Pups & Pints: The Watering Bowl’s Journey from Idea to Off-Leash Oasis

On a sunny afternoon in 2014, Leslie Paetschow had a simple but powerful thought while wrangling her energetic pup at a local public dog park: “I would pay every cent I had if someone could help me watch my dog so I could relax with a beer on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.”

Several years later, that dream became a reality with the opening of The Watering Bowl, the only outdoor off-leash dog park and bar in South Austin, Texas.

Since opening its gates in October 2021, The Watering Bowl has become a beloved destination for dog lovers looking to unwind. The 20,000-square-foot fenced-in space is complete with splash pads and pools for their furry friends.

But this isn’t just a park and bar—it’s a labor of love and a hub for community connection.

“Being greeted by our four-legged regulars every time they come to the park, there’s something so therapeutic when a dog sees you across the yard and comes bounding over with a big smile to give you kisses and love," Leslie said.

With a mission to help people remember how to think and love like a dog—“in the moment and unconditionally”—The Watering Bowl has grown from a team of eight to 14, a testament to the love and loyalty of its South Austin community.

Their commitment to giving back is evident through fundraisers for local rescues and a bar menu featuring carefully chosen local selections.

Features that Free Up Time for Fun

Running a business that blends hospitality with dog behavior management is no small feat.

“Sometimes it feels like we learn something new about dogs and dog behavior every day,” Leslie said. “Understanding when it's a good time to step in before something escalates is not black and white… Helping educate dog owners who want to know how to understand dogs and dog behaviors better has also been rewarding.”

To support their growing operation, The Watering Bowl turned to Gingr. The software transformed the business's ability to manage operations and deliver a smooth customer experience.

Leslie said the ability to store and handle more data, including dog profile pictures, and log vaccination records took her business out of the "dark ages" (paper files) and into a new, more modern era.

“The automatic reminders for vaccinations coming due and built-in marketing tools have been a great step up as well," she said. "[We also love] being able to allow new customers to register online and submit vaccination records before coming to the park.”

Gingr’s analytics and planning tools have also delivered major benefits, from staff scheduling to better planning and preparation each day.

“Having the ability to track how many dogs come each day gave us valuable data that we use for planning staffing,” she said. “Comparing the number of dogs we see on average each day to the weather really helped us save on excessive labor costs."

Leslie said the Gingr feature her team uses most often are subscriptions and packages. They even run specials and discounts like 15% off hotdogs for hungry pet parents who purchase a membership for their pups, and they spotlight members on their social channels as an extra perk.

Bringing Joy to South Austin One Puppy Playdate at a Time

Ultimately, Gingr has helped The Watering Bowl operate more efficiently and continue its mission of bringing joy to dogs and their humans alike. “It has streamlined records management and data for reporting on business performance,” Leslie said.

From a simple wish for a beer and a break to a bustling off-leash paradise for pups and people alike, The Watering Bowl is living proof that the best businesses start with a practical ideas and succeed with the right tools — made by pet lovers, for pet lovers. Book your demo with Gingr today!