Two French bulldogs – an adventurous female and her laid-back male mate – will return to Doggy Day Out on March 28 at Ōmokoroa to make more of an impression than last year.
Honey and Winston had just moved to Ōmokoroa, with owners Keith Pace and Ann Barrington-Pace, when they attended their first Doggy Day Out in March 2025.
Not only did they place second-equal in the event’s Dress-Up Competition, they introduced their owners to the Ōmokoroa community and helped them make friends and connections.
Ann Barrington-Pace said 2025’s Doggy Day Out was a real ice-breaker for her, Keith and their 7-year-old pets.
Ann Barrington-Pace, husband Keith, and French Bulldogs Honey and Winston have settled well into their new community of Ōmokoroa thanks to attending to 2025’s Doggy Day Out. Photo / Supplied
“We don’t go out anywhere now without somebody knowing us from that day, or getting to know us,” said Barrington-Pace.
The couple had owned Honey since she was a puppy and went on to foster Winston.
“He was such an amazing dog the first day we picked him up that after two weeks, we said, ‘oh, we’ve definitely got to adopt him!’”
This year’s Doggy Day Out is on tomorrow, March 28, at Ōmokoroa Sportgrounds from 10am-2pm, with dogs, their owners and the wider community invited to the free-entry event hosted by Western Bay of Plenty District Council as the finale to the 2025-2026 Wander Walk series.
Fun and activities galore will be on offer for all who come along. There will be an Amateur Agility Competition and a Sniff & Seek Arena. Western Bay of Plenty’s former dog guru Betty Hall will be back to talk about “Harmony in the Home” when it comes to dogs.
Katikati animal trainer Bex Tasker of Positively Together will offer training tips for four-legged friends. There will be food and doggy stalls and a Dress-Up Woofstock-themed competition. For kids there will be face painting, a photo booth, and arts and crafts.
Barrington-Pace said Western Bay of Plenty’s annual Doggy Day Out had massive value for all community members – dogs, dog owners and even those who don’t own canines.
“[A range of stallholders] give you the opportunity to know what’s available in your community if you have a dog or you’re thinking about getting a dog.
“One thing that came out of it for us was Kiwi housesitting, which is where you have people come and house-sit your property for free but they also look after your dogs for you.
“You’ve also got the value of meeting so many people with different types of breeds and being able to talk to them and gain information.”
Barrington-Pace said Honey and Winston have completely different personalities, however they complement each other well and provide one another with great companionship.
Honey, left, is the adventurous mischief-maker while Winston, right, is very laid-back, nothing phases him. Photo / Guy Rencher
“Honey’s definitely the naughty one. She can be what I’d call a diva. She’s the one that will instigate play,” said Barrington-Pace.
“Any mischievousness, you know, if there’s anything she could get herself into, she’s the one that will do it.”
Whereas Winston is very laid back, said Barrington-Pace.
“He’d be like a sixties dog, if you know what I mean – just so chilled out, nothing bothers him. One thing I would say, if people really can afford it and they’re prepared, is having two dogs is wonderful.”
Barrington-Pace said she encouraged the Western Bay community to attend Doggy Day Out.
“Even if you don’t have a dog, it’s a great place to go if you think you could possibly have a dog one day, you know, just for the value of meeting other people.”
Owning a dog is just about the best kind of therapy any human could ever receive, Barrington-Pace said: “Just the sheer value of how it will lift your spirits … it can just make you feel better.”
As for Honey and Winston, they’re busy trying to inspire Barrington-Pace on costumes for this year’s Dress Up Competition. “
It’s probably gonna be a last-minute make-do – we’ll see …”
Find out more about 2026’s Doggy Day Out at: westernbay.govt.nz/wanderdogs