A pawsome day out as DogFest 2026 brings thousands of pooches to Harewood House

Dogs were everywhere you looked at DogFest 2026, from tiny pups to giant breeds, agility stars to four-legged party animals.

Harewood House was transformed into a paradise for dogs and their owners as thousands descended on the festival for two days packed with treats, shopping, walks and plenty of wagging tails.

For festival-goer Paul Beardsley, the event was the perfect place to let his energetic Labrador Dolly burn off some energy.

Dolly, who was named after the late country music icon Dolly Parton, joined Paul for the DogFest walk and spent the day meeting plenty of new friends.

“She’s been absolutely loving meeting all the other dogs,” he said.

“She’s dog crazy, so it’s been a fantastic event for her. I think I’ve seen every breed of dog here!”

Paul’s favourite attraction was the iconic dog ball pit- although he wasn’t convinced Dolly could be trusted in it.

“If I let her off the lead in that, she would just go crazy and there would be no more balls left in the arena!” he joked.

Some dogs were showing off their skills, with rescue dog Leotee taking part in agility demonstrations over the two days.

Owner Rebekah Moulson said the highlight of the day was getting a clear round with Leotee, who can be nervous around people and unfamiliar surroundings.

“She makes me so proud every time she goes around that agility pitch, she is just amazing” Rebekah told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

There was also a Yorkshire twist on dog walking at the festival, with Billy’s Bus offering four-legged passengers a rather more luxurious journey.

The converted bus is a fresh approach to dog walking, giving dogs their own seats by the windows, with music, snuffle mats and toys on board before they are taken out for the day for a walk and to play.

Sharon Telford, from Billy’s Bus, said some of their regular dogs recognised the vehicle immediately when they arrived at DogFest.

“They’ve literally flown onto the bus, and then wondered why I’m not driving!” she said.

Meanwhile, celebrity chef James Martin was among the famous faces at the festival, returning to Yorkshire with his own dog, Cooper.

“It feels great to be back home in Yorkshire, Harewood House is a pretty special place,” he told the YEP.

“It’s been a crazy two days, but the weather has stayed good for us, and it’s been amazing.”

“If you’re interested in dogs, then this is definitely the place to be in Yorkshire this weekend,” he told us.

Cooper even got involved in the action, taking to the agility course over the weekend.

But perhaps the biggest celebration of the day belonged to Amy Lewis and her dog Ingrid, who won the Best Trick competition for the fourth year in a row.

The pair add a new trick to their routine every year, with Amy saying they try to have fun, while encouraging other owners to give tricks a go themselves.

“We know that everyone can do it, it just takes a bit of hard work,” she told the YEP.

And there was even more reason to cheer this year as it was Ingrid’s fifth birthday!

Away from the competitions, visitors could take part in everything from breed meet-ups to a doggy slip and slide, and, of course, the much-loved ball pit.

Independent dog businesses filled the stalls, while food and drink kept the humans going and puppicinos proved a popular choice for their four-legged companions.

With dogs of every shape, size and breed roaming the grounds, it was difficult to find a corner of the festival without a wagging tail.

As someone who has spent their entire life without a furry friend, I left Harewood House wanting one more than ever.