The Watering Bowl

The Watering Bowl is our Happy Place! The pups and us have made friends to last a lifetime. The rufferees are very well trained and active with the dogs. Leslie has so much heart for not just the business itself but the dogs and people that are blessed by it. The events are so fun! Vendors are carefully vetted to bring quality dog loving businesses to the park for events. We appreciate having a groomer on site and the best corn dog truck in town. We've ventured to the other dog parks in the area and are proud to call this one home.

So glad to have the Watering Bowl in south Austin! Lots of room for the pups to sniff and play, there is a small/shy dog area that's a bit smaller. The referees are very attentive and friendly. The menu is great for an attraction like this with teas, beers, wine and snacks for the doggos. Plenty of shade for those summer scorchers, and lots of dog bowls that they keep full and cool. There are misters for the peoples and pools for the dogs. Plenty of seating with patio tables and Adirondack chairs. There are even a couple of port-o-pottys on site as well as a couple of food trucks, a dog groomer and a dog wash station. If you're looking to get your dog out in a safe monitored space where you can enjoy a cold drink in the shade, check out the watering bowl down on 1626, just east of Menachaca. You'll be glad you stopped by!

Such a great place for the dogs! They have mister fans and doggie pools for hot days, lots of shade cover and a dog bath/rinse off area! The staff is awesome, and super helpful with preventing unwanted behaviors among the dogs. I've never seen a questionable interaction escalate because they are ON IT. They also know all of the dogs and how they play. Definitely worth the membership!

I started going to this place in August as a way to catch up with my friend who is also a busy dog parent. Very quickly, the Watering Bowl became a part of mine and my dog’s weekly routine so we bought a monthly membership (huge bargain for what you get)! Leslie and her staff are the most welcoming and helpful people. As with any dog park, there are inherent risks, but the staff is very well-versed in dog behavior and promptly step in whenever they notice a potential issue. My dog and I are always greeted warmly here and it’s quickly becoming one of our favorite places in Austin to hang out!

My dog loves it here. The staff is excellent. This is a very safe and relaxing place for both of us. There is plenty of shade and seating.

This place has been our home for a year now. The rufferees are great and attentive to all dogs. Coming with 2 small dogs that are shy, gave me a bit of anxiety but the owner (Leslie) and the staff have made it so safe for them and for other dogs as well. I recently got a third dog and they welcomed him like he’s been there forever. This place gave us a sense of community that we didn’t know we needed and glad that the atmosphere resembles what they stand for. This is the only place I feel comfortable bringing my dogs to.

Amazing place to bring your dog and socialize with other dog parents! We had an amazing time and Nala had a blast. Clean spot with workers in the yard to prevent any fights (what a huge plus!!). Loved the beer selection, the friendly staff, and above all the experience. Can’t wait to be back!

One of the coolest dog parks that's also a bar. Great place to bring your dog to a outdoor off leash in-closed park. Lots of seats and benches as well as a shaded area. They do charge entry but if you visit a lot, they offer a monthly membership For dogs who are a little shy, they have a small section for them as well. They do have rules such as no treats and dogs have to be up to vaccinations or neutered/spayed. But my dog who tends to be anti social actually enjoyed herself. Staff is very friendly and they also help keep the peace and clean. They constantly refill water with big 10 gallon filtered water bottles. In the heat of summer they have místers on, fans on in the shaded areas, and small pools for dogs to play in. They do serve alcohol here (mainly local breweries) but also offer other kinds of drinks such as energy drinks and such.

I literally have never left a Yelp review but our experience was so wonderful here, I can't not leave a review. Our golden was immediately SO excited. The instructions were so clear and everyone is so nice. They filled up the pools and water with clean water regularly (a very hot one today) and since our golden wouldn't get in the pool to cool down, asked us if they could put on the sprinklers and misters for her. The other dogs loved all three and it was great watching everyone play! Our pup loved all the tennis ball and cooling off in the shade. The rufferees were so on it the entire time! Somewhere along the way our pup tore her paw pads and we alerted the rufferee to see if they had anything we could clean her paws with, as we've never dealt with that. The manager came out, explained the very common injury to us, brought medicine and was overall just amazing. She didn't appear to be in pain or anything but was injured and hot, so we decided to leave. We washed her up and on the way out they checked on us again and let us know our next visit would be free. Totally unnecessary and it was in no way their fault she got injured, just something that happens. She had an absolute blast, we loved it, and the staff really went above and beyond. We will 1000000% be back soon. It really lives up to the reviews!!!

