Mirror reporter and dog owner Emmeline Saunders travels to Goodwoof – a celebration at Goodwood’s premises in West Sussex simply for four-legged buddies
A black labrador measure a leafy lookalike at a celebration commemorating all things canine.
Elsewhere a poodle with brilliant pink ears bounds around in the sun, while in the dexterity location labradors are clattering into the dives, instead of clearing them.
We’re at special Goodwoof, at the Goodwood estate near Chichester, in West Sussex.
Billed as the ultimate dogs’ day out and now in its 2nd year, around 5,000 individuals took pleasure in the weekend occasion, the majority of bringing their four-legged buddy.
All entrants are welcomed to attempt a host of activities: dog yoga, sound baths (that’s meditation with dogs), sledwork lessons and Canicross (running connected to your dog by a harness).
My dog Muffin and his bro Otto, two-year-old flat-coated retrievers, are on their finest behaviour. Mostly…
Muffin just recently had his “gentleman’s procedure” and is not suggested to jump around.
But there are hundreds of doggy rear ends to smell and a woodland walk that holds the guarantee of un-chased squirrels.
His tail is flying back and forth so quick that I stress he may remove.
By the time we reach the have-a-go obstacles he slips out of my grasp and runs around like a lunatic greased piglet, woofing with pleasure.
Next it’s off to see the specialists. Collies drive sheep and cocker spaniels gather goodies and leap over fences.
I inform Muffin to see and learn. He offers me an ear wash rather. Otto, drooling, looks at a daddy feasting on a hamburger.
Other pooches are much better acted. The pink-eared poodle is called Darla and she is liking the attention from passers-by.
Owner Debbie Simms-Walker says it is the very first time Darla has actually had a professional dye-job.
“It took five hours for her to be groomed,” she confesses.
“She gets washed, combed and blowdried every couple of weeks, so there is a lot of maintenance.”
Over in the crazy Barkitecture corner, Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud is talking to comedian Bill Bailey about the very best kennel styles for workplaces.
Ex-footballer Peter Crouch is likewise around with his dog.
Miniature poodles Coco and Nina sashay past in pink tutus.
Groomer Bev Jordan, 57, from Fetcham, Surrey, says: “The girls just love getting dressed up.”
Last up is a dip at Fido’s Lido. Muffin locks eyes with a yellow laboratory and the set splash around.
The journey home is a soaked one. But worn out Muffin sleeps, no doubt imagining those squirrels.
