The Colony Is a Genuinely Good City for Pet Owners
The Colony has quietly built out a solid collection of off-leash parks, dog-welcoming restaurant patios, and quality pet service businesses that make it easier than most DFW suburbs to live here with a dog. Whether you are new to the city or just looking to get more out of what is already nearby, this guide covers the real spots worth knowing about.
Off-Leash Dog Parks
Pawsome Playground Dog Park
The city’s official off-leash facility at Pawsome Playground Dog Park sits on nearly three acres off East Lake Highlands Drive and is divided into two fenced sections. The small dog area covers 0.85 acres, and the large dog area covers 2.1 acres; both include shaded seating, dog-waste stations, and drinking fountains designed for both dogs and their people. It is a well-maintained, city-run space that holds up on even busy weekend mornings.
Bacon’s Dog Park at The Shacks
Located at The Shacks at Austin Ranch on Windhaven Parkway, Bacon’s Dog Park is open to the public and includes separate fenced areas for large and small breeds, each with benches and play structures. What sets it apart from a standard municipal park is that you can order a craft beer or wine from Grrrowler’s Taproom inside The Shacks and have it delivered directly to the dog park — a genuinely convenient touch for anyone spending a long afternoon there.
Pet-Friendly Patios and Dining
The Colony has a handful of spots where dogs are genuinely welcome rather than merely tolerated, and several of them are concentrated in two distinct areas of the city.
The Shacks at Austin Ranch
The Shacks on Windhaven Parkway brings together six restaurants under a shared open-air concept with a raised patio that overlooks the one-acre dog park below. You can keep your dog with you tableside on the patio or let them play in the park while you eat — the elevated sightlines make it easy to do both at once. It is one of the more thoughtfully designed pet-friendly dining experiences in the area.
Grrrowler’s Tap Room and Beer Garden
Grrrowler’s, located inside The Shacks at Austin Ranch, is a family-owned taproom with more than 25 taps and over 45 packaged beers available, along with wines and other beverages. The outdoor beer garden connects to the surrounding restaurant patios and overlooks the shaded dog park, making it a natural anchor for a longer visit to The Shacks with your dog.
Truck Yard — The Colony
Truck Yard on Grove Lane operates as an open-air beer garden and American grill with rotating food trucks, free live music daily, and a large outdoor space where dogs are welcome. The atmosphere is relaxed and come-as-you-are, which suits dog owners well — there is enough room for your dog to settle in without feeling cramped, and the food and drink options give you plenty of reasons to stay a while.
Seven Doors Kitchen and Cocktails
Seven Doors at Grandscape offers a modern American menu with chef-inspired shared plates and a confirmed pet-friendly patio overlooking the Grotto at Grandscape. The outdoor seating accommodates up to 100 guests and is equipped with misters for summer and heat for cooler months, which extends its usefulness across more of the year than a typical uncovered patio would.
Gas Monkey Icehouse
Gas Monkey Icehouse in The Colony brings a sports bar atmosphere with nearly 30 craft beers on tap, a full food menu, and a large covered patio that is confirmed pet-friendly. It is a practical choice when you want to catch a game outside without leaving your dog at home.
Trails With Your Dog
The Colony Shoreline Trail runs along Lewisville Lake and offers a free, accessible option for leashed dogs and their owners. The Tribute Shoreline Trail section includes a designated wildlife habitat area that preserves native plants and wildflowers along the route. Dogs are required to be on leash, but the lakefront scenery makes it one of the more scenic walks available in the city.
Pet Services Worth Knowing
Paw Oasis Pet Resort and Spa
Paw Oasis Pet Resort and Spa on Windhaven Parkway is a boutique facility offering daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, training, and spa services for both dogs and cats. The property includes more than 30,000 square feet of artificial turf spread across five play yards and a bone-shaped swimming pool reserved for dogs — details that make it stand out from standard boarding options in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Colony have an off-leash dog park?
Yes. Pawsome Playground Dog Park at 4800 E Lake Highlands Drive is the city’s official off-leash facility, with separate fenced areas for small and large dogs, shaded seating, waste stations, and water fountains for dogs and people.
Are dogs allowed at The Shacks at Austin Ranch?
Dogs are welcome at The Shacks, both in the public Bacon’s Dog Park on the property and on the adjacent restaurant patios. Grrrowler’s Taproom will even deliver drinks to you while you are in the dog park.
What pet-friendly restaurants are there in The Colony?
Confirmed pet-friendly patio options include The Shacks at Austin Ranch, Grrrowler’s Tap Room, Truck Yard, Seven Doors Kitchen and Cocktails at Grandscape, and Gas Monkey Icehouse. It is always worth calling ahead to confirm current policies before you visit.
Where can I board or groom my dog in The Colony?
Paw Oasis Pet Resort and Spa on Windhaven Parkway offers boarding, daycare, grooming, training, and spa services for dogs and cats, with a large outdoor play area and an on-site swimming pool for dogs.
