BARK WEEK: Dallas Chefs and Hospitality Pros Pose With Their Loving Pups

A playful look at the bond between Dallas hospitality pros and their pups

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Published on September 26, 2025 • 1:34 PM MDT

Updated on July 8, 2026 • 9:01 AM MDT

For DiningOut Dallas’ first ever Bark Week, we asked chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals to share photos with their pups. As expected, the result was almost too much cuteness to handle. Get to know a little about the faithful companions of a few of Dallas’ culinary players, and most importantly…what they love to eat.

Kazuhito “Kaz” Mabuchi, Namo

*Kazuhito “Kaz” Mabuchi, the executive chef-partner of Namo, with his dogs Kai and Yuzu. | Photo courtesy of Kazuhito Mabuchi*

Kazuhito “Kaz” Mabuchi, the executive chef-partner of Namo takes his dogs Kai, a Pyrenees-laborador-Corgi mix, and Yuzu, a German Shepherd-laborador mix, for a drive. Mabuchi tells DiningOut the pair love to eat ice cubes.

Leigh Hutchinson, Via Triozzi and Terrazza di Triozzi

*Leigh Hutchinson, the chef-owner of Via Triozzi and Terrazza di Triozzi, with her dogs Scout and Stu. | Photo courtesy of Leigh Hutchinson*

Leigh Hutchinson, the chef-owner of Via Triozzi and Terrazza di Triozzi, poses with Scout, her 15-year-old mutt and Stu, her 1-year-old Australian Shepherd puppy. Hutchinson tells DiningOut that Scout loves crackers and goes nuts when he hears the word, while Stu loves raw veggies that fall from the counter when she is cooking.

Gerard Thompson, Rough Creek Lodge, Ranch, and Resort

*Chef Gerard Thompson of Rough Creek Lodge, Ranch, and Resort with his dog Malbec. | Photo courtesy of Gerard Thompson*

Chef Gerard Thompson of Rough Creek Lodge, Ranch, and Resort strikes a pose with Malbec, his miniature golden doodle. Thompson tells DiningOut Malbec loves avocados.

Lisa Lennox, Mod Motels

Lisa Lennox, co-owner of Mod Hotels, with her dog Lilly. | Photo courtest of Lisa Lennox — *Lisa Lennox, co-owner of Mod Motels, with her dog Lilly. | Photo courtest of Lisa Lennox*

Lisa Lennox, a co-owner of Mod Motels, embraces her dog Lilly, a miniature Australian Shepherd in this photo, but she is also a loving dog mom to another mini Aussie named Trixie.

Cathy Bonner, Mod Motels

Cathy Bonner, co-owner of Mod Hotels, with her puppy Sam. | Photo courtesy of Cathy Bonner — Cathy Bonner, co-owner of Mod Motels, with her puppy Sam. | Photo courtesy of Cathy Bonner

Cathy Bonner, co-owner of Mod Motels, gives big smiles with her puppy Sam. Bonner tells DiningOut Sam is a picky eater, and he only likes one kind of treat, Paul Newman’s Own Jerky Treats.

If you can’t get enough pup content, check out Houston chefs with their dogs at DiningOut Houston, along with plenty of other Bark Week stories.

Megha McSwain Managing Editor

Megha McSwain is the Managing Editor of DiningOut, overseeing editorial content across Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta. Born in Mumbai, India, Megha spent most of her life in Houston and now resides in Colorado. Throughout her career, she has contributed to leading food, travel, and lifestyle publications, including Food Network, Eater, InsideHook, Resy, and Texas Monthly. A trusted voice in food and lifestyle media, Megha also makes regular appearances on local television, appearing on Great Day Houston on KHOU 11 and Texas Today on NBC 5.

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