Lola's Fancy Dog Party

by Kimberly Schlegel

Kicking off the "Dog Days" of a Dallas summer, Allison Hopkins and I hosted a gathering of my Chihuahua Lola's fabulous four-legged friends (and their owners) for an afternoon of frolic and fun in the garden. Inspired by the unique bond that exists among dog owners, we gathered 50 fellow pooch lovers to celebrate that special relationship. The party also served as a thank-you to our faithful furry companions for the joy they bring into our lives. Consider it our version of a slobbery lick on the lips.

Dog Details

Lola loves my mother's garden, so it was easy to choose the venue. And, unlike traditional garden parties, there are no set rules for a doggie garden party, so we were able to be creative with the structure. With the vast array of activities we had in mind, and taking into consideration the socializing that would occur with that many canines gathered together, we kept the event to two hours on a Sunday afternoon.


The decor was done in pink ‑- Lola's favorite color. Tables were dressed in pink tablecloths draped with pastel flowers and ribbons, and Lola chose to wear a wreath of pink roses and ribbons to match. Some of Lola's fashionable friends donned cowboy hats, sunglasses and other canine couture.


Excerpted from The Pleasure of Your Company: Entertaining in High Style by Kimberly Schlegel. Photographs by Stephen Karlisch. 2004. Gibbs Smith, Publisher.

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