🐕🦺Fun, fur & frolics🐶
Our second Friends of Wandsworth Common Dog Show is on Sunday Sep 7th (timings & details below). Encouraged by last year’s success, we aim to make this year’s even better, expertly advised by Rebecca at The City Dog Club and the Events team from Enable, who manage the Common on behalf of Wandsworth Council.
The show will look a bit different this year, opposite the Hope Pub and in a self-contained area to include all facilities - food, drink, loos etc. (but please bring your own water and keep cup). This is to ensure that numbers don’t exceed 499 (as per the event license) and to minimise the need for crossing Bellevue Road, although that will, of course, still be possible.
The show recognises the importance of dogs and their owners to the life of the Common, the increase in dog ownership since the pandemic, and our desire to engage with owners and their dogs, dog walkers etc. for the benefit of all users of the Common.
Browse the 2024 photo gallery [login as friends@wandsworthcommon.org p/w FriendsDogShow2024]
2025 TIMETABLE
early-10.00am: 🎪 Set-up of the ring, gazebos and exhibitors’ stands
10.00am-12noon: 📝 Registration: £4 per dog per class (see below)
12-4pm: 🥳 The Show!! 🐶🐕🦺🐕🐩
10 great categories with space for 30 dogs in each, a final ‘Best in Show’, plus ‘The dog I’d most like to photograph’ from all the dogs present. Fabulous prizes too!
Two 15 minute taster training sessions with Rebecca from City Dog Club
NB ☕ Bellevue Pizza, Bonsai café and The Hope pub will be offering special discounts on the day. Just ask.
c4pm: Set-down of gazebos, stands etc.
AWARD CATEGORIES WITH FABULOUS PRIZES
Best adult dog (3-7 years) 🐩
Best puppy (up to 2 years) 🐶
Dog most like its owner! 🤓
Best child handler under 10 years of age 🐕
Best junior handler 10-16 years of age 🐕🦺
Best trick 🦴
Best senior dog (8 years and over) 🐕
Best rescue dog 🐾
Best loose lead 🐕🦺
The dog I’d most like to paint 🎨
The dog I’d most like to photograph (no registration required 📷- judging takes place throughout the day)
Best in Show 🤩
2025 SPONSORS, EXHIBITORS & JUDGES
We are incredibly grateful to our Master of Ceremonies (MC), Isaac Fanin and our lineup of lovely judges, all of whom are local and many of whom will be known to you, either by face, name, reputation - or all three! They have all given their time for free and many have provided the wonderful prizes you are hoping to win!
We are also extremely grateful to our many generous sponsors, many of whom are also our judges, listed below, who have kindly donated fabulous prizes and some of whom will be exhibiting on the day. We urge you please to pay exhibitors’ stalls a visit to learn what they have to offer, to learn something about your dog that you didn’t know, or need to find out, or to get something for your dog (or someone else) that you either need or would like.
Special thanks also to Stuart Serjent of Serjent Design for our fliers, banners etc and Amanda Summons who will be our official photographer and available for private work as she roams the show to choose the day’s most photogenic dog.
Last but not least, huge thanks to Rebecca Byrne of City Dog Club, a well established local trainer without whose knowledge, guidance, encouragement and support the show would not have been possible
LINE UP……..🐕🐶🐕🦺🐩
Master of Ceremonies (MC), Isaac Fanin, BBC Sport Presenter https://x.com/isaac_fanin
OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS (S), WONDERFUL JUDGES (J) and EXHIBITORS (E)
Amanda Summons Creative (S & J): Official photographer and prize for the most photogenic dog - a 30 min photo shoot for your pooch (& you??) amandasummons.com
Beco Pets (S): A great selection of low environmental impact dog toys and treats https://becopets.com
Bellevue Pharmacy (J): Hassan returns to judge Best Trick https://www.instagram.com/13bellevuepharmacy
Bonsai Espresso Room (S) 10% d/c food & drink on the day https://wp7.awssys.co.uk/
Butternut Box (S & E): www.butternutbox.com
Carter Jonas (S & E): https://www.carterjonas.co.uk/estate-agents/london/wandsworth-common
City Dog Club (S): www.thecitydog.co.uk
Dog and Groom (S & E): https://www.dogandgroomshop.com/
D-O-G grooming studio (S): https://www.doggroomingstudio.net/
Holly Frean, Artist (S, J & E): https://www.hollyfrean.com/dogs
Hope Pub (S & E): 10% d/c food & drink on the day TheHopePub
JJ Club (S & E): thejjclub.co.uk
Knight Frank (S & E): knightfrank.co.uk
Lara Roberts Fine Art & Pet Portraits (S &E): lararoberts.co.uk
London Vet (S, J & E): thelondonvet.co.uk
MuthaPuppa (S, J & E): https://www.muthapuppa.com/cart - online shop and weekend stall outside Gails, Northcote Road - on a mission to rescue dogs.
Open Air Fit (S): https://openairfit.com/
Pizza Bellevue (S): 10% d/c food & drink on the day pizzabellevue.com
Rampton Baseley (S & E): www.ramptonbaseley.com
Reg & Bob (S): www.regandbob.com
RSPCA (J & E): rspca.org.uk
Simon Ratcliffe (J): BasementJaxx
Skylark Cafe (S): SkylarkCafe.co.uk
Urban Vet, Earlsfield (S, J & E): theurbanvet.co.uk
Wandsworth Borough Council Animal Welfare/dogs team (J & E)
https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/environment/animals-and-pests/dog-control/
Wandsworth Borough Council Parks Police (J)
https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-police/
Wolfe Vets (S & E): wolfevets.co.uk
Food & drink for humans & dogs:
The Hope Pub
The Coffee Community www.thecoffeecommunity.co.uk
Gelato Amareno gelato_amerana
Mutha Puppa dog treats
ENJOY!
Dogs and their owners are important users of the Common and can be a welcome sight for all if a few simple rules are followed. Mostly they are but sometimes they’re not: warnings to dog owners are the second most frequent type of warning from the police issued on the Common. The annual Dog Show aims to encourage responsible dog ownership.
The bye-laws state that dogs must be under control at all time. Legally, this means if a dog is off its leash, it must obey its owner after a maximum of three commands.
Familiarise yourself with the Council’s dog control map for the Common. They show where dogs are excluded (all playgrounds and the cricket field) or must be on a leash (the area north of the tennis courts). Obey the signs.
Specific rules apply to dogs in the lake/ponds. Dogs must be on a leash when near the lake/ponds and should not enter the water (puddles are okay though). This is because dogs can disturb, injure and even kill wildfowl, including swans, and especially their offspring. They muddy the water, making it difficult for plants to flourish. Most important, anti-flea treatments are devastating to aquatic life, as explained HERE by London vet Sean McCormack on BBC Springwatch, with a guide from two local vets The London Vet and The Urban Vet on how to respond. The water is also not as clean as it may seem!
It is an offence under the bye-laws not to pick up your dog’s mess. Put it in the red bins provided or, as these are phased out, ordinary waste bins (but NOT the recycling bins please). Dog poo contains bacteria and parasites that are harmful to people and wildlife.
An individual may not walk more than four dogs at one time without a license. A dog walking license restricts the number of dogs walked to a maximum of six. No new licenses are being issued. If you are walking with other people, these maximum numbers apply to the group.
Please be aware that breaches of any byelaw may result in a FPN (fixed penalty notice) or even a summons. Full details of the law applying to dogs in Wandsworth greenspaces are available here