Grooming a Long-Haired Dog for a Wedding

A dog lover's dream wedding is not complete without the presence of man's best friend. Because a well-groomed pooch is a necessity for such an important occasion, owners of long-haired dogs face additional challenges when readying the pet for the wedding. By following a few grooming pointers, you will be assured that your four-legged guest will be attractive and smell clean on the big day.

  1. Brushing

    • Regular brushing is the backbone of any grooming program, but it's doubly important before a big event like a wedding. Use a slicker brush to detangle your long-haired dog's fur, taking special care around the ears, hindquarters, between the legs and body, and anywhere else that your pet tends to develop matted hair. Pick out any debris that may have become tangled in the fur and remove as much loose hair as possible.

    Bathing

    • Normally, a dog only needs to be bathed a few times per year, but a pre-wedding bath will ensure that a long-haired dog is clean and smells pleasant at the event. Bathe your dog with a shampoo made specifically for dogs. Rinse your pet thoroughly, taking care to get all the soap out of the undercoat. Keep water out of eyes and ears if possible. If water enters the dog's ear canals, swab them out with an astringent ear cleaner to prevent possible infection.

    Trimming

    • Trim your dog's toenails if necessary; long, sharp claws are unwelcome at events where people are wearing hosiery and nice clothing. Cut out any fur mats that are too difficult to brush out. If you are comfortable using clippers, you may wish to trim the fur around the ears, face, legs and hindquarters to meet breed specifications. Clipping long-haired dogs helps them stay clean and reduces health problems like eye infections in some breeds. Give the dog a final brushing afterward to remove loose hair.

    Decoration

    • For a final festive touch before the wedding, consider decorating a long-haired dog with bows or other accessories. Small breeds like Maltese are often presented with barrettes or ribbons holding a tuft of hair in a small ponytail on top of the dog's head. Alternately, you can attach a ribbon or small spray of flowers to the collar, as long as it's out of the dog's reach. Finally, a special dog sweater or blanket bearing a short message like "Congratulations!" will bring a smile to guests' faces on the special day.