, harness, leash, collar, and a bone or toy to occupy the dog during the ceremony.

Dressed to Impress

 Whether dressing your pup in a formal tuxedo or going with a casual bandana, there are lots of options for pet wedding attire. Schedule several times in the weeks leading up to the wedding to let your dog have his own “fittings” to ensure that the attire is comfortable. Some materials such as burlap can be itchy and cause irritation. Floral collars and leashes (though beautiful) can be easily mistaken for chew toys and some types of real flowers are toxic to dogs. Overheating may also be a concern with some full body costumes. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when choosing wedding attire for your dog.

Another tip is to schedule a professional grooming appointment a few days prior to your wedding day! ZimmVet offers grooming seven days a week and can polish and trim your dog’s coat to perfection, while our de-shed service will lessen the amount of dog hair on your guests’ attire and our Chi treatment can make your pooch’s coat silky soft and extra shiny for photos!

https://www.zimmvet.com/veterinary-services/pet-grooming.html

Getting Cold Feet

Some skills that your dog will need to be an expert in before the big day are loose leash walking, response to standard obedience cues, and greeting people politely. All of these skills are taught and refined in our Puppy class, Obedience 1, Obedience 2, and Canine Good Citizen Prep Class. Even if your pet has taken training classes in the past, it may be a good idea to refresh his skills prior to your wedding day. If group classes don’t jive with your busy wedding planning schedule, ZimmVet also offers private training sessions and training sessions at your house or the venue location!

Even with all the training in the world, the unfamiliar sites, smells, and sounds of a wedding can easily become overwhelming for your dog. Some dogs respond well to stress management techniques such as pheromone collars, essential oils, anxiety-relieving compression shirts or wraps, psychoacoustic calming music, and sometimes even prescription medications. Our veterinary team would be happy to answer any questions and give specific recommendations on products that may help reduce your dog’s fear, stress, or anxiety.

https://www.zimmvet.com/veterinary-services/pet-training.html

Celebrating from Afar

Every dog is different and some may not have the appropriate disposition to participate in a wedding and that’s okay! There are lots of ways to include your dog that don’t include him being physically present at the wedding. You can always include him in your engagement announcement, ceremony program, décor and accessories such as your cake topper, or even thank you notes with a furry family picture!

Your wedding day is a huge milestone for your family and with the right preparation and support, you can set your dog up for success during this special event. Give us a call today and ask about ZimmVet’s Pet Hotel, Grooming, Training, and stress management options! We are here to help you and your dog have the best possible experience every day and especially on your very special wedding day!

Disclaimer:  This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice.  Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.