The vast majority of dogs are well-behaved, social creatures who probably enjoy being outdoors and getting all the attention they receive at festivals. It's a shame that a minority of irresponsible owners ruin it for the majority.

I have sympathy with a crying child - up to a point. If the parents don't deal with the situation, and expect everyone else's indulgence while they don't remove their child from the concert, my sympathy evaporates pretty quickly. And then there were the kids running around blowing loud whistles at an outdoor Bellowhead gig a few years ago...when I asked the parents to get them to stop, the response was, "Well, they're children. What do you expect?" Funnily enough, I expect to be able to listen to the music at a music festival.

Dogs, children and grown-ups happily share lots of other public spaces. It seems that a bit more consideration on the part of owners and parents could mean everyone can happily share festivals as well.