This week’s podcast focusses on a dog friendly music festival that Pete is attending this weekend: www.standoncalling.com
To listen to the discussion, click on the play button at the foot of this page.
Dog friendly music festivals
- Dogs are great company in themselves
- Dogs are wonderful social enablers. If you go for a walk with a dog, it’s easy to stop and talk to another dog owner with their own pet. Dogs take the focus off ourselves, allowing us to have easy conversations with fellow dog owners.
- Dogs enjoy being out and about with humans
- plenty of drinking water points
- cooling water baths in case dogs overheat
- rules that stop dogs from being exposed to very loud music
- regulations to stop dogs causing a nuisance to anyone who’s nervous about animals e.g. dogs being kept on leash all the time, owners obliged to pick up poops
- I will keep my dog on a lead at all times
- I understand dogs are not permitted on The Lawn or in the designated Kid’s Areas
- I will pick up after my dog
- I understand if I am deemed to not be taking appropriate care of my dog I will be asked to leave the site
What will be done to make sure that dogs are happy, stress-free and healthy at the festival?
What about dogs who don’t want to be at the festival?
People need to be sensible about their pets: if your dog is nervous, overheats easily, dosn’t like socializing with people or other dogs, or is in any way uncomfortable with this type of set up, you should obviously not bring them along. But even if your dog is the type of animal who will enjoy a day like this, there are ways that you can escape the crowds. Standon Calling is set in the English countryside, and there’s a short public walkway at the edge of the festival that you can stroll down with your pet. It leads to a shallow ford where you – and your dog – can paddle to keep cool.
The walk down to the shallow ford
Pete’s conclusions about dog friendly events like Standon Calling music festival
Dogs are social creatures, and my hope is that in the future, it will be increasingly normal to include them in our own, human activities. With some thought and planning, they too can enjoy social gatherings. Increasingly, I see dogs and humans (and indeed other animals) as all just part of the same world – One Health, One Life, One World. We are all in this together!
Questions from pet owners
As usual, Pete was asked questions from listeners to the Pat Kenny Show. This week, the following questions were asked. To find out the answers, listen to the podcast at the foot of this page:
1. I have just been roped into a new animal group in my area. My experience is more with dogs. However one guy is adamant on trapping, neutering and releasing wild cats. We did our first the other day. I have concerns about this, as the male cat was extremely stressed and was released directly from vets. Can they not become injured if they get caught up or burst stitches? Help! I’m a bit concerned.
2. What can be done with a dog that is barking out at everyone walking by the gate ?
3. I’m thinking of adopting hens (I heard your piece earlier this week Pat!) but I also have plans to get a dog. For various reasons I can’t get the dog for another year, but I’d like to adopt the hens now. If I have the hens will the dog get along with them? Or is it one or the other?
4. My 2yr dachshund has twisted his front legs. He is not in pain and energetic but I have been vet advised both for and against having his legs surgically straightened. The vet for says he will develop pain as he ages while the vet against says he will develop arthritis in the legs after the op. I am in a dilemma of what to do, what is your opinion?
5. My golden retriever is bad at drinking his water, I’ve tried putting bread in the water bowl to make it more appetising but it hasn’t done much. Any suggestions? Can I force him? Tina
6. My two dogs, a bichon frise and a finnish spitz (both 10 years old) keep waking me up in the middle of the night. They’re usually not like this but I haven’t been able to sleep through the night in more than two weeks. Could it be related to the heatwave? Joanna
7. My cat recently had four kittens and she is losing a lot of weight from them feeding off her. Is there anything I can do? Will it get worse?
8. Does Pete have any tips on how best to brush a dog with sensitive skin?
Listen to the podcast below.
Please note that I am unable to answer veterinary questions in comments. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health it is always better to contact your vet.