Arnos Grove's Canine Capers Dog Show returns Saturday 26th September

26th July 2015

By Lesley Kitching a memeber of the Friends of Arnos Park 

Do you watch ‘For the Love of Dogs’, Secret Life of Dogs’ or the ‘Dog Rescuers’? Are you the owner of a dog or are you interested to see how our canine friends are trained to help us?

Saturday September 26th will see the second dog show ’Canine Capers’ take place in Arnos Park. Last year Cholmley and his best friend, David Burrowes MP opened the show. Luck was on our side as the sun shone and local residence watched the British Transport Police Dog section displayed how well trained canine colleagues perform their duties. Happy Dogs showed a different aspect of our four legged friends’ skills as they performed to music and demonstrated how obedient they can be in the right hands.

Village vets judged the Prettiest Girls, Handsomest Boy, The Best rescue and of course the cutest puppy, while the Dog’s Trust were on hand to chip any dogs who hadn’t been lucky enough to have a unique identity chip. Canine entrants also competed for the prize of ‘Fastest dog in the North’ (of London), encouraged by their two legged owners.

This year we will be expanding the show to include Hearing Dogs and PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals). We also hope that PAT (Pets as Therapy) and Pets for the Disabled will be joining us. In addition, Jollyes (Food store), Groom Art Academy, PCA Pet Services (Pet taxi and ambulance), Rural art and Antiquity, face painting and a range of food stalls will be in place.

Let your dog experience an agility course, with Elmtree Dog Training and Education (Happy Dogs). If you have any questions about dog training and obedience, Park Guard will be happy to help.

If you want to enter your dog for the show, register by visiting Village Vets in Southgate, by the Green; call into Arnos Park in the morning between 8.00– 10.00 from the 23rd September, or arrive in the park from 12.00 on the Saturday 26th September and register before enjoying the stalls and stands . The show starts at 2.00 p.m. with a demonstration by drug and explosive search dogs.

General Park update:

Walking through Arnos Park, you may well be aware of changes which have gradually been taking place. The Groundsman, together with the Friends of Arnos Park have ‘discovered’ flowerbeds alongside the path, which is lined by Acacia trees. Having removed brambles, weeds and wild garlic, and cut the overgrown shrubs to shape, the latter are now flowering and the beds are being stocked with new perennials.

Move on towards the old playground, which has lain derelict for the last 5 years, and you will discover a new fruit orchard has been planted and raised beds containing fruit bushes and vegetables have been set up. Soon, two new hives will be full of bees making honey from wild flowers in the area.

Come along on the last Saturday of each month and you will see the Friends working to make Arnos ‘bloom’ once again. You can join us for a cup of coffee or give us some of your time to help improve the facilities.