Suffolk’s favourite date in the canine calendar returns to the stunning surrounding of Helmingham Hall on July 31st and organisers at Suffolk Community Foundation are planning a very special event for all the family with a distinctly royal flavour. With anticipated crowds of over 6,000 people and their pooches expected, Suffolk dog lovers affectionately known as ‘The Woofers’ will take to the stunning Suffolk countryside for furry frolics on two legs and four. In celebration of HM Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, hundreds of Suffolk dog lovers have already cast their votes online as the search continues to discover which breeds will make up ‘The Royal Seven’. The winning breeds will then be invited to take to the show rings in special purple carpet parades.
Classes will include a Royal Red, White & Blue fancy dress competition and the return of many of Suffolk Dog Day furry favourites including Suffolk’s next Top Model, Bad Hair Day, For Your Eyes Only, Best Movement and Two of a Kind. Doggy demonstrations will include Canine Massage, Dog Grooming, Skinners Nutrition, Behavioural Dog Training and Headway’s Brain Dogs Projects with the ‘Have A Go Zone’ including flyball, beat the clock agility and ‘Dog Bale’ and ‘Water’ Scurries.
We are really honoured that Suffolk Dog Day has been invited to make its return to Helmingham as part of The Festival of Suffolk and HM Queen’s special celebrations. We are going to sprinkle some stardust, spread some happiness, raise vital funds for Suffolk charities and make the whole day a right royal affair!
Adding the stardust will be Blue Peter and Crufts broadcasting legend Peter Purves, former About Anglia presenter and novelist Christine Webber, BBC Radio Suffolk’s Mark Murphy and Luke Deal and Suffolk’s very own Royal Ballet star Gary Avis MBE appearing as presenters and special guest judges in the Helmingham and Suffolk Rings. Suffolk Dog Day, sponsored by Skinner’s Pet Foods and Poundgates, has always donated every penny raised to support Suffolk charities, over £600,000 over the past 12 years. All dog owners know what happiness a hound can bring, but particularly during the pandemic, our four-legged friends have provided an important life-line for many people of all ages. This year ‘The Poundgates Happy Hub’ will be providing a chill out area and showcasing the great work of three Suffolk charities who bring happiness to all corners of the county, including ‘Our Special Friends’ a really special charity who have the power of animal companionship at the heart of everything they do.
Everyone has pulled together to make sure that this is our best Suffolk Dog Day ever! We see families returning year after year, but with so many people owning a dog for the first-time during lockdown, we look forward to seeing lots of new faces. Owning a dog seems to remove all the barriers and our day at Helmingham is always a wonderful community celebration. This isn’t Crufts, it’s not about doggy excellence in that way – it’s an event by the people of Suffolk for the people of Suffolk, It’s ‘pawfectly’ timed to get people out and about.
We are so pleased that our sponsors and volunteers are returning to help us deliver the day, we wouldn’t exist without their support and it’s really humbling to see what an amazing event and special atmosphere they all create for us. Suffolk has waited three long years for Suffolk Dog Day’s return and we look forward to seeing the great big smiles and wagging takes back at Helmingham. This year is going to be a really special one for so many reasons.