This review is long overdue! There truly aren't words to express the love and feeling of belongingness and family that The Watering Bowl brings. I could yammer on and on about the staff, and I wish I could name each one of them, but they are ALL equally wonderful, attentive, and caring. If they were closer to us, we'd be there multiple times a week. Unlike other dog park/bars in the area who lack shade, structure and community, TWB has it all. We feel so safe there, and never have to worry about our boys getting out, or that someone isn't watching them. There is tons of seating, in different areas, of different types, and the dog wash tub just tops it all off. The bark rangers watch like helicopter moms, which I appreciate so much, and they get to know the pups, their names, and their likes. Our boys put their dirty muddy feet up on the bar shelf, the staff doesn't mind. Our boys jump in the pools, then roll in the mud and come to the staff for butt scratches, again, they don't mind. They work on training with them, they entertain them, and show them such love, it's just amazing. We've had a couple of birthday parties there, we've been to countless events, and we've lost track of the number of mimosas bottles served in dog bowls that we've ordered throughout our time here. Not only that, the park is probably one of the most inclusive, and accepting places in all of Austin. They have had events for the LGBTQ+ community, the deaf community, women, singles, humans only, tons of other awareness groups and even breed-specific days! We've been to other places and the clientele are cold, rude, and closed off. Not here! You can easily strike up a conversation or meet a new friend here, and everyone here is here for the good of the doggos, watching out for each other's babies, complimenting, conversing and having a great time. The Watering Bowl is a true family, in every sense, and we're just lucky enough to be a part of it!

This is a very well organized place to hang out with your dogs and have a beer lots of room for the dogs different areas. You can even wash your dog while you're there. The staff is amazing friendly and definitely knowledgeable of dogs and keeping them in control as well as educating owners, this is my new spot for me and hang out. It's awesome.

I miss The Watering Bowl and my girl too; Stella Blue. Since Day 1 I have been coming here 5 to 7 times a week. Sometimes more. I have estimated Stella Blue has visited The Watering Bowl 600-plus times since opening day. I live now in Alexandria, Virginia and I find it difficult not to be able to enjoy WB with my girl every day. Having her run around like a Deadhead at a show. Picking up her poop by the front fence. lol. Having a cold beer while Stella Blue is having FUN being a dog in a safe environment. There is a scene in Casino where they talk about who sees what and the eye in the sky sees everything. That is me the eye in the sky. I see everything. I walked the perimeter to check the fence for weakness. I noticed that the back gate may be still closed after opening. When the owner was helping a homeless woman with a shopping cart along 1626. I see all the kindness, love, interaction, poop pickup, water changing, proactive behavior, etc, etc with dogs and humans. There is nothing I miss; good or bad. The Staff; past or present are THE BEST. As a group, they are kind, and loving to all the dogs. They take extra care of the new dogs coming in for the first time. They interact and are proactive when dogs are a bit feisty. They prevent situations before they happen. If you want to know what is happening at The Bowl; check their Insta account. https://www.instagram.com/thewateringbowlatx/ Bottom line, The Watering Bowl is a safe dog park with a great staff serving delicious craft beer. Life is good here. Plenty of seating. Misters during those hot Texas days. CC only. Coffee Cart operating during morning hours. Plenty of LOVE. Plenty of FUN. PS There is one complaint. Management allows Baltimore Raven hats to be worn. It should be banned. Green Bay Packers hats are cool. New York JETS hats preferred... THANK YOU WATERING BOWL FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO. YOU GUYS ROCK.

Great relaxing spot to take dogs. Plenty of shade and very nice and helpful staff. They also have a good bar with lots of beer, wine and seltzer choices

Great dog park. Attentive kind staff. Train never bothered me or dogs around me. Staff are on top of any dog aggression. My only complaint is I'm begging you do something about the Wi-fi. It's so horrible I have to turn it off on my device and use cellular. It's so bad you may as well turn it off all together. This has been the case for years now.

The staff are friendly and welcoming. The area is very casual and accepting of all humans and dogs. My dog preferred the pup cup vs the froyo. Plenty of shade and misting fans. A splash pad on terf, plus multiple small blue pools. The water does get changed out in the pools even though it looks dirty... it's just dirty paws It's covered in wood chips, which is so much better than straight up dirt. Weekend hours are 9-9. They do charge a daily, monthly, or yearly entrance fee. This place is part of the Pours for Paws passport for the month of July supporting Austin Pets Alive. Worth checking it out and seeing if it's for you and your pup

My pups and I absolutely love coming to The Watering Bowl! The Watering Bowl is our favorite social dog bar, as not only do the humans get to drink, but so can the dogs! Unlike many other dog bars in Austin, there is ample space for your pups to wrestle, play on the splash pad, and have zoomies. If things get too rough, they also have "rufferees" on patrol.

