Big ones, small ones, hairy ones, heartbreakingly cute ones, yappy ones, docile ones, pups, pedigrees, working dogs and mutts all seem to get along fine at the Scottish Game Fair. From Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th July at Scone Palace, Perthshire, the Scottish Game Fair is a fantastic family day out, whatever your interests – hunting, shooting, fishing, shopping, food, crafts, displays or pipe bands – but it is a veritable Mecca for dog lovers, or indeed dogs. Over 30,000 people visit the Fair every year, and, although they have never been officially counted, there must be at least 5000 canine visitors too, plus all the gundogs, terriers and other breeds who actually participate in the events. Splendid looking specimens of well-groomed elegance happily rub shoulders with dishevelled scruffy types – a bit like the human visitors really.

There is no dress code at the Fair, for pets or people, and tweeds and walking sticks look equally at home with high fashion and designer labels, although sensible footwear is a must, but try telling that to some of the elegant ladies in impossibly high heels. In the sunshine, and it is almost always sunny at the Fair, the pets, like their owners, pose and preen and eye each other up with approving or disapproving looks, apart from the ones with tails held high who haughtily strut past with not so much as a raised eyebrow, as if they hadn’t noticed all the others. And if it ever rains, which is highly unusual and unlikely in Scotland in the summer, amidst a sea of umbrellas, hats, raincoats and wellies you can’t help but laugh as the owners lead their bedraggled pets through the mud with dripping hair and black bellies – the dogs that is, not the owners. Dogs are well catered for at the Fair – there are plenty of doggy bags (no, not the kind you want to carry your food in) and fresh water provided at frequent points.

Organisers are keen to stress that owners must not leave their pooches in their cars at any time, not even if the window is open, as the poor animals overheat, dehydrate and can become quite ill fairly quickly. Indeed the rule applies to young children too. Dogs must also be kept on leads and under proper control at all times, plus cleaned up after. One is reminded of the old cartoon which shows a man scooping up his dog’s poop, while the dog remarks to another ‘Human beings have some really disgusting habits.’

If you fancy treating your four legged friend to a present, there is plenty to choose from. Alongside trade stands selling everything from clothing, sporting equipment, crafts, furniture and footwear to holidays, you will find fashions for doggies too, plus beds, kennels, food, toys, leads, collars, cages, guards, chews and nutritional products as well as pet care advice. Among the ‘performing’ dogs, both inside and outside the main ring, there are competitions to see how clever they are, or how agile. You can marvel at the well-trained gundogs demonstrating their skills, including obedience and ability to retrieve objects under challenging conditions, or you can laugh at your own dog’s hilarious attempts to follow similar tasks in the scurry, which is open to all (dogs that is). One of the agility tests makes up the Scottish heat of a national competition and there are other team events and tests, with prizes for all types of dogs and their handlers, including juniors.

The extremely popular terrier racing is well worth a look for its comic appeal – a whole bunch of miniature four legged creatures, no bigger than a pyjama case themselves, running hell for leather after a wee fluffy thing and yelping and barking like there’s no tomorrow. Why are they so angry? There’s always at least one which runs in the opposite direction or wanders around bewildered, wondering what all the fuss is about. Visitors to the Fair just love the dogs – even the funny looking ones which resemble aliens from another planet – and, as any dog owner knows, they are real ice breakers. Complete strangers speak to each other, laugh at the antics of their respective pets, compliment each other on their behaviour and ooh and aah at the pretty little pups.

Last year one utterly gorgeous tiny blond labrador puppy, only weeks old, who was being carried everywhere by his owner, became a little excited by it all and jumped out of the strong arms which were protecting him. The poor little mite broke his leg and the sympathy he evoked from the crowd was overwhelming. He was well looked after by the Fair’s vet though, and made a full recovery. Of course the Scottish Game Fair, which is sponsored by Artemis, has more to offer than just dogs. A great day out for all ages and cultures, in the the beautiful parkland of Scone Palace, there is a vast range of activities, entertainment and stalls to satisfy everyone’s interests.

For the active types, there’s a climbing wall, archery, clay pigeon shooting, fly casting, 4-wheel driving and other pursuits to keep them happy. The not so active can soak up the atmosphere by listening to the pipe bands or watching the dogs, falconry, tug-o-war and even dancing sheep, which are new to this year’s Fair. Shoppers can buy everything from cashmere knitwear to jam, holidays to welly boots, equipment for hunting, shooting and fishing to fashion, fine art and furniture. The food tent is always a popular attraction for visitors, who shop for the best in seafood, game, meat, poultry, cakes and preservatives, while enjoying a few fresh oysters and taking tips from the cookery demos.

The craft tent is perfect for buying gifts or just treating yourself. There is also a huge choice of places to eat – either for sit down meals or to grab a snack on the way past. The delicious wafting smells of sizzling, barbecued venison burgers, steak sandwiches, Arbroath smokies and other tasty temptations make it difficult to walk past the food on offer. How do the dogs cope?

The serious side of the Fair is to inform and educate the public about game and wildlife in Scotland, and the work of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. The aims of the GWCT are to demonstrate the importance of game and its contribution to the Scottish countryside, educate members of the public of all ages, and raise funds for further research into Scotland’s game and other wildlife. Those who are interested in learning more will find a host of informative and entertaining information at the Fair, for children as well as adults. The dogs are just a bonus.

fieldfacts

Scottish Game Fair, Scone Palace, Perthshire. 3, 4, 5 July.

www.scottishfair.com