Are you and your dog new to Texas? Welcome to our home state! Whether you’re here as new Texans or vacationers, we’ve got everything you need to know for you and your dog to get settled in the Lone Star State. Click any of the links below for additional information on these topics:
How to Bring Your Dog Into Texas
Information on vaccination requirements and more, whether you’re driving or flying into Texas.
Can Dogs Visit State Parks?
Spoiler alert: you bet! Leashed dogs are welcome at almost every Texas state park with just a few regulations and restrictions. And don’t miss our list of our choice for the top 10 state parks for dogs.
Can I Take My Dog to the Beach in Texas?
Another spoiler alert: grab the dog towel and get ready to enjoy your favorite stretches of Texas’s 367 miles of Gulf beaches! Generally dogs aren’t permitted in designated swim areas like the lifeguard-supervised area at Padre Island National Seashore but otherwise, dogs are permitted on most Gulf beaches year-around. Some require dogs to remain on-leash, some do not.
Can I Take My Dog to a Restaurant in Texas?
Texas has many, many dog-friendly patio restaurants. Rules vary from city to city but one thing remains consistent state-wide: dog-friendly areas are always the outdoor (sometimes covered) patio areas. Only service dogs are permitted inside restaurants.
What Safety Concerns Should I Have?
In case you haven’t already heard, we hate to be the bearer of bad news…but Texas has some critters that you and your dog need to take precautions against, from four kinds of venomous snakes to scorpions to, yes, killer bees.