August full of opportunities to party with your dog in Wichita

It’s the dog days of summer, which may explain why so many dog-centered activities are clawing their way onto the Wichita calendar.

During the next several weeks, dog lovers can party with their pooches in a bar, hang out with them at a dog to-do at a health food store and get them wet at local swimming pools and water parks.

Following is a guide to the events designed in August with Wichita’s four-legged friends in mind.

▪ Hooches and Pooches at Barleycorn’s, 608 E. Douglas: Dogs and their people can have a drink together on Saturday, Aug. 6, inside Barleycorn’s. The bar will be the site of a fundraiser/concert that was dreamed up by Megan Ballway, a dog owner and the general manager at ABC Liquor at Central and Woodlawn. She wanted to put on a fundraising event that would attract people who couldn’t afford the $100-plus tickets most charity fundraisers require. Money from this event will go to the dog rescue group LAPP.

Doors open at 4 p.m., and dogs are welcome in the bar until 6 p.m., as long as they’re leashed and up-to-date on their vaccines. The event will include a lineup of eight bands, including Keen Kutter and Sunshine the Bunny, and the music will start about 6 p.m. The bar will have Tito’s vodka drinks for sale, and part of the proceeds from sale of those drinks will also go to LAPP. There will be raffle items and doggie swag from Tito’s, and Big Apple food truck will be serving outside the bar. Admission is a suggested $10 donation.

▪ Dog Days at Green Acres: The dog parties thrown by the Green Acres in Kansas City have been such a howling success that the Wichita store at 8141 E. 21st St. has decided to try one, too, said marketing manager Linzi Mainz. The store’s Dog Days event happens from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and will include a dog costume contest, $20 microchipping, caricature portraits and grilled hot dogs and toppings for sale. Dogs won’t be allowed in the store, but there’s plenty of room to party on the patio out front. Admission is free. Green Acres hopes to make the party an annual event.

▪ Hot Dawgs Pool Party: The Bel Aire community pool at 7350 E. Central is putting on its fourth annual dog swim from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15. Admission is $5 a dog, and only two dogs per person are allowed. The first 100 dogs in the pool will get treats from the Dog Treatery, and there will also be doggie contests and prizes in categories like hairiest dog, smallest dog, largest dog, best trick and best dressed.

▪ Pooch Pool Party: Rock River Rapids, the big water park at 1900 E. James in Derby, will end its season on Aug. 20 by letting dogs splash around. Human swim season will have ended, and the pool will have adjusted the chemicals to make the pool Fido-friendly. Dog owners must be 16 to get in the water and can only wade in up to their thighs. Dogs must have current vaccinations, and only two dogs per guest will be allowed. The event will include door prizes as well as prizes for the best-dressed dog, the hairiest dog, the largest dog and the smallest dog. It will last from 1:30 to 4 p.m., and admission is $5 a dog.

▪ Dog Days of Summer: Wichita also has a dog swim day, and it’s Aug. 22 at College Hill Pool, 304 S. Circle Drive. The event will start at 4:45 p.m., and dogs 25 pounds and under can swim by themselves until 5:15 p.m. The event opens for dogs of all sizes starting at 5:15 p.m. People will be allowed in the water only up to their knees, and children will not be allowed in the pool. All dogs must be leashed, though they can be released in the pool or while participating in the long jump contest, Frisbee catch or largest/smallest dog contests. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 a dog, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Kansas Humane Society. Only two dogs per owner will be permitted.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 6:58 AM with the headline "August full of opportunities to party with your dog in Wichita."