Your dog is an important part of your life, so why wouldn’t you want them to join you on your special day? However, they can have their own ideas about how things should pan out!
To make sure the day goes smoothly for both of you, here are some top tips for managing your dog at the wedding.
Scheduling around your dog’s daily routine
Write down a rough outline of the day’s schedule in advance, e.g. at what time and where the ceremony will take place; the time of the reception, etc.
Work out at which points of the day you want your dog to join you. For example, you probably want them for the photo shoot, but do you want them there when you take your vows or for the first dance in the evening?
Next, compare the day’s running order to your dog’s usual routine. If they normally have a walk at 10 am, ensure there is time for this before the ceremony begins. If dinner is usually at 5 pm, it may be hard to expect them to sit quietly while your guests are eating.
Helpers and safe spaces
Choose someone who understands your dog and that you trust to be responsible on the day. You may not have time to look after your dog when things are underway, so you want to be sure you will not be worrying about them.
Be aware that dogs pick up on human emotions. With lots of people around and plenty of excitement, this can create an intense environment for them.
Your helper has an important and time-consuming role, so friends and family closely involved in the wedding may not always be the best choice. A professional pet chaperone can be the perfect solution.
The chaperone needs to take full responsibility for your dog throughout the day – from getting them to the venue, to keeping them calm and ensuring they have food and water.
Quiet spaces and time out
It’s also important to make sure there is somewhere your dog can go for a little peace and quiet, particularly if they’re going to be spending a long time at the venue. Prepare a quiet room with a dog bed and some water, or make sure someone can take them for a walk.
If you’re planning on having fireworks or other loud noises, think about how this may affect your dog and whether you want them to leave the wedding venue beforehand.
Logistics and planning
It may seem obvious, but make sure you have prior permission from the venue owner to have an animal on site.
Don’t forget to consider how your dog will be transported to the event, and the equipment that will be needed to cater to their needs, e.g. dog bowls, food, treats, leads, blankets, grooming equipment. And whatever you do, don’t forget to bring poo bags.
Training and preparation
It’s possible you may need to work on training your dog before the day to mitigate the possibility of unwanted behaviours arising at inappropriate moments.
It's also a good idea to involve your dog in any rehearsals, so the venue and procedure is familiar to them, and doesn’t serve as a source of anxiety.
Grooming before the ceremony
Don’t forget to organise some pre-wedding pampering for your dog. You want him or her to look their absolute best, so a good pet grooming session just before the big day is perfect.
Don’t do it too far in advance – you never know when they may jump into a big muddy puddle beforehand!
Getting the right dog chaperone
If you’re choosing a professional dog chaperone, it’s important they understand your dog and what your expectations are for the day. It will be helpful if the chaperone can meet and be acquainted with your pet prior to the day.
It’s also important that they have adequate business insurance – ideally from an insurer that understands the provision of professional pet services.
Check with them in advance as to what cover they have in place. At a minimum, as with other dog day care businesses, they should have public liability insurance in case your pet manages to cause some form of damage or injury while under their care.
Depending on the services they offer, it may be important for them to have additional forms of cover, including pet accidents and injury insurance.
Other forms of insurance may be required if your dog will be boarding with the chaperone after the wedding. They will also need to be properly licensed.
Insurance cover for pet businesses
Pet Business Insurance have almost two decades of experience in providing pet and animal business insurance for a range of small- and medium-sized pet businesses, including professional pet chaperones.
If you are interested in becoming a pet chaperone, or are already experienced in the industry, our knowledgeable and experienced team can provide advice on the best pet chaperone insurance, which we can tailor to suit your requirements.
Get in touch with Pet Business Insurance today for more information. Call 01284 736 874, or complete our online enquiry form.