A North East dog chaperone has been booked for over 75 weddings this year, and is now taking bookings as far ahead as 2027. It comes as demand grows to include pets as part of a couple's special day. Kirsty Spender is the owner of Chuck Tails, a dog chaperone business based in Durham that enables couples to have their dogs involved in their wedding in any way they would like.
The business is the supplier of choice for over 14 venues in the North East. Kirsty, from Morpeth , started the business two years ago and has been booked for weddings ever since. She said: "I was doing dog walking and dog sitting anyway and then some people recommended me for a family friend who was getting married who really wanted their dog there.
And from that I realised dogs are such a big part of everyone's lives, I can understand why people would want them there at their wedding. So there was a gap in the market, to make sure dogs can be there comfortably and safely." The business is named after Kirsty's own dog, Chuck, who is a rescue and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
And Kirsty outlined how the dogs become involved in the weddings. "I don’t really do any training with the dogs. A couple will get in touch and say they would like their dog there on their wedding day.
"I will do a meet and greet and then talk with them about different ways we can involve their dog, based on its personality. Sometimes if a dog is nervous or anxious, I will just coordinate with a photographer so the dog can come fo.
