1.1 Is This Event Right for Your Dog?

Beach Fest is an exciting, busy, high-stimulation environment. Before attending, owners must honestly assess whether it is appropriate for their dog. Attending is not suitable for all dogs on all days.

Do not bring your dog to Beach Fest if:

• Your dog is showing signs of illness, injury, lameness, or unusual lethargy
• Your dog is elderly or has limited mobility and would not comfortably manage a full day at a busy outdoor event
• Your dog is a brachycephalic breed and ambient temperatures are forecast above 20°C, or WBGT is forecast to reach 18°C or above, at which point ProDog’s operational protocol restricts all high-exertion activity regardless of breed. These breeds are significantly more vulnerable to heat-related illness.
• Your female dog is in season. She must not attend. If she comes into season on the day of the event, please stay home. If she comes into season while at the event, she must be removed from site immediately to protect her safety and the welfare of other dogs.

If you are unsure, contact the ProDog welfare team in advance of the event. We will never judge you for making the right call.

1.2 Vaccination and Health Requirements

All dogs attending must have been vaccinated against core vaccinations, including distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and or hold a titre test confirming equivalent immunity. With hundreds of dogs expected on site, unvaccinated dogs without a valid titre test create a serious and avoidable risk to every other animal at the event. By accepting our ticket T&Cs at checkout owners confirm their dog meets this requirement.

1.3 ID, Collars and Microchipping

Every dog attending Beach Fest must:

• Wear a collar bearing the owner’s name and address or phone number at all times. This is a legal requirement under the Control of Dogs Order 1992.
• Be microchipped. This is a legal requirement in England under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015.

In the event of a dog becoming separated from its owner, our welfare team will prioritise a rapid, safe reunion. A dog with no collar or no chip significantly increases the risk to that animal.

1.4 Vehicle Guidelines

Never leave your dog unattended in a parked vehicle, even briefly. In peak summer conditions, a car in the sun can reach 47 degrees within an hour. If you need to leave your dog in the vehicle at any point, another person must remain with them with air conditioning running.

If you witness a dog in distress in an unattended vehicle, alert a steward immediately or call 999.

Dog owners are the first and most important line of defence when it comes to heat safety. You know your dog better than anyone, and the most effective thing you can do throughout the day is watch them closely and act early. The canicross run takes place at 8am in peak summer, and while we actively monitor conditions throughout the event, no reading replaces an owner’s eyes on their dog. If your dog is showing any signs of discomfort, slow down, find shade, and offer water. Do not wait for things to worsen.

3.1 What to Expect on the Day

Our welfare team monitors conditions throughout the event using WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature), a measure that accounts for humidity, wind, sunlight, and radiant heat, not just air temperature. A day that reads 22 degrees on your phone can register significantly higher on an exposed beach in July, which is why we use WBGT rather than the forecast to make decisions on the day.

As an attendee, here is what the readings mean for you:

• Below 15°C – All activities proceed as normal. Water stations and cooling pools are in operation throughout.
• 15°C to 18°C – Dogs must be doused with water before the canicross run. Veterinary monitoring is increased across all activity areas.
• 18°C to 21°C – Canicross routes are shortened. The 5km becomes 3km; the 3km becomes 1km.
• 22°C or above – All canine participation is suspended. The event may continue as a human-only walk or run.

Canicross participants (8am start)

A WBGT reading is taken at 7:30am and the thresholds above apply immediately. Water for your dog at the start line is a condition of entry. After the run, cool your dog before returning to any vehicle – a supervised cool-down area is provided at the Hydration & Cool Zone.

Please ensure your dog is fit and well enough to participate on the day. Our welfare team reserves the right to withdraw any dog showing signs that continued participation would compromise their wellbeing – see Welfare Withdrawal (Section 4) for full details.

3.2 Recognising Heat-Related Illness

Every dog owner attending Beach Fest should be able to identify the early signs of heat-related illness. If you see these signs in your dog or any other dog, act immediately and alert the welfare team.

• Excessive panting, more intense, noisier, or more rapid than usual for the conditions
• Drooling, thick and sticky saliva, or more than is normal for the breed
• Bright red or pale gums or tongue, both are emergency signs
• Staggering or weakness, loss of coordination, stumbling, reluctance to move
• Glazed or sunken eyes, loss of focus or disorientation
• Vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if blood is present, which indicates severe heat-related illness
• Collapse, a life-threatening emergency

3.3 What to Do if Your Dog Overheats

Cool first. Transport second. Act within seconds.

1. Move the dog immediately to shade.
2. Pour cool / cold water over the dog, focusing on the neck, chest, armpits, groin, and paws. .
3. Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water if they are conscious and able.
4. Do not place damp towels over the dog as this traps heat. Wet towels may be placed underneath.
5. Alert the welfare team immediately.
6. Continue cooling until breathing begins to normalise or the welfare team takes over.
7. Do not put the dog in a hot vehicle. Cool the dog to below 40 degrees body temperature before any transport.

If your dog shows signs of heat-related illness, move them immediately to the nearest shaded area. Shade tents are located adjacent to all activity zones across the site. Alert any steward. For more serious emergencies, Event HQ and the First Aid tent are both equipped to support and are marked on the site map. The Hydration and Cool Zone is available throughout the day for general cooling and recovery.

Beach Fest is a high-density environment with hundreds of dogs in attendance. Canine interactions must be managed carefully. Owners are responsible for managing their dog’s behaviour at all times.

5.1 Prevention

Reactive dogs may attend the general festival subject to responsible management in accordance with the following guidelines; activity participation remains at ProDog’s discretion.

Do not allow your dog to approach another dog without explicit permission from that dog’s owner

If your dog is known to be reactive or dog-aggressive, keep them at a safe distance from other dogs throughout the event

Advise stewards on arrival if your dog has known aggression history. We can help you plan a route through the event that minimises pressure.

Watch your dog’s body language at all times. Whale eye, stiff posture, raised hackles, low growl, or frozen stillness are all pre-bite signals that require immediate space.

If your dog is muzzle trained, we actively encourage you to use one at Beach Fest – not just for reactive dogs, but for any dog that may find a busy, high-density environment challenging. Resource guarders, dogs that are unpredictable around unfamiliar dogs or people, or dogs that simply do better with that extra layer of management in place are all welcome.

ProDog Beach Fest is a muzzle-positive, non-judgmental environment. A muzzle means a responsible owner who knows their dog. We see it that way, and so do our stewards.

5.2 If an Incident Occurs

Please be aware that under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Dogs Act 1871, dog owners may be personally legally liable for injury or damage caused by their dog. This liability exists independently of these guidelines and is not affected by whether or not an incident is reported to ProDog staff. Reporting an incident is nonetheless the right thing to do. It protects every dog and person on site and supports the safety of the whole event.

If an incident occurs:

Alert the nearest steward or welfare team member immediately

Both dogs involved must be separated and moved away from the incident location

The welfare team will assess both dogs for injury

An incident report will be completed by the ProDog welfare team

ProDog reserves the right to remove any dog from the event following an incident where public safety or canine welfare is at risk.