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Visit Nothe Fort for a whole day of doggy delights on Sunday 7th September 10:30am – 4:00pm

Four-legged fun for the whole family! Featuring:

  • Dog-friendly stalls with treats for all the family, including dog-themed accessories, tasty treats, pet artists and more!
  •  Family Fun Dog Show with prizes
  • A display from Guide Dogs for the Blind West Dorset
  • V.I.Ps Very Important Pooches – Doggy representatives from social media in attendance to showcase the best of dog-friendly Dorset
  • Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Dogs Welcome Business Awards


Family Fun Dog Show

Enter your dog in the Dog Show for a chance to win prizes! £2 Entry for first category entered, and £1 Entry for subsequent categories entered – pay on the day.
Registration will start at 11am. Please register 30 minutes before the judging category begins.

Dog Show Judging Categories:

 Waggiest Tail – judging at 12.00 noon

Golden Oldie – judging at 12.25pm

Fun Trick – judging at 12.50pm

Cutest Puppy – judging at 1.55pm

Assistance Dog – judging at 2.40pm

Young Handler – judging at 3.00pm

And the final category…

The Dog the Judge would like to Take Home!Winner of each category will be automatically entered. – judging at 3.30pm 

Dorset Herbs, Bertie and Wilf Pet Care Services, Lead on Dog Shop, and Hewletts have kindly donated the winners’ prizes.

Rosettes and certificates will be awarded for 1st – 4th places with a special prize for 1st place.

Announcing the 2025 Dogs Welcome Business Award Winners!

The public vote continues for the most dog-welcoming businesses from Weymouth, Portland, Littlemoor, Chickerell, and Upwey. The five finalists of each category have a chance to win a Dogs Welcome Business Award, which will be presented at the Paws 4 Fort Dog Show & Awards event at the Nothe Fort on Sunday 7th September 2025. 

The categories for the Dogs Welcome Business Awards are as follows:

  • Best Dogs Welcome Hospitality
  • Best Dogs Welcome Service Provider
  • Best Dogs Welcome Retail Shop
  • Best Dogs Welcome Visitor Centre
  • Best Dogs Welcome Parks, Gardens, and Open Spaces

VOTE FOR THE FINALISTS HERE: Dogs Welcome Finalists

This round of Final Voting will decide the 2025 Award Winners. Voting will close on Thursday 21st August 2025.

Winners 1st-3rdplace will be announced at the Paws 4 Fort Dog Show and Awards on Sunday 7th September 2025. 

Good luck to all our finalists!

Please see the full event schedule here: https://nothefort.org.uk/events/paws-4-fort-dog-show-awards

Love Dogs West Dorset are proudly sponsoring the Awards all Rosettes, donated for the event.

With special thanks to Precision Engraving, Park Street Weymouth LTD, for their help ordering and engraving the stunning Winner’s Trophies.

Linda Stevenson, the Chair for Love Dogs West Dorset said:

“Love Dogs West Dorset (LDWD) is proud to be partnering with Nothe Fort for their upcoming Paws 4 Fort event. With our shared values and community spirit, it felt like a natural fit.

As an inclusive group for dog owners and lovers, we’re passionate not only about celebrating our four-legged friends but also about protecting the environment we all share. We’re thrilled to be part of this exciting event and can’t wait to see what the future holds for LDWD as we continue to grow and connect with our community.”

This event is covered by your Annual Pass/General Admission ticket price.
Entry to the Dog Show judging categories: £2 Entry for first category entered, and £1 Entry for subsequent categories entered – pay on the day.

About the Event Venue – Nothe Fort

  • Nothe Fort – Barrack Road, Weymouth, DT4 8UF
  • What3Words Location: dogs.claim.nest
  • Parking: Audience parking is available outside the fort at Nothe Car Park (What3Words: mixed.stuck.serve)
  • Seating Provided: There is seating around the Fort and in the Café
  • Food and Drink: The onsite café will be open. Picnics allowed in designated picnic areas.
  • Dogs: Very Welcome! With our joint commitment to reducing carbon footprint, we encourage our dog-owning visitors to park in the old council office car park and use the footpath in Brewery Square to walk their dogs to Nothe Fort.
  • Wheelchair User Access: The venue is wheelchair accessible and has a lift to three floors. All the event activities will be on the Parade Ground level. If you have any access requirements before your visit, please contact Nothe Fort ahead of your visit (01305 766626).
  • Outdoor Event –Please dress accordingly for the weather, this is primarily an outdoor event.