You know your dog best — and leaving them at home doesn’t mean you have to miss out!

Paws at the Pictures has been carefully planned to make the experience as comfortable as possible for dogs who would enjoy a busy, social environment. We have worked with experts from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to help you decide whether bringing your dog is right for them.

All dogs are different. Some may enjoy the lively atmosphere, meeting other dogs and people and experiencing something completely new. Others may find a theatre environment busy or overwhelming.

If your dog is uncomfortable in unfamiliar environments, finds crowds or other dogs challenging, is sensitive to noise, or is new to your family and you’re unsure how they would respond, we recommend leaving them happily at home and coming to enjoy the performance without them.

Dogs are an optional extra at Paws at the Pictures — not an entry requirement!

For more advice on reading your dog’s body language, visit this Battersea Dogs & Cats Home advice page: Understanding your dog’s body language | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

If you feel confident that your dog would enjoy the event, please follow the below advice to ensure all dogs and humans are comfortable and enjoy the performance:

• Keep your dog on a short lead (not an extendable one), at all times before, during and after the event.
• Avoid allowing your dog to pull over to other dogs that you don’t know. Even if your dog is usually well behaved, they will be in an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar dogs and people. Combined with the additional noise of the event, this could become overwhelming for your dog.
• Choose a seat along the aisle to allow you to leave easily if needed, the performance will be approximately 45 minutes long.
• Choose a seat not too close to any other dogs and away from the front, where the orchestra will be, to ensure your dogs’ comfort.
• Keep your dog close to you throughout the performance (we recommend they sit at your feet).
• There will be water bowls and some dog beds available, but we recommend you bring your own dog bed and chews, if that would enhance your dogs’ comfort. If you do bring these items to help your dog settle, be mindful of resource around other dogs. If you know your dog has resource issues, then consider leaving these items at home or be cautious of other dogs and people passing their bed.
• Lighting, temperature and noise will all be considered for your dogs’ safety and comfort, but if at any point you or your dog is uncomfortable, stressed or overwhelmed, please head to the comfort break area at the back, outside, or leave the event.

Alice Rotti, Canine Behaviour and Training Lead from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said:

“We want all the dogs and their owners to enjoy Paws at the Pictures, so we encourage people to take measures to ensure their dog is relaxed and happy. Remember, all dogs are different, and there’s no pressure to take part in anything they’re not keen on.

Of course, if your dog did start to display signs of stress, such as lip licking, increased vigilance or restlessness, panting heavily, tail tucked under, continuous barking, keeping their ears back, yawning or increased tension in the body and face, that’s a sign that you need to take them to the quiet area, such as outside the building, or consider taking them home to unwind.

Carrot Productions have planned the event to be comfortable for dogs in attendance, but it will be a loud, busy and bustling environment. Being a great dog owner means knowing their needs well and advocating for them, so we encourage everyone to consider this before bringing their dog along.

We hope that all those who attend Paws at the Pictures enjoy this unique event!”

Bringing a dog – at a glance

If you decide your dog would enjoy Paws at the Pictures:

• Please purchase a £5 dog ticket when booking, as numbers are strictly limited.
• Keep your dog on a short lead at all times.
• Give other dogs plenty of space.
• Consider choosing an aisle seat so you can easily step out if necessary.
• Bring anything familiar that may help your dog settle.
• A comfort-break area will be available.
• If your dog becomes uncomfortable or overwhelmed at any point, please take them somewhere quieter.

Not bringing a dog? None of the above applies — just book your tickets and enjoy the show!

PRE EVENT INFORMATION

This event takes place in person in our Grand Hall. This space is on the ground floor, with step-free access via a lift.

If you have booked a ticket you will receive an email from us before your performance detailing important information about your visit.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

This event will be Relaxed. We invite you to make yourself comfortable and move around if you need to and if you need to leave the event at any point you will be allowed to return to the space when you feel ready.

VISIT OUR ACCESS PAGE