The "I Do" Moment – Soulmates or Just Pets?

Pets

Having a Dog As a Ring Bearer

By Angela Whitt on Thursday, September 9, 2021

Most people think that having a dog as a ring bearer at a wedding is just a cute idea. However, there is more to the story. When you look at the psychology of wedding rituals, you may find that the ring bearer is a very important part of the whole ceremony. The first thing that comes to mind is that they have to carry the ring. If the dog is not cute, then it is not going to be easy for them to carry it. After all, it weighs a good amount, and then it also has to follow certain orders when it gets down in front of the bride and groom.

One of the most important things that you have to understand about having a dog as a ring bearer at your wedding is that it can have behavior issues. You want to avoid having this particular issue at your wedding because it can ruin what should be an incredible day. Ring bearers are usually people who have very poor behavioral tendencies. That is going to be a real problem because they will ruin the mood of the entire wedding ceremony.

As a result, you need to take the time to consider behavior training for your canine. This is something that is very important because it is going to be the basis of how you interact with them. That is going to be a major difference between your wedding and any other wedding that you may have attended. Having a dog as a ring bearer is not going to be a positive experience for you and your guests if the behavior issues are not corrected from the beginning. Fortunately, you can use some behavior training techniques to help correct those behavior issues.

The first thing that you need to do is teach your dog that he is supposed to be a good boy. After all, that is going to be the biggest behavior issue that your wedding is going to face. By teaching your dog that he is supposed to behave well on his wedding day, you are going to reduce the number of behavior issues that he might have. Not only that, but you are going to have a ring bearer that is much easier to manage because everyone will know that he is behaving properly.

You may be thinking that you cannot possibly train your dog or that it would not work out well because of the behavior problems. However, there are many behavior training classes for dogs that you can take your canine to. These classes are going to help him understand social behavior, proper etiquette, and even how to behave while in a wedding. All of this is going to help improve your wedding ring bearer’s behavior so that he is an enjoyable mascot for you and your wedding. Remember that even the smallest dogs can learn to behave properly.

It is best to start training your ring bearer as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute you will be training him to behave like a class act instead of an adorable ring bearer. Also, your ring bearer should always be wearing a vest or cap to keep his head down. This is a safety precaution and will prevent your furry little friend from being knocked over or getting himself hurt. This will also ensure that your ring bearer will not ruin your dresses or shoes by jumping up and down all over them.

During the ceremony, your ring bearer is going to be in the front row to allow him to see and point at the dresses and shoes. In order to teach him these things, you are going to have to situate him at the front row and then introduce him to the other wedding guests. Have them wave and give him high fives in recognition of his presence. As he begins to get the hang of waving and pointing, you can have the rest of the wedding party in front of you and then move the ring bearer to where they are going to be positioned so that they too can give high fives.

As for what clothes to let your dog wear to your wedding, you will need to think about what the theme of your wedding is. If you are having a wedding theme that goes with something old, then your dog is going to want to wear something very old fashioned like a tuxedo or dress uniform. However, if you are having a wedding themed after a specific decade, such as the 80’s, you may want to dress your dog in period attire like a retro tee shirt and jeans. Just make sure that you know the height of your ring bearer will be standing at when you let him in the front door so you do not trip or have him fall when he runs down the aisle. After all, he is a dog, not an entertainer at your wedding.

Pets Responsibilities

How To Control Your Dog’s Diet So That They Can Look Their Best

By Angela Whitt on Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Dogs are family, and their well-being should be the priority of their owner. Not just to play with them, or pet then, if you are a dog owner, you must take care of their diet. When you maintain their food habit, they will not be over or underfed.

Most dogs tend to get overweight just because their owners think they don’t get proper exercise. However, physical training is important but with that just like humans, dogs need a good diet to stay fit and look good. So, here check out the tips in this article.

FEED MORE PROTEIN

If your dog is gaining weight, you need to feed them more protein than carbohydrates. Dogs thrive on high-protein which helps them build lean muscle. Also, they don’t need carbohydrates at all. You can give them low carbs and concentrate on protein. Also, take them out for running. It will help your pet to stay fit.

