A lot of people come to me for advice on why their four-legged friend is acting up. It’s not my area of expertise, exactly, but as a pet wedding celebrant I’m more attuned to subtle behavioural cues than most. To keep it simple, let’s say the enquiry is about a dog.

The first thing I’ll suggest is that the dog may not have everything it needs to feel like part of the family. This is something I see all too often, with people seeming to forget that dogs are people too. If there’s something you’d want to have for your personal comfort, it’s a safe bet that your dog would like to have it as well. Therein lies the whole ethos of my business.

For example, it’s pretty common for people to skip over their canine companion’s needs when having a new bathroom installed. I mean, I get it if your existing bathroom doesn’t come with dog-friendly amenities, but if you’re getting it renovated and remain wilfully blind to the oversight… well, how do you think that makes your dog feel? Include them in your considerations or expect a pushback. It’s pretty simple.

There was a time when these kinds of facilities weren’t easy to implement. Nowadays, many bathroom designers for Melbourne homes are catering the needs of canines. Really, there’s not much to it. All it takes is a little grate on the floor that they can do their business in, and maybe a bit of astroturf. Some people have complained that it all ends up a bit messy, but is that really a good enough reason to exclude your best friend from the family bathroom? I don’t think so.

If your dog enjoys water, you can also install a small tub with a paw-triggered tap. This permits them to have some autonomy over bath time, and is another opportunity for them to feel included. Again, it’s a simple solution that gives big results.