If you are a dog, Austin is the place to live. We have 12 dog parks and numerous trails and lakes that are all dog friendly. Restaurants will let you hang out on the patio and even give you a few treats and a bowl of water while you hang out in the sun.

There is even a self serve dog wash (which is the coolest idea ever). You can put your filthy dog in a little metal bathtub, and scrub away and then use the blow dryers that are provided. It is only $12 and I think that is well spent. Better than cleaning your own bathtub or using the hose.

Down south by Central Market there is a bakery that caters to dogs. The Groovy dog Bakery makes cute little paw shaped cookies in many flavors just for your mutt. My son thinks this would be better suited for LA, but hey, it works for them.

There are numerous doggy Day Care centers around town where you can drop your mutt for the day or week and they will be completely entertained. Do they have these for children yet?

Austin is a great town for dog lovers. They are welcomed on a lot of outdoor patios around town. There are trails galore and Austin’s laid back feeling has people squeezing their pets into more and more places. Yes, life is good for a dog in Austin.

Other cities brag about their welcoming attitudes toward dogs and dog owners. Dog Fancy magazine recently proclaimed that, if you’re a dog, Chicago is the best city in the United States. To determine the rankings, the magazine took into account such factors as the number of dog parks, efforts to reduce euthanasia and the availability of dog trainers. Austin ranked only sixth, one spot behind Houston.

Here’s a list of Austin’s 12 official leash-free parks. Only two of the parks, the Norwood Estate and the West Austin Dog Park on West 10th Street, are fully enclosed by fencing. For more information, see www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/dogparks.htm.