Pawsitively Elgin isn’t like other dog festivals.
First, it’s in a conservation area so ready-made trails and camping opportunities are nearby. Second, it’s in the rural town of Aylmer, away from busy big city congestion. No traffic jams on the way there – what a relief.
During one of the many heat advisories this summer, hundreds of dogs and their people – including me and my dog Victor – strolled into the Springwater Conservation Area at $12 per car to participate in Pawsitively Elgin on July 27, 2019.
At this annual dog-friendly event, vendors spread out under trees creating a walking distance between each – making for a comfortably spacious experience for my reactive aging pup. More space meant less dogs running into Victor’s face. Plus, he spent some time in his stroller thanks to his ACL injury.
Other mobile dogs gave the lure course a try. With help from a trainer, some cautiously nudged toward tunnels and teeter totters at the agility course and water-lovers tried dock diving – off an actual dock into the conservation site’s river.
People who brought swim suits, hung out on the people beach.
But mostly the day was about the dogs, and here’s what’s noticeable about the regional pet industry: a lot of people are making home-made all-natural pet treats; even more are making pet collars and matching bandanas. There’s a lot of rescue organizations out there looking for donations.
Stay tuned for Pawlooza coverage and maybe we’ll see you in London, Ontario on August 17, 2019. Hopefully, we’ll stay overnight in the Elgin region and investigate what’s dog friendly in London-adjacent St. Thomas. Maybe the historic train?
Other up-coming exciting dog events include the annual Kingston Sheep Dog Trials August 9 to 11, 2019 (check out our coverage here). For the first time, we’ll be attending the annual Wiener-Paw-Looza in Hamilton, Ontario, August 10, 2019.