This place is great! The first time I came it was a hot weekday afternoon and the park was empty, so they gave me a free pass to come back another time, which was a very nice gesture! I don't know what it is about our dog, but he always gets picked on at dog parks. He loves playing with other dogs, but they always get too rough with him. The staff here is on top of everything and they intervene anytime play looks like it might get too intense. This is a huge load off my mind which allows me to relax and just let my dog enjoy himself. So glad the weather is finally turning, because we'll definitely be back!

What a delightful treat for dogs (and dog owners) in South Austin! For a $10 day pass, I couldn't ask for more. (Note: you can also buy monthly and other passes). All of the park staff are very friendly and happy to interact with you and your pup. Plus, the space is huge! A great combination of both shade and sun, with sticks, balls, and water bowls everywhere. There are also plenty of picnic tables to sit at, some suited with heat lamps for those chilly days. The beer and wine bar is a fun bonus! I prefaced this already but I wanted to emphasize how great the park staff are. My pup got a little overstimulated and the rufferee team helped provide an area for him to cool off while promoting a safe environment for all pups! They really understand different dog types with no judgment, and I deeply appreciate how kind and professional they are!

We just moved from Florida and wanted to get our dog out and about to meet some friends. We came here and our pup had the best time. Staff is super attentive to the furry friends in addition to being friendly to the human friends. It's a huge space - lots of room for the dogs to run around. Highly recommend coming by and checking this place out!

Our dog loves this place! We love coming here for a drink and let our dog play with friends. The staff is quick to monitor any "bullying" and any types of behavior that might get one of the dogs too excited.

Such a cool dog park! This is one of the few dog parks that I've been to that was designed with humans in mind as well. I love that it's open space, has different tires and pools for dogs to play in as well as people working there that love the dogs and watch them. There are lots of tables, chairs, wifi, and a bar with beer, wine or cider for people to enjoy. My dog and I both had a great time and I cannot wait to go back!

I'm so excited to see this business open in my neighborhood and wish the Watering Bowl Team years of success. They are off to a fantastic start. Our Stella Blue has such a great time each time we have come. She trots around the large fenced in yard with plenty of room to get in her exercise. There are already a core amount of regulars that pop in so the yard is full of happy pups each time we have come. There is ample picnic table and lawn chair seating for the humans under shade of some of Austin's most beautiful trees or an area with umbrellas too. A great selection of music at just the right volume keeps the yard rocking a great vibe. A small fenced in area for shy and small pups has its own entrance at the front of the park. At night, string lights keep the better part of the yard lit enough to see most of the yard. At night we put a glow collar on Stella just to make sure we always know where she is. Some of the far corners are a bit dark. I am particularly impressed with the attentive Team that proactively observes and steps in where necessary to encourage playful pups to get to know each other and play in a constructive and healthy manner. Very well done. They are always at the ready to ensure the water bowls are strategically placed and full with fresh water and it is evident that everyone working loves what they do. For now there are a bunch of local craft canned beers, ciders and wine available. If you aren't in the mood for that there are also local waters and cold brew coffee available too! Word has it there is a 16 tap in the works coming soon. Every day we come there are new developments. Today's treat is a few table top 4 sided hook and ring toss games that keeps my husband entertained even more than Stella Blue! Keep up the great work guys. We look forward to coming back often and meeting new friends.

Our first time taking our Bella here and she had a blast. I can't recommend this place enough!! Great place to take your dog and you don't have to worry about pet waste not being picked up or aggressive dogs that aren't being corrected. As others mentioned there is plenty of seating and entertainment for the humans (table games, card games) and ample area for the dogs to run around. Menu is pretty straight forward and they have eats and treats for the puppers. Dog park area is nice and secure with balls galore, and a good amount of area for them to run. The thing that makes this place top of the line is the staff. There is plenty of staff members walking around making sure everything is picked up, that no dogs are being aggressive, and they play with your dogs! The owner, Nikki, was super sweet and made sure everyone was warm and having a good time. Only downside was the bathrooms, they are porta-potties, but they were super clean. Will for sure be coming back when we move closer and probably upgrade to the membership.

