To plan a dog event, consider getting an on-site pet first aider, just as you would for people, in case of any doggy accidents.
An on-site vet or first-aider will provide peace of mind for both you and your guests.
It’s also a good idea to let a local vet practice know in advance that you will be holding a festival with dogs, and ask them whether they might be able to provide help in case of any accidents, injuries or emergencies.
You’ll need to make sure there’s enough room for the dogs to have their own space by putting up barriers or fences to divide up areas, or by creating quiet places for the dogs to relax.
It’s best to avoid having lots of dogs in queues or large crowds, as this can be stressful for the doggies.
Make sure that you remember to provide lots of shady areas for dogs and their owners to escape the sun.
Dogs can overheat quickly and develop a life-threatening condition called heatstroke on hotter days.
It’s good to recommend that all dogs are kept on short leads and close to their owners.
You can provide a secure exercise area for them to have time off lead, just make sure that owners know they’ll still need to keep their dogs under close control.