Visiting A Pet Expo With Your Dog

Since we cover many dog-centric festivals here on DogTipper, we attend a lot of events including pet expos. Many of the events we’ve attended allowed the public to bring their dogs, something that adds a lot of fun to the day…most of the time. While we’re always impressed with how well most dogs do at busy festivals, there have been exceptions: dogs who were unhappy to be in close proximity to each other or guests caught without poop bags, each a pet festival faux pas.

Today we received some great tips from Amazing Pet Expos (they have pet expos coming up all over the country) about how to make your dog’s visit to an event as successful as it can be. These tips for attending one of their Pet Expos are helpful for attending dog-centric events of all types:

• Only bring your pet along if it is well-behaved, non-aggressive and doesn’t get stressed out  in crowded, stimulating and noisy situations. There are all kinds of other animals, small children, wheelchairs and lots of people at the event. Your pet will be exposed to dogs barking, people speaking loudly on microphones, crowds clapping and attendees cheering. You know your pet best, so please use your best judgment to make sure that your pet will enjoy the expo just as much as you will.

• We only have a few rules for bringing pets: Your pet must be current on all shots or you should plan to have your pet’s immunizations updated at the event; low-cost vaccinations and microchipping are offered on-site. The immunization requirement only applies to dogs, cats and ferrets. A rabies tag is acceptable as proof of immunization, as are blood titer results for those pet owners who don’t immunize annually. Dogs must be on a fixed lead or a locked retractable lead, no longer than 6 feet, at all times. You’ll be required to sign a pet waiver at the entrance.

• Take note of the pet-potty areas located both indoors and out. While we do have pet clean-up teams at the event, you’ll also be given bags for your pet’s waste pick-up when you enter. Please be kind and pick up after your pet.

• Pet water stations be will scattered throughout the expo so that your excited companion doesn’t get dehydrated. These are communal bowls, so if you have a puppy, please keep it safe and bring a travel or disposable bowl for their use.

• Pace yourself! It’s a long day and there are many things to see. Make sure you take periodic breaks and give your pet a chance to rest – or step out of the expo for a few moments of quiet – if you plan to stay all day.

• Many exhibitors offer some sort of treat for pets. If your pet has a sensitive stomach or is super excited, you may want to consider allowing your pet one or two treats and then allowing her/him to enjoy the rest at home.

• If you have a small or tiny dog, you may want to be prepared to either carry it or have a stroller available. There are so many large and super large dogs at the expos that some small pet owners feel overwhelmed and their little fur-babies may unintentionally get stepped on.

• If you are attending the expo with the intent of adopting a new family member, you may want to either bring a crate or some sort of car restraint with you or be prepared to purchase something along those lines at the show. We often have people ask us at the show if we have any boxes or crates that they can have/borrow. We don’t and cage/pet carriers may sell out. So either bring one with you or plan to arrive extra early so that you can make sure that a pet restraint is available for purchase.

About Paris Permenter and John Bigley

DogTipper publishers Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of full-time writers. The couple has authored over two dozen books and 2,500+ magazine articles.

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