Research by pet food brand Fish4Dogs ranked the region’s top pumpkin patches based on whether dogs are allowed, ticket prices, nearby dog-friendly facilities and visitor reviews.
Hadsham Farm’s Pumpkin Festival, near Banbury, secured second place in the rankings with a score of 6.3 out of 10, behind only Peterley Manor Farm in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.
The festival was praised for its strong visitor ratings, averaging 4.8 out of five on Google Reviews.
Visitors can bring their dogs along while enjoying a range of family-friendly activities, including a Goblin Hunt, scarecrow building, a pumpkin bale maze and a spooky sensory trail.
Tickets cost £6 per person and must be booked in advance.
The festival will run on October 17 and 18, and again from October 24 to 31.
Peterley Manor Farm topped the South East rankings with a score of 7.4 out of 10. The Buckinghamshire attraction offers around 15,000 pumpkins and benefits from 45 dog-friendly hotels and restaurants within a five-mile radius.
Little Fant Farm in Maidstone, Kent, was also awarded a score of 6.3 out of 10, while Rotherwick Pumpkin Patch in Hook, Hampshire, came fourth with 6.1.
Completing the top five was Hallcourt Farm in Midgham, between Newbury and Reading, which scored 5.8 out of 10.
Ryan Whitman, dog expert at Fish4Dogs, said: “Dogs are family, so it’s no surprise dog owners want to bring them along to this season’s spooky festivities.
“Pumpkins aren’t only great for carving scary faces into – they also have a lot of digestive benefits for dogs.
“Packed with fibre, pumpkin is commonly used in dog food to help dogs feel fuller and aid their bowel health.”
However, he warned owners against feeding raw pumpkin to their pets.
He said: “The skin and stems of pumpkins are not digestible and will cause stomach irritation.
“Uncooked pumpkin flesh can also be hard on their digestion, so it’s much safer to give them cooked pumpkin or opt for foods and treats already enriched with pumpkin.”
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