As part of its series of autumn events, Lowther Castle has announced its first ever Dog Weekend – ‘a jamboree of wags & tails’ to take place over the last weekend in September.
The weekend will be packed with fun and frolics aimed at dogs and dog-owners of all pedigrees, shapes, ages and sizes.
Launching the event on Saturday morning will be Rory Stewart, Conservative MP for Penrith & the Border. Along with one or two four-legged friends, Rory will cut the ribbon on the Famous Dogs Trail at 10am before following the trail himself. At 10.30am, he will then give a talk in the Lowther café describing his time in Afghanistan with his beloved dog companion, Babur.
Saturday 29th will continue as a day of dog action: Dog & Runner Duck herding with Alan Bradley and Police Dog demonstrations being the highlights.
On Sunday, spectators will have a chance to get involved: have-a-go flyball, have-a-go scurry and have-a-go up-and-over plus a host of novelty classes, including one for the Best Biscuit Catcher and another called Musical Sits. The weekend timetable also features a Rare Breeds Dog Parade, a Dog Blessing in Lowther Church, some dog retail and a poet-in-residence (doggerel).
All events will be held in or around the South Lawns, with the famous skeleton of the castle ruins as the backdrop. With the exception of the Novelty Classes (£1 per entrant), events are free -although some charitable donations will be invited.
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September 10.00am-5.00pm daily
Saturday 29th September
- 10.00am Opening of two-day Dog Market
- 10.00am Rory Stewart MP with some four-legged friends launches our new Famous Dogs Trail. The trail will take dogs (and their owners) around the perimeter of the gardens.
- 10.30am Join Rory Stewart MP for coffee and a short talk in our café as he shares his favourite memories of Babur, the dog that walked with him across Afghanistan. Donations to the Penrith Red Squirrel Group
- 11.00am-12.00pm Fun Junior Dog Handlers’ Obedience Class with Jen Cartmel of Clever Dogs Dog Training
- 12.30pm-1.00pm Dog and Runner Duck Show with Alan Bradley of Lake District Sheepdog Experience
- 1.00pm Rare Breeds Dog Parade – all visitors invited
- 1.30pm Yellow Dog Photocall – calling all yellow, ginger, chestnut & red visitors
- 2.00pm-2.30pm Police Dogs demonstration with Cumbria Police Dog Handling Unit
- 2.45pm-3.15pm Dog and Ducks redux
- 3.30pm-4.00pm Police Dogs demonstration
Sunday 30th September
- 10.00am-2.00pm Have a go Doggie Play Park with Doggy Day Care from Kendal with a paddling pool, tunnels, jumps, bubble machine, sand pit, play house & more
- 11.00am-11.30am Gun dog obedience demonstration with Steve Burns
- 11.45am-12.00noon Flyball demonstration with Jen Addison & the local Flyball team
- 1.00pm-3.00pm Novelty Dog Classes (timetable below)
- 2.00pm-3.30pm Gun dog scurry – have-a-go – open to all visitors
- 2.00pm-3.30pm Up and over – have-a-go
- 2.00pm-3.30pm Flyball – have-a-go
- 3.30pm Walk through Lowther Park to Lowther Chapel – all visitors invited
- 4.00pm Dog Blessing service led by Rev Stewart Fyfe
Novelty Dog Classes £1 per class entry
- 1.00pm Best junior dog handler (under 16 years)
- 1.15pm Finest rescue dog
- 1.30pm Cleverest dog (think tricks)
- 1.45pm Most adorable puppy
- 2.00pm Best turn-out – dog and handler
- 2.15pm Dog and owner that look most alike
- 2.30pm Musical sits
- 2.45pm Best biscuit catcher
- 3.00pm Parade and judge’s favourite
Prizes to all who take part (dogs, not handlers) with special commemorative award to the first place (handlers, not dogs). Doggy bag to the overall winner.
