Thinking of organising a canine-focused conference? Want to ensure festival-goers can bring their four-legged friends? Hosting a dog-friendly event means more than putting out a few bowls of water, but that’s certainly a good place to start.

To help you prepare for pooches (and their owners) we asked experts who have catered to canines for years to share their tales. Here’s everything you need to know about welcoming dogs – and their owners – to your event.

Training owners to behave

Good behaviour begins when you outline your expectations, and for Emily Foulkes, head of marketing for Dog Fest, that starts weeks before the event kicks off. “We issue very clear health and safety instructions via our website and also promote it on email communication before the event starts.”

This means organisers must make decisions on a number of things ahead of time, questions you should be asking yourself include:

• Should dogs be kept on a lead throughout the event?
• Are you going to allow extendable leads, as they can cause a trip hazard for human attendees?
• Will there be areas where dogs can run around off-lead and dedicated places for them to take a toilet break?
• Are dog food and treats going to be available to buy or should owners bring their own?

Some events add an extra incentive when hosting dogs – like Green Gathering, which charges dog owners a ‘good behaviour bond’ that is refunded after the event.

In addition to preparation, being proactive is key. “Last year we ran DogFest at Arley Hall in Cheshire. While on-site, the weather became far hotter than had been predicted,” says Emily. “We had an unprecedented number of visitors buying tickets on the door and so we were faced with a large number of attendees queuing in the heat with their dogs. We deployed a team who went up and down the queues offering more water to all dogs. We also laid on water pools and sprinklers, and provided additional shaded areas to keep the dogs cool at all times.”

Keep tails wagging

Seeing things from a dog’s perspective can really help, says Heather Nesbitt, the founder and managing director of Woofstock UK. “Be aware of noise, as dogs have very sensitive ears – we always monitor the music coming from the live stage with the dogs in mind.” The same goes for other noises – fireworks, loud-speaker announcements, fairground games or rides might all cause distress. Warn owners ahead of time and offer chill-out areas for dogs to relax away from the action.

“Think about what the weather is going to be like. Is it going to be hot and if so have you provided shaded areas, enough water bowls and paddling pool areas,” asks Heather. As dogs require 50-60ml of water per kilogram of body weight every day, it’s worth having staff specifically set aside to ensure that water bowls are regularly topped up with cool, clean water.

“Then there’s toilet time,” says Heather. “Do you provide poo bags? And where do you make them available – at the main entrance or dotted around the event? Where can people dispose of poo bags, and do you set aside some unlucky staff whose job it is to check the site throughout the event for anything that might not have been picked up?”

And, just as you should consider first aid for your human attendees, Emily says it’s important to pay the same attention to animal well-being. “We have a team of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses on hand for the duration of our events should any dogs need assistance,” she says. “In addition, vigilant health and safety officers can also be found walking around the festival looking out for any dogs and humans who might need help. It is crucial to have a team experienced in working with dogs. We have a duty of care to be prepared for any eventuality.”

Provide doggy distractions

Once the serious side of catering to canines is covered, it’s time to think about the little flourishes you can introduce that will have attendees coming back for more. To ensure pets don’t miss out on fizzy festivities, Dog Lovers Festival adds value for dogs and owners with a Pawsecco Bar. While humans sip the real thing, dogs can enjoy a flavoured water version that encourages hydration while also providing a perfect photo opportunity. As does the Puparrazzi Zone, where pooches can prepare for their close-up. There’s even a pop-up wedding area where hounds can get hitched.

Including dogs in your event planning need not be a problem, simply approach it with the same foresight as you would cater to two-legged attendees – ensuring their health and safety has been considered, as well as looking for ways to keep them entertained at all times.

Conclusion

Nobody wants to leave their pooch behind while they go out partying on a sunny afternoon – make this summer one to remember for you and your pet by taking them along to events that you know are dog-friendly. Look on as they network with other dogs, enjoy the cuisine and drinks on offer and head home at the end of the day, all played out. It’s a dog’s life, after all