Did not publish on website that they were closed for maintenance last Monday. Went from north to south Austin to be disappointed.

Literally my dog's favorite place to hangout. Great staff, amazing owner, great selection of drinks to choose from, lots of shade on sunny days, a splash pad and pools for the dogs to splash around in and cool. Overall just the ultimate hangout spot for you and your dog to live their best life. Highly recommend

Dear Owner - we recently checked out your establishment & loved it!!! Gus loved it! We can't get over how much fun your venue is. I loved your beverage selection however my hubby didn't so if you could expand your beers, that would be amazing! He's a big fan of #coronalight or #michelobultra - just a suggestion. Otherwise we highly recommend your dog bar! South Austin (off of 1626) = coolest area.

Our pup loves The Watering Bowl! Lots of shade trees, picnic tables and swimming pools to keep your dog cool. Our dog enjoys playing with her dog buddies as well as socializing with the all the humans. We enjoy hanging out with a cool beverage and watching all of the dogs have fun. All of the staff are super friendly and know us by name. There are plenty of rufferies around to make sure that fights don't break out. It's a great experience all the way around.

We love it here! We are monthly members and bring our dog Escher often. It is perfectly shaded and sunny, lots of fun interactive things to do with your dog. South Austin desperately needed a dog park like this, so it's nice to have a space so close to the house that fulfills this need. The staff are very friendly and hands on with all aspects of the business. I can tell that their heart and soul went into making this place a reality.

This is a super new spot that I can already tell will easily make its way in the heart of Austinites. I mean, what's not to love? It's a dog park plus drinks! Mix in friendly staff to that and you have the perfect hang out spot. You can tell the dogs love being there and that the staff care about the dogs. Wish them all the luck and success in the days, weeks, years to come! :)

This place is the best. The owner and staff are all incredibly friendly, and know exactly what they are doing. We were apprehensive to let our dog run free on a busy weekend day, but we were put at ease very quickly by watching how their team operates. Soon enough, the misses and I were enjoying some adult beverages under a shady tree while our dog was making new friends. Highly recommend.

Nala and I always feel welcome here. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the area well maintained, and the socialization (for Nala and myself) is great after spending so much time at home over the past couple of years. Highly recommend.

What a great concept! South Austin has needed a spot like this for years. I love that there is staff ("rufferees" I think they were called) to ensure the dogs are well cared for while the dog moms and dads relax and imbibe. I am very excited to see the class and training offerings and I love that they give non-profits a venue to showcase what they have to offer. I only wish there was some sort of happy hour. Either way, we will definitely be bringing Georgia back!

I've been taking my dog Charlie to the Water Bowl in S. Austin for about 6 months. We both love this business and the people who work there, and here are ten reasons why: 1. Everyone who works there loves dogs, are patient with dogs, are kind to dogs, pet dogs, and treat all dogs with respect.... and they're nice to people too. 2. Charlie (Aussiedoodle) always has a great time playing with other dogs there. It's a great way for this young guy to burn off some energy. 3. There are supervisors for the dog play, so you never have to worry about another dog getting rough or inappropriate with your dog. 4. Doggie daycare was a great add--Charlie gets to play with his best friends when he goes and comes home exhausted from all the fun. 5. Charlie has learned socialization with dogs now, so I don't have to worry about him overhelming or being overwhelmed by dogs he hasn't met before. 6. You can get beverages (including adult beverages) to sip while you chill out and enjoy the crazy dog parade you see very time you go! 7. You can wash your dog for FREE if you want to--so easy! 8. The price is right! Especially the monthly membership. 9. The area is open with trees and even in this deadly summer heat, there is usually a bit of a breeze. 10. I leave the Watering Bowl relaxed and with a happy, tired out dog

What a great place. We took our 2 older dogs here for the 1st time today. Super friendly, attentive staff and they have "ruffarees" out there mixing with the dogs to make sure the dogs are doing well and they feed them little treats. Very clean, spacious, and they said they expect to have a food truck next month. Great beer selection and the price is right too.

It was my first visit to this location the set up and dog play area was nice. My issue is that there was some staff that I feel needed to learn some better bed side manner. When I go to new locations with my pets I like to introduce them slowing. The person at the entrance gate seems very impatient and came off rude and harsh when I was talking my time to introduce my dog to a new place. I am not on hundred percent sure if I will being going back.