Coast and Country Canines Dogs’ Day Out 2026

Entry to Dogs’ Day Out is free, though normal parking charges will apply within the country park. All we ask is that you make responsible decisions for your dog and your surroundings throughout the day.

The main parking areas are at Barnfield and Toplands, where you’ll also find toilet facilities and pay stations. You can find more details about parking, including charges, on the River Hamble Country Park website.

We recommend a maximum of two dogs per handler.

Dogs must stay on lead while walking around the event area.

You will need a lead, collar and/or harness for your dog, as well as poo bags and treats. We will have water bowls dotted around, but you may want to bring your own. The event ground is uneven in places, so we advise sturdy footwear.

If your dog is nervous of other dogs and new people, it may be kindest to leave them at home with a trusted friend. You can always bring them back something nice!

If you think your dog will be comfortable attending Dogs’ Day Out, keep an eye on their body language throughout the day to make sure they are happy at all times. We’ll have helpful signs dotted around to help you read your dog’s body language, and you can always ask a member of staff for help if you are unsure.

Before touching/feeding/approaching an unknown dog, please check with the owner that this is okay. Try to give other visitors and their dogs plenty of space as you walk around.

There is some uneven ground in the event areas, including grass and gravel. If you plan on exploring the country park, you can follow network of well-surfaced trails with benches located along the routes. The Barn at Barnfield offers the best starting point for visitors with wheelchairs and pushchairs. From the tarmac car park, you can follow a trail past The Barn through the woodland and along the riverside.

Children and families are very welcome at Dogs’ Day Out. Please ensure that children are supervised by an adult at all times, and that they do not approach, feed or touch dogs they do not know. Find out more about keeping kids safe around dogs on the Kids Around Dogs website.

The Barn has accessible toilets that are open for use during The Barn’s opening hours, and Toplands car park also has toilet facilities.

We strongly advise against the use of prong collars, shock collars (sometimes called e-collars), choke chains, slip leads, or any other kinds of aversive equipment at our event. These tools pose safety risks and fall outside of our ethical guidelines, so we kindly ask that you leave them at home. You are welcome to join us using a standard collar or harness, and we are happy to discuss why we take this stance and ethical alternatives.