A utopia for dogs is coming to northwest Wichita

Jeff Tucker has been training dogs on the side for about 25 years, but now he’s making canines his full-time business with the new Barktopia.

The business, which opens Monday at 4086 N. Hoover Road just off K-96 and Hoover, will offer daycare, boarding, training and grooming for dogs.

Initially, the grooming will be limited to baths and nail trims.

“We’re going to expand into full-service grooming probably after the first of the year,” Tucker said.

The 5,200-square-foot business will have an extra 5,000 square feet of outside playing area.

Tucker also is a personal trainer for humans, and he said his clients have been saying for some time that they’d like a place like Barktopia.

So Tucker said he investigated and determined “that there was a need for it in northwest Wichita.”

A dog’s first daycare visit is free, at which time the Barktopia team will do an evaluation and integrate the dog slowly based on age, temperament and size.

Small and big dogs will be kept in separate areas as will geriatric dogs.

There also are premium options with suites that feature raised cots, turn-down service and private play times.

Pricing information is available on Barktopia’s website or its branded app.

Tucker, who has three dogs of his own, thinks he’ll have room to board 40 dogs, and the daycare will be able to hold 50.

He said software will help dial in what dogs’ likes and dislikes are for boarding.

Tucker said that and the evaluations will set apart Barktopia.

“Really, it’s one-on-one attention.”