Summer is a time for lots of outdoor fun. We love going to dog-friendly festivals. We attended many of them and wish the organizers would publicize some safety tips for pet parents. We came up with 10 Safety Tips: Attending Dog-Friendly Summer Festivals
1) Weather: It’s Summer, so expect it to be hot. Consider attending early, before it gets too hot. If the temperature is too high, leave your dog at home.
2) Crowd: Outdoor festivals can be crowded. Many dogs get uncomfortable and get stressed. Be mindful of your dog’s comfort level.
3) Leash: Bring a proper leash, 4-6 foot length. If you own a flexi-leash/retractable leash, leave it at home. At all times. keep your dog on a leash.
4) Hydrate: Many dog-friendly festivals offers cooling and waters stations. Always be prepared; bring water and travel bowl for your dog.
5) Meet & Greet: Know the proper dog etiquette for meeting other dogs. Always ask and don’t assume other dogs want to meet and greet.
6) Food & Trash: There’s always food in festivals. Most of these foods are not safe for your dog. Bring treats for your dog. Watch your dog’s walking path as some food might have been dropped.
7) Hot Pavement: Most festivals are held on streets and/or parking lots. Check the ground for hotness. Hot pavements can burn your dog’s pads. Remember: “If it’s too hot for you, its too hot for your dog.”
8) Heatstroke: Be aware of your pet’s condition. It is important to know the signs of heatstroke, such as excessive panting and salivation.
9) Noise: Be conscious of your dog’s sensitivity to loud noises. Avoid the stage area where the speakers are always blaring.
10) Scoop That Poop: Be a responsible dog owner, pick up your dog’s poop. Many dog-friendly festival have a designated relief area.
Check your city/town for dog-friendly Summer Festivals and remember these safety tips.
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Great tips Sugar! Shiner does not like strangers too much, so she doesn’t usually attend these festivals.
Great tips, Sugar! It’s too hot here to to get the pups out for most events, but we still do try to get them out in the early morning.
Monty and Harlow
Those are great tips – I just wish we had some dog friendly summer events to attend 🙂
We find its important to have a cooling off area. We try to find a shady spot for lunch and eat as far away from the rest of the crowd as possible to let the dogs destress for a bit.
Thanks for your tips, Sugar. They always look at me when we enter an event with many peeps&pets and when I start to feel uncomfy we rather have a break or we drive home. Have a super friday and a golden weekend!
I would scream at that thing behind you
Lily & Edward
Great tips, Sugar! Thanks for sharing!!
FANTASTIC tips Sugar! #6 is why I always hesitate bringing Dakota to these types of events.
Have a wonderful time at the festivals Sugar. I have my senior kitty checkup today….if you hear a roar at about 1…. It will be me being stuffed in the carrier
Hugs
Madi your bffff
Great tips thanks for sharing!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Good advice. We rarely go to festivals. Mom isn’t big on them and most aren’t dog friendly here.
Great tips, thanks for sharing!
We wish we had some festivals to attend!
Great tips! I think Mauja would get over stimulated I. A large crowd, but Atka would love it. We’d definitely have to go first thing in the morning before it got too hot. I really like that you added about meeting other dogs. Our first dog was not very social and people just let their off leash dogs run right up to him. It would get very frustrating.
Great tips, Sugar! Charlie will be attending his first dog festival next weekend so I will put them to use right away!
Great tips! Now I need to find a dog-friendly festival to attend.
–Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats
great tips, oh i dislike retractable leashes in crowds.
Oh, Sugar! What a great idea to post safety tips at pet festivals!!! There’s always so much going on there that it really helps if you keep safety foremost in mind.
Great tips. These are very helpful, as I try to take my dogs to as many dog friendly events as I can.