McKinney, Texas, is a great place for everyone in the family, including the four-legged family members. The next time you decide to head out on the town, you don’t have to leave your dog at home. Instead, load your furry friend into the car and check out these awesome dog-friendly activities in McKinney.
Bonnie Wenk Dog Park
With its all-abilities playground, fitness court, hiking and biking trails, fishing pond, and outdoor amphitheater, the 216-acre Bonnie Wenk Park has something for everyone. Plus, if you want to get outside and enjoy the fresh air with your dog, you can head to the Bonnie Wenk Dog Park. You’ll find a beautifully maintained 2-acre fenced-in park for off-leash fun. The park has separate areas for big and small dogs, so you know your pooch will be able to play with friends its own size.
When the weather is warm, your pup will love cooling down at the doggie splash pad and lapping up the fresh water available for drinking. There are also plenty of large, shady trees where your dog can lay down and relax. Plus, you’ll appreciate the shaded pavilion area where you can escape the heat of the sun. The well-lit dog park is open from dawn to 11 p.m. to accommodate a variety of schedules.
The Canine Cookie Company
If you want to get your pup a special treat, stop by The Canine Cookie Company in the heart of historic downtown McKinney. This local mom-and-pop shop specializes in making delicious, healthy, and all-natural dog cookies for your furry friend. The bakery doesn’t use any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in its handmade treats. The Little Bits are bite-sized treats that are ideal for small dogs and as training treats. If you have a small to medium-sized dog, consider picking up the Nilla Woofers, which are small, round cookies.
The squirrel-shaped cookie was one of the original shapes and is still a popular design. For those peanut butter lovers, pick up a bag of the PupTarts. These tasty treats have a puffed cookie outer shell that’s filled with peanut butter and crimped shut to seal in all the goodness. If you simply can’t decide which treat to get your pet, pick up the sampler bag, which has squirrel and PupTarts cookies. All the cookies are available in pumpkin, chicken, beef, and sweet potato flavors.
If your pup is celebrating a birthday, get an individually sized Pupcake or miniature Puppycake to make the day complete. The shop even has a great selection of toys, leashes, apparel, treat jars, grooming products, and other items you and your dog will love.
Krewe of Barkus
Krewe of Barkus is an annual Mardi Gras festival that has literally gone to the dogs. The event includes costumes, a parade, awards, vendor booths, interactive activities, and more. Each year, Krewe of Barkus picks a new theme for its parade and costume contest. Previous themes have included “Puppies Go Pop-Star,” “A Barkus Salute to Reality TV,” “The Bark-a-Palooza Tour Around the World,” and “Barkus Does Books: A Salute to Our Favorite Characters in Literature.”
Past events have included more than 4,500 spectators watching over 250 dogs strut their stuff in a costume parade as they show off their owners’ creativity. Once the parade is over, be sure to stick around for the judging. Categories include best use of theme, best group, most creative, best dog-owner combo, and best in show.
The Mutt Puddle
Every good dog deserves a little pampering, and The Mutt Puddle is ready to provide the services you need to indulge your pet. If your dog needs to freshen up, but you don’t have enough space at home, you can go to the self-service area at The Mutt Puddle.
You’ll get everything you need to bathe, dry, and brush your pooch. The bathing stations even include cotton swabs, ear-cleaning solution, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and de-shedding tools to help pets look their best. Plus, the staff is always available to answer any questions or offer advice on the best way to wash your dog.
If you don’t have time for the DIY dog wash, you can sign up your dog for a full-service bath designed specifically for its needs. Every bath includes a massaging wash, blow-dry, 15-minute brush out, ear cleaning, and a bow or bandana. You can pick out other enhancements to add to the bath, such as nail clipping or filing, cracked paw treatment, or a blueberry facial that helps clear eye stains. Plus, if your pup ever crosses paths with a skunk, don’t forget that The Mutt Puddle offers a special shampoo treatment to help eliminate the odor.
The Yard
After a long day, sometimes it’s nice to leave the house for some great food, good drinks, and fun games. The next time you decide to go out for the evening, head to The Yard. Located near downtown McKinney and nestled under towering oak trees, The Yard is the ideal place to bring everyone in the family, including your pup. This pet-friendly restaurant has a special dog area where you can eat, drink, and play.
While your dog enjoys a cool drink from the water bowl, you can order one of your favorite meals from the menu. Some of the popular options include Ma’s Fried Chicken Tenders, Big Tex Pork Sandwich, Pa’s Country-Fried Rib-Eye, and the King Ranch Fajitas.
Don’t forget to order a cold drink to go with your meal. The drink menu includes draft beer, tap beer, frozen drinks, spirits, and wines. Once you’re done eating, let your dog relax in the shade while you check out some of the exciting games around The Yard, such as cornhole, ping-pong, giant Connect Four, and more.
At Huffines Hyundai McKinney, we love spending time with our four-legged family members, and these are just some of our favorite dog-friendly activities in the area. Did we miss a place you and your pooch like to go? Please feel free to let us know!
Image via Flickr by donjd2