Dogstival 2026
- Baxter & Sarah
- May 29
- 3 min read
Baxter’s Big Day Out at Dogstival 2025
Baxter and I had an absolute blast at Dogstival, soaking up all the sights, smells, and fun the festival had to offer. I wanted to share a little recap of our day for anyone thinking about heading there next time — trust me, it’s a must-visit for any dog lover!
From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. There was so much to see, sniff, and do — and Baxter made sure we didn’t miss a single thing!
Our first stop was the “have-a-go” scent work. Baxter was in absolute heaven, and honestly, I was impressed by how quickly he found the hidden sausages. His nose is truly something else! It was a great way to start the day, engaging his brain and his sniffer right away.
Next, we headed to the Barkour playground. Watching Baxter climb over obstacles and zoom through tunnels was a joy — he had so much energy and clearly loved every minute of it. It’s brilliant to see events like this encouraging dogs to be active and having fun.
At one point, Baxter even gave skateboarding a go! He might not be a pro just yet, but watching him have fun and give it a try was absolutely priceless.
We headed over to the beach by Away Resorts, just as the foam party was kicking off. I’ll be honest, Baxter wasn’t the biggest fan of the foam — he’s a bit more of a dry dog — but it was great fun watching all the other pups splash around and enjoy themselves.
Afterwards, we wandered over to the art studio, where Baxter got stuck into some abstract painting. Anything involving peanut butter is a win in our house, so that was definitely a highlight!
We visited the Healthy Hound Kitchen, hosted by Naturo, to watch a baking masterclass by Four Legged Fancies. They even used Baxter’s name on the icing of a birthday cake, which was such a sweet touch. Baxter was definitely ready to try a slice — and I don’t blame him!
We grabbed some lunch and then settled down at the outdoor cinema to catch a bit of Marley and Me (don’t worry, we skipped the sad bits!). It was such a lovely way to relax and enjoy the festival atmosphere.
One of my favourite parts of the day was wandering through the stalls. Baxter was in his element, sniffing out treats and charming every single person behind a counter. He got to sample some bone broth, try a few biscuit tasters, and even managed to score a puppuccino. There was such a great mix of food, toys, accessories and goodies — and yes, we may have left with a bag slightly fuller than planned. There were also plenty of photo opportunities throughout the day, and of course, Baxter was more than happy to pose.
Before we wrapped up the day, we made a quick return to the Naturo Healthy Hound Kitchen for another round of fun — this time decorating birthday pupcakes and making chicken and vegetable ice lollies. It was adorable to watch Baxter get involved with all the creative activities.
Dogstival truly is a brilliant festival for dog lovers and their pups. The variety of activities, shopping, and entertainment means there’s something for every dog and every dog parent. Plus, the setting in the beautiful New Forest just adds to the whole experience. If you’re looking for a dog-friendly day out (or weekend getaway!), I can’t recommend it enough.
Dogstival returns to Burley Park on May 30th and 31st 2026 and you can get your tickets here.
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