Whether you’re new to Austin or born and raised, you know that Austinites love their dogs. In fact, Austin is one of the top ten most dog friendly cities in the U.S. It could have to do with the year round warm weather, endless amounts of parks and trails, or the fact that many Austin bars and restaurants welcome our furry friends. For those new to Austin or new to pet ownership here are some of YWA’s pet related recommendations.
Dog Boarding/Daycare
Austin Dogtown (South Congress)
Not only can they keep your dog overnight, but they also provide grooming and daycare services. Austin Dogtown is female owned and has been in business for over a decade.
“We don’t travel that often but when we do we love this place and would not go anywhere else if we have to leave our pup. The owners and staff have always been obvious dog lovers and we especially enjoy keeping up with the photos posted on Instagram and Facebook while we are away.” – Tori P.
Howl n’ Woof (Slaughter Ln)
Howl n’ Woof provides daycare, lodging, and training. The playgroups are always supervised by trained staff that actively ensure healthy play. Each staff member is also certified in pet First Aid and CPR.
“Howl N Woof has been such a relief for us. They greet our pup by name and he always comes back exhausted but happy. I know my Peanut is taken care of, and that he always has a safe and clean place to go when I won’t be home!” – Sara S.
Dogtopia (Multiple Locations)
Dogtopia has four locations in Austin and dozens of locations all around the country. They want to provide your dog with safe socialization so that they meet and play with like-minded friends, exercise to keep them healthy and extend their lives and education to help ensure they are well-behaved both at home and when you take them out in public. They provide daycare, boarding, and spa services.
“Dogtopia’s staff has been diligent in ensuring our pup has a fabulous day each time we bring him! They know us by name, are attentive, kind, and dog obsessed!” – Samantha D.
Taurus Academy (South Lamar)
Compassionate, personalized care for all pets. They provide daycare, boarding, and spa services for your pets. Their pricing is affordable and they have been working with Austin-area dogs and their families for over twenty years.
“Drop off and pick up at Taurus are both super convenient and they take great care of my mini Aussie, Ruby. On my last trip out of town I signed up to receive a daily photo and report card, and seeing what Ruby was up to made me feel assured she was having fun.” – Allyson K.
Vets
Bluebonnet (Three locations in Austin)
The doctors and staff at Bluebonnet Animal Hospital strive each and every day to deliver the highest standard in veterinary care and help you make the best decisions regarding your pet’s health by keeping you informed and in-touch with your best friend’s needs.
“I was able to get in within a week, which wasn’t possible with other vets I tried calling. They also printed out information about all the questions I asked and gave me inexpensive recommendations for my dogs medications. Super helpful!” – Melissa M.
Paz (Four Locations in Austin)
Paz will research and implement whatever style or mode of medicine it takes to get your pet happy, healthy, and hanging out with you again. They’re familiar with a vast line of therapies, from Chinese herbals to laser therapy and everything in between.
“We selected Paz as our veterinarian when we moved to Austin because our pup is scared of new people. The practitioners at Paz are fear certified, and they really understood our dog’s behavior and met him on his level. Paz went the extra mile turning our annual vet visit into something that was full of tail wagging and licks!” – Katie C.
ZippiVet (Four locations in the Austin area)
ZippiVet has streamlined their scheduling and operations so you see a doctor in no time. But once you’re in, they take time to get to know you and develop a personal treatment plan for your pet. They offer telehealth consults to their clients so you can skip a trip to a physical location.
“My partner and I love using ZippiVet for our two cats, Churro and Kimchi! Making appointments is super easy with lots of availability and they’re happy to fit us in for emergencies when needed. As a first time pet owner, it’s hard to know if something is worth a vet visit or if it’s something I can take care of myself. The folks at ZippiVet are always reassuring and helpful. I can call anytime with questions and they always have helpful suggestions. They always tell us they love seeing Churro and she’s one of their favorite patients!” – Liz M.
Dog Trainers
A team of certified behavior consultants and professional dog trainers have created courses to teach your dog everything they need to know. They specialize in both the prevention and successful resolution of behavioral issues. Whether you have a brand new puppy, a rowdy adolescent, an older dog, or an out of control dog, Conscious Dog Training can help.
“I absolutely love the positive dog training they offer. I have never gotten such useful, specific and encouraging advice on my dog training. The amount of free content they provide to help people is amazing. The level of support from the paid service is awesome. I was hesitant to do an online training program but Puppies in the wild has great real time support and feedback. Better than the local in person training I have done.” – Stacey A.
Every Dog is a women-led nonprofit dedicated to providing inclusive, accessible dog training and behavior resources to the Austin community. They believe that everyone should have access to professional, ethical dog training and behavior support. They want to reach the thousands of dogs in our area who don’t currently receive qualified behavior support, often due to finances, language barriers, or accessibility.
“They do virtual, in person, webinars etc. Lots of great stuff” – Haverly D.
Wild Dogs uses simple, balanced training methods in order to help your dog channel their “wild” instincts, all while building trust and communication with you. Their mission is to help your dog have more freedom to roam, explore and adventure.
“I LOVE wild dogs – Morgan is amazing and she was also the most affordable of all the trainers I looked at. We did two week board and train with her” – Eileen D.
What sets The Naked Dog apart from other dog-care businesses is their relationship-based approach that takes place in real world scenarios. Whether we are at your house doing a training session, boarding your dog in our home or hiking the pack on the trails, they are always interacting with the dogs in a way that reinforces a calm, obedient mindset.
“We used The Naked Dog to help our anxious pup! Can’t recommend them enough. We specifically worked with Haley on their team” – Sara S.
Pet Supply
Tomlinson’s. (16 locations in Austin)
Tomlinson’s is a great local option with all kinds of programs to save you time and money. If you become a Pet Club member ($7.50/year) you save 10% on pet food purchases. They specialize in holistic, natural They also have free delivery, and if you opt to autoship you can save an additional 5%.
Pet Supplies Plus (North Austin)
This location offers a self-serve dog wash, a pet clinic, and small animals for purchase like hamsters, fish, and reptiles. They have a huge selection of pet beds, toys, and accessories. They can also do delivery, curbside pickup, and autoship.
Prime Pet (East Austin)
Prime Pet focuses on higher quality toys, food, and supplies for your furry family. They carry only the healthiest foods in the industry while offering a wide selection and a pricing structure that will help you pick the best food for your furry friend without breaking the bank
Dog Parks & Dog Friendly Bars
Neighbors (South Austin)
Neighbors is a dog park and coffee shop in South Austin that offers day passes or monthly memberships. They will soon be adding an East Austin location!
https://www.instagram.com/neighborsatx/
The Watering Bowl (South Austin)
This off leash dog park is also a bar that serves craft beer, seltzers, and wine. Starting at $30/month (or $10 for a day pass) you and your pups can access the space, training classes, and fun events like Pup Trivia and Painting with your Pup.
https://www.instagram.com/thewateringbowlatx/
The Armadillo Den (South Austin)
This outdoor space offers food trucks, a full bar, TV’s to watch sports, and plenty of space for your dogs. They host live music most nights of the week and have an axe throwing station, fenced in dog park, and yard games. It’s free for dogs and will keep you entertained all day.
https://www.instagram.com/armadilloden/?hl=en
Yard Bar (Burnet Rd)
North Austin’s Yard Bar also offers day passes or monthly memberships. They have a full bar and food as well as an off leash dog park. Yard Bar’s calendar is full of breed specific meetups, holiday celebrations, and charitable events.
https://www.instagram.com/yardbar/
