How to plan a dog event?

Parties are great fun but can be unsettling for pets. They can interrupt their daily routine and bring new stressful events in their home. There are important things to consider while you are planning your event which’ll help your pet to remain as calm as possible. If your pet will be home, make sure they have somewhere familiar, quiet and secure they can escape to if they feel overwhelmed. Give your pet a quiet place to escape to if they appear to be anxious. Make sure you keep your pet's resources in the same places as far as possible. Politely ask your guests not to feed your pets. Consider restricting the fancy dress fun to humans. With a few minor changes and considerations, we’re sure you and your pets will have a wonderful time celebrating. If your pet appears stressed, give them a safe and calm space to retreat to away from the party. Firstly, make sure your guests are aware pets are present. Ask them to be careful around doors and windows to prevent your pets from escaping. Consider removing your pets to another room while guests arrive and depart. Check your house thoroughly for dropped food or napkins that could be eaten or chewed. Make sure all waste is removed before pets are left alone. Ensure the waste bags are stored securely as they are no deterrent for the more determined pet.

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.