Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal want their dog to be the ring bearer at their wedding.

The couple — who began dating after they met on the set of 'Rendition' last year — want Jake's beloved German Shepherd Atticus to have the important role when they tie the knot.

Although Atticus originally belonged to Jake and his ex-girlfriend Kirsten Dunst, the pooch has now moved in with Reese and her two children, eight-year-old Ava and four-year-old Deacon, from her marriage to Ryan Phillippe.

A source told National Enquirer magazine: "Atticus now lives with Reese full-time. He is great with her kids and makes her feel safe when Jake is away.

"It was totally Reese's idea to give Atticus a role in the wedding. Jake has fallen into the role of stepdad to her kids, so it is only fitting that Reese has more or less adopted Atticus as her own too!"

Jake recently moved into Reese's $5-million Los Angeles home, fuelling rumours the couple are planning to wed soon.

A source said: "Marriage is definitely what they are working toward. They literally don't want to spend any time away from each other."

Reese and Jake wouldn't be the first stars to include pets in their wedding ceremony.

Earlier this year, Pete Wentz chose his English Bulldog Hemingway to be the ring bearer when he married singer Ashlee Simpson.

'Ugly Betty' actress Ashley Jenson's dog Barney also acted as the ringer bearer when she wed writer Terence Beesley last January.