Don't take our word for it
We asked some of our Goodwoof visitors to let us know just what it is about the event that means that they’re first in the queue to snap up their tickets each year. We were delighted that they were so happy to share their thoughts, reflections, memories, and funny – sometimes touching – always adorable, stories.
Here is a selection of them which tell of their adventures, about the new friends they’ve made, and their thoughts on all of Goodwoof’s activities and entertainment. We also hear about our contributors’ overall feelings about what being a part of the great big, tail-wagging Goodwoof community means to them.
Dogs
Goodwoof
Klare, from Sussex, jumped at the chance of visiting Goodwoof with her Jack Russell, River when Goodwoof was first staged back in 2022. This year’s event was their third visit to the event and, she says, turned out to be ‘the best one yet.’ Klare said, “When we arrived in the sunshine on the Sunday afternoon, River was already excited to be back, but the excitement grew still further when, the family group, having admired Goodwoof’s automotive partner’s Bentley, were thrilled to be offered a lift from the car park into the showground itself. She said, “Our minds were totally blown; we had the most amazing experience even just getting into Goodwoof, we definitely felt special.”
Once inside, the group headed straight for their favourite activity, the fun, fastest dog competition, presented by DHL. Here dogs compete against each other within their size category. Klare adds, “River in in Settrington as she’s so tiny. She could hardly contain herself whilst waiting in the queue but, soon it was her turn and she rushed down the track in an amazing 5.6 seconds. We were so proud of her!”
A quick dip in Fido’s Lido followed so that River could cool down before the group headed for some retail therapy – and an ice-cream! Klare said, “There was so much to browse in the shopping area and then River threw herself into the Have-a-Go activities and the Goodwoof Games. My mother was thrilled to listen to a talk given by Dr Scott Miller, one of her TV favourites, in the Action Sports arena and there were so many other fun things to see and do at Goodwoof. We were just thinking of leaving after a lovely day when we received a phone call telling us that River had been placed in her Fastest Dog category and we had been invited to the awards ceremony with prizes being presented by the Duke of Richmond himself. When the time came, we were absolutely thrilled to find out that she had actually come first which means that she can add a winner’s tag to her two second place ones which we treasure at home”
Klare said that she and her family had a ‘brilliant day’ and says that Goodwoof offers such a great atmosphere for the whole family including the chance to see all the dogs you could ever dream of coming together in one place.
Natalie Pettet-Foxon was also a third time visitor this year. Like Klare, she couldn’t imagine that Goodwoof could be even better than before, but she came away even more impressed than ever. She was, once again, impressed by the sense of space and all the things she and her dog could get involved with. She said, “I got my new puppy in 2021 and have been to every dog festival in the south of England. Goodwoof is by far the best as the atmosphere is so relaxed, meaning the dogs are relaxed too. The Literary Corner and the MARS Wellness area, along with The Studio, presented by Randox Health, are the perfect places in which to unwind. By far my favourite thing to do at Goodwoof is the doga (dog yoga) as well as the reiki, sound bathing, 1990’s style aerobics and dog Pilates. It’s such a chilled-out area that my dog, Zeno, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, fell asleep on the yoga mat.”
Natalie was also enamoured with the sheep dog trials and had a go at Canicross as well as the hoops and agility in the Have-a-Go area. She said, “Fido’s Lido was an absolute godsend as it really cooled the dogs down nicely.”
She and Zeno took plenty of photos beside the Goodwoof big letters with the elegant Kennels building as a backdrop and sought out Natalie’s favourite fictional hound, Snoopy, for another photo to add to their annual collection. Food choices were plentiful she says, and they particularly enjoyed the Oatopia flapjacks whilst sitting in the sunshine and listening to the band.
Super stylish Dalmatian, Tanian and their owner, Amy Pattington is always pleased when she makes her regular visit to Goodwoof that the site ‘invites exploration at a considered pace.’ Amy says, “The atmosphere is relaxed with plenty of space for dogs – and their owners – to take a rest. It has the feel of a garden party or picnic on a summer’s day and, there’s no question that the canine guests are welcomed with open arms in all their glorious variety by everyone involved in delivering the festival.”
Amy’s firm Goodwoof favourite areas have always been Fido’s Lido and the off-lead area but this year, they also had a go at a Galen Therapy Dog, dog massage session at The Studio and, once again, loved settling down in Literary Corner to listen to Clare Balding’s tales of doggy derring-do. She said, “I think Tanian’s highlight of the day was sampling all the delicious toppings that the talented students of the West Sussex APC Enterprise Project had created for their pupuccinos!”
Finally, Sally Crane was a second time visitor in 2024 along with her rescue dog, Bo. They opted to hop onto the free Bark and Ride service to get them from the carpark into the showground itself since Bo suffers a little with arthritis and said that visitors could already feel the excitement building as they rode in in comfort.
Sally said, “The atmosphere is amazing at Goodwoof as so many like-minded people come together to celebrate all things dog. My highlight this year was the Ministry of Hound DJ set and dance sessions but there really is something for everyone. Bo really enjoyed the sensory garden and generally saying hello to both humans and dogs as we wandered around Goodwoof’s areas. We were thrilled to meet up with friends who we usually only see on social media too. I would recommend Goodwoof to any dog lover – it really is something every dog should get the chance to experience.”
As you can see, there’s a lot of love for Goodwoof which is why we are, even as we speak, making our plans for Goodwoof 2025 (17/18 May) Yet again, Goodwoof will be designed to delight, entrance, entertain and fix, even more firmly, Goodwoof as a must-attend weekend in your hound’s social diary.
And, of course, If you would like to share your own funny stories, heartwarming moments, memories of Goodwoofs past, as well as great photos of your happy dog at this year’s Goodwoof, we are always keen to have them @goodwoofdogs so please, do post them there.
Don’t forget to keep checking back to these pages as we begin to unveil what we have in store for you and your two and four-legged family, next spring. Plus, tickets are still on sale for 2025 and are available to purchase at the discounted early-bird price!
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