Chinese Studies - Pet paradise

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CITYLIFE / Weekend & Holiday






Pet paradise


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.























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Eating out: Simply Dali-cious
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