Are you planning a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards but unsure if you can take your dog along? In this blog, we’ll discuss our favorite dog-friendly places at the Fort Worth Stockyards and why it offers great opportunities for socialization.
Dogs are welcome in the common areas
The Stockyards has a dog-friendly policy that allows you to walk your dog in the common areas on leash. This is a great way to provide socialization opportunities as your dog will be exposed to a wide variety of people, pets, and stimuli. This can include:
- Other dogs
- The twice-daily cattle drive
- The wide variety of people of all different ages, sizes, and appearances
- Exposure to loud noises from children
- A large number of pedestrians
Dog-Friendly Activities
Fort Worth Stockyards Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour
The Fort Worth Stockyards Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour is dog-friendly, as all the locations are in public outdoor areas.
The Cattle Drive
You can take your dog to see the cattle drive of 17 Texas Longhorns which occurs twice a day at 11:30am and 4pm.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants
Second Rodeo Brewery
The Second Rodeo Brewery is dog-friendly. They have indoor and outdoor areas, with fans and water bowls available. Second Rodeo Brewery is particularly popular for its signature cocktails, Philly cheesesteaks, craft beers, and live music.
Avoca Coffee Roasters at the Stockyards
The Avoca Coffee Roasters has an outside patio area where you and your dog can relax. Avoca is located right on Mule Alley, where you can see the cattle drive twice a day. Avoca serves drinks including cold brews, iced coffee, and espressos.
Paloma Suerte
Paloma Suerte is a Tex-Mex Restaurant with a dog-friendly patio area. With food including enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas with their signature Muscovy Duck Birria Tacos and Crab Stuffed Gulf Shrimp. Paloma Suerte is also located on Mule Alley with views of the Riverwalk.
Dog-Friendly Hotels
Stockyards Hotel
The Stockyards Hotel is dog-friendly with a $50 non-refundable pet fee. This historic hotel is well known for its Old West architecture and decor.
Hotel Drover
Hotel Drover is dog-friendly, allowing dogs under 75lbs and with a $150 pet fee. They provide dog biscuits, a “Wild Rag”, bowls, pet beds, and leashes. They also offer a dog concierge service that can arrange dog walking or grooming services.
Hyatt Place Fort Worth Historic Stockyards
The Hyatt Place is dog-friendly, with a $100 pet fee for 1 to 6 nights, with prices increasing for longer stays. There is a 50lbs weight limit for individual dogs, and a 75 lbs total weight limit for 2 dogs.
Make the most of your visit
Positive experiences around all of these stimuli will help your dog feel comfortable when out in public, during appointments, and when guests are visiting your home. Remember to make the experience fun, and bring plenty of treats for your dog. We recommend bringing a treat pouch to carry your dog’s preferred snacks. Remember not to overfeed your puppy before taking them out, as you want to make the most of this training opportunity.
Bring a collapsible water bowl for that Dallas heat
We recommend bringing a collapsible water bowl, so your dog can have a drink no matter where you are. For heat safety tips for those hot Dallas summer days, we have published a blog on “How to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Dallas Heat.”
Monitor your dog’s comfort level
You should monitor your dog’s body language for any signs of fear and anxiety when out in public. These signs include if your puppy is stiff, ears back, head lowered, tail tucked in, or back arched. If your puppy is scared or anxious, it is better to take them home. To help with understanding a dog’s body language, we have published a blog on “Identifying Body Language in Dogs”.
For more information on socializing your dog, we have published blogs on “Ways to Safely Socialize Your Puppy” and “How to Socialize a Puppy”. You should always take precautions if you are taking your dog out in public and it isn’t fully vaccinated.
What if my puppy isn’t fully vaccinated?
If your puppy isn’t fully vaccinated, we recommend you consult with your vet before taking them out in public areas. The Fort Worth Stockyards are very busy, and there will likely be multiple dogs visiting when you are there. A puppy who isn’t fully vaccinated should not be exposed to unknown dogs. If you would like your puppy to interact with others, we recommend setting up a puppy play date with dogs that you know.
You should keep your puppy off the grass and make sure they aren’t picking up or chewing anything. After all, puppies like exploring everything with their mouths. Your puppy’s paws should be wiped off before they go home, and you can bring a puppy blanket if you are sitting down at a dog-friendly restaurant for a meal.
We are here to help
The Fort Worth Stockyards are not just a fun place, but a good opportunity for socialization and obedience training. If you have any questions on training or behavioral issues, you can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team. We offer private training programs in your home and local neighborhood, board-and-train retreats, and virtual training programs.