AVOID HIGH FIBER FOOD

You must avoid giving your dog high-fiber foods. This is because it has more proportion of carbohydrates. You will find different options on grain-free items, and your vet will suggest you some good diet. When you start with fewer fiber foods, your dog will lose weight. This type of food products is also a favorite amongst powerlifters.

MAKE YOUR DOG’S FOOD

You may not have time to spend a lot of time with your dog, but you can try making their food at home. This will help them lose weight, as you will be putting the right ingredient. Store-bought foods are often filled with carbohydrates and high fiber. So, when you make the dog food at home, you must avoid using fatty meats, like pork, lamb, or high-fat beef. If you still opt for those options, cook them, and remove the extra fat. You can always add a moderate amount of eggs, as this gives much protein. You can add veggies but avoid starchy vegetables.

GIVE THE RIGHT FATS

Give your dog the right fats, like omega 3, also fish oil provides more health benefits to canines. Doctors say that if you add fish oil to your dog food, many diseases can be cured. However, when you add the oil, you must know that this is pure fat, and you must not provide more than 40 calories per teaspoon. You can also use olive or coconut oil.

REDUCE THE PORTION SIZE

If you want to make changes in the food portion of your dog, try not to make a drastic alteration. Start to cut off five percent of their daily foods. With that check the weight of your dog from time to time. If they do not lose weight, then reduce another five percent. This strategy will help your pet a lot, and they will lose weight.

MEASURE THE FOOD

Before you let your dog eat, you must measure the food first. This will give you a satisfaction that you are giving them the right proportion. Also, measure the treats you give them every day.

You must take the fitness program of your dog as a family project. Make sure to weigh your pet periodically, and choose the right type of edible dog chew for them.

Responsibilities

How To Make Sure Your Dog Behaves During Wedding Photos

By Angela Whitt on Friday, January 31, 2020

Our wedding day is one of the most important moments in our lives, and when it comes to a wedding photo shoot we want to capture the love we share with our significant other as well as the happiness we have by being surrounded by the people who are important to us. For those of us who love our dogs, that’s not just limited to people either.

There are plenty of married-couples-to-be who want to include their four-legged friend in the photo shoot, and that is certainly understandable and more than welcomed by most photographers you’ll come across. That said, it’s important that your pet is at the top of his or her behavior during this important day so that you’re not wasting anyone’s time nor ruining the photos of your perfect day.

Make Sure To Bring A Leash

If you do nothing else, you should have your dog wear a leash during the photo shoot so that you can keep them reigned in as needed. Unless you have an incredibly well-trained dog (which some people do), it’s just going to take away from many of the frustrations that could come up throughout the day. Plus, it’s going to be helpful for the rest of the celebrations as well. People might get distracted as the night wears on, and it’s a good idea to have the extra insurance to keep your dog safe. You can always let your dog off the leash for periods of time when someone is watching them, but it’s still worth having nearby for when you need it.

Have Them Wear A Bark Collar

Having your dog wear a bark collar is another way that you can keep them acting cordial while the photo shoot takes place. If your dog is well trained with a bark collar, they’ll know just by wearing it that it’s time to be on their best behavior. You can probably even find one with a collar that looks nice as well as fulfills its basic form and function. Top it off with a bow or a suitable tie and your dog will be ready to show that camera what they’ve got with style. Many people will dress their dog up in a tuxedo or a dress depending on their gender so that they can fit in with the party and even match the bridesmaids or groomsmen. Some have even tied their wedding rings to the dog’s collar so that they can be the ring bearer at the moment of the big event.

Keep Lots Of Treats On Hand

Your wedding is a day of celebration, and you’re likely to be indulging in a few of your most favorite treats yourself. Why not extend the favor to your dog as well? In fact, it’s a great way to keep them happy and reward them for good behavior. Plus, they’ll simply be more content when they are fed with treats all day and less likely to cause a disturbance. Some dogs have insurmountable appetites, but many dogs will also fill up on treats making them less likely to devour any scraps that have made it to the floor. This can prevent upsets to their tummies and – heaven forbid – an unplanned visit to the vet.

