By Cheng Anqi (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-08-24 09:39

Parents chat or man the barbecue, while their young charges splash about in the pool, or play games on the lush lawns. It's a typical scene for a summer pool party -- but with a difference. All the "babies" at this gathering are those of the canine kind.

Beijing's Coolbaby Pet Theme Park is proof of the pet mania now gripping the city. Celebrities and diplomats are among those bringing their furry friends to the Chaoyang Park venue for the ultimate in pampering.

Coolbaby has a large doggy swimming pool, an adventure playground and obstacle course, and even a beauty salon for your pretty pooch. Pet owners -- or "moms" and "dads" -- can also host all-day birthday parties for their four-legged friends.

Covering 60,000 square meters on the eastern side of the park, Coolbaby is a mecca for the city's ever-growing community of pet lovers. The grounds boast lodging for dogs in the form of lovely wooden cabins, a fountain, small bridges, and even a mini-train. Beach umbrellas and colorful rocking chairs line the pool, which has proved to be the most popular pooch attraction this summer.

This is a place for owners to socialize, exchanging cute tales of their charges while the puppies run free in the large off-leash area, where music is broadcast through speakers.

Admission costs 10 yuan, and evening is primetime for hounds to hangout. They chase each other while their owners stretch out in the shade, or fuss with doggie snacks.

Garden parties for pets and friends can be booked at 150 yuan for the day.

The park also provides longer term lodging, and training courses to teach dogs skills to rival their star counterparts in movies such as Firehouse Dog and 101 Dalmatians.

Dogs staying in the park go through a series of sessions each day, with training programs tailor-made to suit your pet's temperament.

"We don't schedule the classes for dogs at the same time, but arrange them according to dogs' specific timetables at home," said park manager Li Peisi.

"Like people, dogs don't learn in the same manner, so we tailor the training to meet the needs of individual dogs."

Li says every dog has a "high point" during the day, which affects how it should be trained. Typically, 10-15 minutes swimming gets them warmed up for field training, he says.

Dogs learn to follow commands to sit, lie, stand, wait and follow. They are toilet trained and know to refuse food from strangers.

Doggy lodgings are top-class, in air-conditioned wooden cabins. Five bright, clean cabins house four doghouses each, plus a TV, closet, lockers and a water dispenser. Trainers sleep in a wooden bunk bed fixed right over the dogs' kennels.

Owners are taught how to ensure their dog maintains its skills on completing the program. Trainers can also arrange home visits should little Lele need some one-on-one coaching.

Since opening last year, the park has attracted pet-loving stars, like actress Jiang Wenli and radio anchorwoman Liu Sijia. Celebrities often bring their purebred darlings to stay at Coolbaby while they are away on location. Diplomats from nearby embassies have also sent their pets and watchdogs to be professionally trained.

Coolbaby will host a pet carnival from October 3 to 5, with obedience displays and competitions including diving, swimming, Frisbee, and even a special doggy triathlon. The pets will be divided into categories, including sporting, hound, terrier, toy and herding.

A vet service is also available at the park, and sale of purebred puppies can be arranged with advance notice.

Lodging costs 80 yuan per day for small dogs, or 120 yuan per day for large dogs. Obedience training costs 4,000 yuan, or 7,200 yuan for a 2-month field training course.

For more info please visit www.kdpark.com.

Location: Coolbaby Pet Theme Park, east gate of Chaoyang Park, 1 Chaoyang Nanlu, Chaoyang District.

To get there: take bus No 988, 973 or 657 to get off at Chaoyang Gongyuan Dongmen (Chaoyang Park East Gate).

Tel: 6500-6281.