When I moved to the Dallas area in 1996, opportunities to do things with your dog - other than attending a training class - didn't really exist. How times have changed - for the better! Today's pet parents want to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee, or a night out, with their furry best friend. Luckily businesses have embraced the concept and now there's no shortage of dining, shopping, exercising and drinking establishments where Fido is as welcome as you are.
Being a dog trainer, as well as a pet photographer, I tend to be people's "go to resource" for all things dog related so I'm always on the lookout for the latest and greatest places in and around the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex where pups are welcome. Here's a run down of a just a few of the many dog-friendly eateries and destinations in and around Dallas, Texas.
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Breakfast With Your Pup
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for both you and your pooch so don't leave him behind. These places not only get great reviews, they're also dog-friendly and known for spoiling their four legged clients - no yolk (sorry, I couldn't resist).
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Dream Cafe located at 2811 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
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Yolk Preston Center located at 8315 Westchester Dr, Dallas, TX 75225
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La La Land Kind Cafe located at 5626 Bell Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
And one more just outside of Dallas, but still located in the DFW metroplex
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The Aussie Grind located at 3930 Preston Rd #120, Frisco, TX 75035 (I'm headed there this weekend for a flat white!)
Retail Therapy At The Dallas Farmers Market
The Dallas Farmers Market is more than just fruits and vegetables. Way more. It's also a great dog-friendly destination in the city. Over the years The Dallas Farmers Market has evolved into a small complex where you can purchase regional produce and artisanal food products along with handcrafted goods made by local artists.
The Market & Shops are open seven days a week from 10am - 7pm and The Shed Open Air Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 9am-5pm and Sundays from 10am-5pm. You
Their official pet policy is: "We love your furry friends, so bring them to the Dallas Farmers Market on leashes. Dogs are welcome in The Shed and on The Market patios. Please be courteous of others and BYOB (bring your own bag) to clean up after your adorable pet" so be a good human, bring bags and clean up after your pet.
Stretch Your Legs On The Katy Trail
You've eaten and shopped, now it's time to let Fido stretch his legs and one of the best places to do that is on the historic Katy Trail. Once an abandoned railroad line, the Katy Trail is now one of the most iconic destinations in Dallas with over 1.5 million visitors a year that stroll, jog, bike ride or dog walk the beautiful 3.5 miles of maintained paths.
The Katy Trail website tells us "the history of the Katy Trail stretches back nearly a hundred years to the age of railroads. Union Pacific Railroad built the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and established the network in 1865 as the Southern Branch.
The route was also commonly called the K-T, and eventually the Katy. Following the heyday of the railroad, Union Pacific donated the abandoned lines to the city of Dallas in 1993. The initial plan for the historic Katy rail line was to use it as part of the DART line; however, in the mid 1990s, a group of passionate neighbors and local businesses proposed that the line be converted into the beautiful greenbelt you see today." The trail's maintenance is privately funded by the Friends of the Katy Trail nonprofit group.
Belly Up To The Bar With Your Dog
What's better than enjoying an ice cold beer or tangy margarita on a warm, summer afternoon? Doing it with your dog of course! As the Dallas skyline has changed over the past 26 years I've lived here, so has the vibe of the city.
I remember when I first moved here, downtown Dallas was a ghost town after 9pm when all the businessmen finished dinner at the few swanky city restaurants. Nobody really lived in the city center. That's definitely changed and now the city boasts a number of hip neighborhoods like Uptown and the Bishop Arts and Design Districts that attract younger crowds which has driven the growth of businesses to serve them like the following bars and restaurants where dogs are welcome.
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Mutts Canine Cantina located at 2889 Cityplace West Blvd Dallas, TX 75204 (combo off-leash dog park and beer garden)
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Katy Trail Ice House located at 3127 Routh Street, Dallas, TX 75201
And two bonus spots just outside of downtown Dallas:
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Lazy Dog Restaurant located at 5100 Belt Line Rd, Addison, TX 75254
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The Shacks at Austin Ranch located at 5800 Windhaven Pkwy The Colony, TX 75056