Gifts

Can You Give A Dog As A Wedding Gift?

By Angela Whitt on Friday, January 24, 2020

One of the hardest things to decide is a gift that you will give to your friends or family. Some would just get anything available just to get over it. But you are a person who wants it to be special and memorable especially if it is not your typical party. What more if it is for a wedding? You will need to have something that will benefit not only one but both of them.

You may be thinking, you love dogs, and it would be great to share that love with them. But it is not easy though. Before you make that decision, you will have to ask and consider these questions:

Do Both Love Dogs?

As mentioned above, you will not only be given to one person. Keep in mind that it is for a couple, and you should know both of them. Maybe one of them is big a fan of dogs, but the other is not. Because of that, you should be considerate and thoughtful. It might be something that will strain them or get them closer, and it will be hard to gamble on that. If they get to decide that both of them would want to get one in the future, it will be on their hands.

Is It What the Couple Needs?

Every couple has their own needs. Let’s just say that they do both love dogs and planning to have one, this could be your sign to go ahead. But there are times that they have more important needs. Because of that, you might want to contribute with that instead. Another thing to keep in mind is if having one might also strain their other needs.

Are They Both Ready?

Having a pet is a big commitment and responsibility itself. Getting married is also a huge step and commitment. The question would be if they are both ready for this or would want to adjust to married life first? Remember that it will be their decision in the end, because it will be their responsibility. There would be a big possibility that they both want a dog but still need to settle other matters such as a job or a house. In these circumstances, they might be not ready to have an additional responsibility for a pet yet.

What is Your Reason?

You might have specific reasons why you would want to give a dog as a gift. It might be for them to have a good companion or for them to have an instant family. But as mentioned before, it will still depend upon the couple. So if you are planning this, you might want to consult them first and not rush into things. A gift should be something great for them, so make sure that what you will give is worth it for you and for them. If you really want to give them one, why not consider it for later? Even if months went by or for their anniversary, as long as they are now both ready to have that responsibility.

Responsibilities

What To Do With Your Dog When You’re Attending A Wedding

By Angela Whitt on Thursday, January 23, 2020

You just got invited to a wedding. It is flattering and exciting. Because of that, you would want to get ready for it ahead of time and will definitely schedule appointments because of it.

But then, you also had a green light to bring your dog along. It is exciting in a way, but you will certainly have the responsibility for that. If you are indeed thinking of taking your dog along in the celebration, here some things you should do and keep in mind:

1. Know About the Venue

There is a big chance that the venue allows animals if you have the go signal. But even if that is the case, you still familiarize yourself with it. For one, the situation is unpredictable. You will not know if your dog would need to attain their business. You should know if the venue has a place for that. You should also check if it is a place good enough for them to play around or not cause any accidents.

2. Always Be Alert

To have your dog with you should have you to be always aware. You may not be the only one who will bring your dog, other guests might also. Because of that, you should watch out for them. You may know your dog well, but not the others. Just make sure that they will not be aggressive with one another. Another thing to keep track of is the place itself. As mentioned above, it should be somewhere they can play around. But you should still watch out so that they will not ruin anything.

3. Consider Other Guests

Not all guests are fine with dogs. Some of them might be allergic or not too fond of them. Because of that, you will have to watch out your dog to not be too excited with other people. Others may take offense with it. Remember, it is a wedding and should be a special day, so be considerate and do not let your dog ruin it for others.

4. Ready Treats and Water

Dogs will need plenty to drink. They will also need something to eat once in a while or they might get agitated. Because of that, you will have to make sure that you prepare treats and water for them. It will also come in handy for them to behave. You can talk to the coordinators about this also. That is to place some water stations for the dogs around.

5. Leave Them at Home

If anything is not according to plans and think it will be more of a hassle, you can just decide to leave them at home. Remember that the day is not really about you, but for the couple who will wed. That means it is their life to celebrate. You can celebrate many other occasions with your dog without any hassle, and there will surely be a lot of those in the future. What is important is you will get to enjoy every moment of it yourself.