Is your dog the best looking of its breed? Perhaps it’s the prettiest pooch in Greenwich Park, or maybe it has the waggiest tail or performs the best tricks? The Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) is hosting the inaugural Greenwich Dog Show this Sunday.
The show will be celebrating cute puppies, golden oldies and even the scruffiest dog on site.
You don’t have to enter your four-legged friend (or even have a dog!) to enjoy the competition – all are welcome to come and watch it.
Stalls selling canine related services and pampering will be on site too, and the The Old Royal Naval College’s pub, The Old Brewery, has prepared some dog-friendly treats for very good boys (and girls!).
We spoke to the brains behind the competition Hayley Chester, who is also the Commercial Events Programmer at the Old Royal Naval College, to find out more…
Holly O’Mahony (HOM): This is the inaugural Greenwich Dog Show. What inspired it?
Hayley Chester (HC): As a dog-friendly venue at the heart of maritime Greenwich, it seemed fitting for us to be the home to the Greenwich Dog Show.
So many local people, and some of our staff who bring their dogs to work, regularly walk their dogs through our grounds, so it was a no-brainer to invite the local dog-loving community to enjoy a fun and friendly day out for hounds and their humans.
HOM: We seem to be a nation increasingly besotted with our dogs – especially since the lockdown puppy boom. Is this likely to boost the popularity of the event?
HC: Greenwich, with all its green spaces, is a haven for dog walkers.
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The Dog Show is the paw-fect opportunity for everyone besotted with dogs to show them off or just to cheer on the dogs taking part in the 10 judged categories, which include Best Rescue Dog, Best Owner Lookalike, Waggiest Tail and Best Dressed Pooch.
We have a series of expert judges as well as a Celebrity Judge, Nina Wadia, best-known for being part of the cast of BBC sketch comedy show Goodness Gracious Me, and her seven-year stint on Eastenders as Zainab Khan. Nina has a cockapoo called Basil, after TV character Basil Fawlty!
HOM: Is the event aimed at dog owners in particular or anyone with a love of dogs?
HC: Everyone is welcome, whether they own a dog or not. Before or after watching the Dog Show, visitors can explore the UNESCO World Heritage site, visit the Painted Hall and take a tour of the grounds.
The food and drink offering on site is dog-friendly too: check out the street food market serving dishes from across the globe, our on-site pub The Old Brewery, the Undercroft Café, or our al fresco bar, where you can sip a Pimms or a gin and tonic.
HOM: Sounds like dogs and their owners will be well-fed! What else will there be to see and do on the day?
HC: From 10.30am, we’ll welcome dogs and their owners from Greenwich and across London for a day of doggy delights.
As well as the show itself, we’ll have upwards of 10 local suppliers selling dog-related products including Fifi’s Dog Haus (grooming and dog accessories), The Clean Dog Company (natural pet care products for skins and coats), Kats and Dogs (a training and behaviourist) and Dog’s Choice Day Care. The Old Brewery, our dog-friendly pub, will have a Pupachino station serving a delightful concoction of whipped cream, pumpkin puree, and dog biscuits for four-legged friends to enjoy.
There will be live music from Becky Alice and her band, as well as face painting by My Lilac Rose.
HOM: How many dogs are you expecting to take part and are there any prizes for the winners?
HC: There are 10 categories with 25 dogs in each, so we hope to have 250 dogs competing as well as many others spectating.
There will be a winner and runner up in each category, and the winner will receive a prize donated by one of our exhibitors with rosettes for both winner and runner-up.
Dog owners can enter their prize pooches at £5 per entry until Friday May 26. There are also a limited number of places to register on the day from 10.30am.
HOM: So if the event is a tail-wagging success, are you looking to make it an annual thing?
HC: We’d love for the Dog Show to become a staple in Greenwich’s annual events calendar.
If it’s a success, we’ll be back next year, bigger and better!
Greenwich Dog Show is taking place on the lawns of the Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9NN. May 28, 10:30am – 4pm. Admission: FREE/£5 to enter. www.ornc.org/whats-on/greenwich-dog-show/
