Puppy Love

When inviting the dog to your wedding, consider his disposition

You love your best friend, but she’s a real loose cannon. You never know how she’s going to react to someone, she tends to overeat, and her personal grooming habits are questionable — let’s face it, she’s a slob.

Do you include her in your wedding party?

For many couples, the answer is an emphatic yes — if it’s their dog we’re talking about.

According to a June 26, 2009, article in USA Today, although dogs have long been a part of casual outdoor weddings, “their participation in chichi affairs at the most ornate churches and refined locales is a more recent phenomenon.” The increasing number of couples who include pups in formal weddings have more issues to keep in mind.

“Not every dog will be able to handle the stressors of the day,” said Netta Bank, a senior animal safety representative for the American Humane Assn.’s Film & TV Unit, which ensures animals are treated right on sets. “Having a dog in your wedding can add fun to your special day and create some really cute photoops, but it’s very important to ensure that the experience will also be fun for your dog.”

Bank recommended that dogs who are frightened by noisy crowds of people and loud music be left at home on the big day.

“Even if you think your dog will be just fine, we strongly recommend that you gradually expose him to large groups of people, music and even your wedding attire starting several months before the event,” she said.

Deciding on the look

If you decide your pooch can handle the affair, he or she may also enjoy the attention a special outfit can bring. “Dressing your dog in a miniature tuxedo, bridesmaid dress or other costume will guarantee the ‘aah’ factor during your wedding ceremony — and many dogs actually enjoy getting dressed up,” Bank said.

There are plenty of choices to create a lovely look for the pup. BitchNewYork.com offers dressy looks ranging from a tuxedo scarf to a white wool tux, and formal dresses for female dogs, as well as fancy tiaras, leashes and collars. The Wedding Dog (www.theweddingdog.com) will custom-make real or silk floral (or diamond!) collars.

Bank urges dog owners to follow the guidelines for costumes that the American Humane Assn.  developed for monitoring animal safety in film work. “Doggy clothing of all types should be comfortable, provide ease of movement and not restrict the animal’s breathing or cause him to overheat. Dogs who are stressed or resistant to wearing clothing should never be forced to do so.”

Also consider the safety of dog accessories, Bank said. “Be careful that your dog doesn’t swallow any props, such as wedding rings, flowers or little pillows — that would put a real damper on the day.”

A pup can also disrupt the festivities. Some dogs are excessively friendly and excitable and can easily become over-stimulated by so many new people and new smells, Bank said. To help ensure that your pet doesn’t run amok, designate someone who is not in your wedding party to act as a handler and remove your dog to a quiet area if necessary.

“Once your dog has played his role in the wedding ceremony, it’s probably best to let him spend the rest of the day relaxing in peace and quiet in a secure area. Even the most laid-back, well-behaved dog is apt to become stressed during a noisy wedding reception,” she said.

When Jone Bouman and Jay Warsinske of Sherman Oaks got married at the BeauRivage restaurant in Malibu, her Lhasa apso-terrier mix pooch, Christopher, was the ring bearer. But after he played his part, he napped in a room set aside for him in the restaurant. “We had a little box that was tied to his collar with our rings in it,” Bouman said. “My friend Leah had him on her lap toward the back. When it was ring time, Jay and I turned around and signaled Leah. She put him down in the aisle and we called him. He ran up the aisle to us. He was really excited and wagging his tail.”

The dog’s bed and water were in the private room and he was checked on frequently. “He got lots of attention — no cake, though,” Bouman said. “He was snoozing happily in there throughout the festivities.”

But not all dog-wedding stories end so happily. Carolyn Sun of L.A. was the designated handler of French bulldog Smudge at her sister Eileen Sun’s wedding to Lucas Thompson. Smudge was not included in the ceremony, but came to the reception and posed for photos.

“Smudge was very unruly at the wedding and kept shaking off the boutonnière my sister bought for him and put around his neck. It was petals all over the floor in no time,” Carolyn Sun said. And the day was hot; the bride was stressed due to her concern for her pet.

Some considerations

“You must be prepared to be upstaged or distracted” by your dog at the wedding, said Stephanie LaFarge, senior director of counseling services for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ anticruelty division. To minimize that possibility, she offers the following practical advice:

• Make sure the location can accommodate pets. Dogs need places to eliminate.

• Someone familiar with your pet should be designated his handler. Managing the pup should be his or her only responsibility.

• The pet should not be near places where food is served. Guests tend to feed dogs from the table, which can make them sick.

• Any pooch taking part in a wedding should have a history of being handled by strangers. Any animal that is not happy to be around children should be excluded.

• The pup should be leashed at all times. • Watch out for substances that are toxic to canines, such as chocolate.

Some couples take all of this into consideration and decide that putting their pet — and themselves — through the added stress just isn’t worth it. Melissa Lemer and Andrew Mogel of L.A. had the wedding attire purchased for their pit bull, Stewart, and their Pekinese, Allen Gregory. But the wedding rehearsal made them change their plans.

“There was absolutely no way Stewart was walking down that aisle. It was too much. He was like a deer caught in the headlights,” Lemer said. “Some dogs get cold feet.”

Other possibilities

If you decide your pup isn’t event-ready, other ways to incorporate him into your special day include featuring a photo or illustration of him on the invitations, party favors, decor or the cake, said Colleen Paige, owner of the Wedding Dog, which offers pet training and wedding design services. And, she suggested, your pet can always pose for photos with the wedding party, then be taken to a quiet place.

“You can’t delude yourself just because you want your dog in the wedding,” said former bride Bouman “We knew that Christopher was going to handle it well because of his personality. You have to not be selfish and think of it from his perspective and not your own. If it’s not going to be fun for them, why in the world would you ever want to do that?”

— Langley Lyon, Special Advertising Sections Writer

Photos from top:

- The pup’s disposition is essential to consider when deciding whether to include him. Photo by Jules Bianchi, courtesy of the Wedding Dog..

- The Love & Roses collar, with silk roses, is from TheWeddingDog.com. Photo by Colleen Paige.

- When assembling your dog’s look, it’s important to choose comfortable clothing. This West Highland white terrier sports a simple bow tie. Photo by Erin Hession Photography, courtesy of the Wedding Dog.

-  Smudge, a French bulldog, sniffs a bouquet at Lucas Thompson and Eileen Sun’s reception. Photo by John Hong.

-  Some dogs like the attention of being in the bridal party. Photo by Erin Hession Photography, courtesy of the Wedding Dog.

CUSTOM PUBLISHING

This story was edited and designed by the Custom Publications staff of the Los Angeles Times Advertising Department. Questions or comments? Contact Darlene Gunther at 213.237.3133 or e-mail her at darlene.gunther@latimes.com. For advertising inquiries, contact Sandra Gilson at 213.237.4646 or e-mail her at sandragilson@latimes.com.