Guide To Dog Friendly Places in Ottawa

I love taking my parent’s golden retrievers on adventures. We’ve done everything from breweries to hikes. With the help of other dog owners in the capital, use this guide to find a fun dog friendly places in Ottawa. If you have ideas to add to the list, make sure to comment below 🙂 

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Tips For Bringing Your Dog

If you don’t have one already, I recommend a car cover for your dog. We use one when we take the family dogs for adventures to stop fur and dirt from going everywhere! We also bring a foldable water bowl for them to drink from.

Make sure to keep it fun for everyone and have your dog on a leash and clean up after them 🙂 

Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Ottawa:

Looking for dog friendly places where you can enjoy a bite? This list is based on personal experience and places sent in by other owners! Make sure to double-check with the restaurant that it’s okay to bring your pup along. Check out my complete guide to Ottawa patios here.

Kichessipi Brewery

It is located on Robertson Road and is a great place to enjoy one of their beers or sodas with nachos or food from the two food trucks on the lot: Ad Mare Seafood or Walking Tacos. 

Standard 

Enjoy a drink and pub food while you and your dog take it easy on their Patio. Once finished, walk up Elgin Street, enjoying the summer weather. 

Margherita 

Delicious Mexican food, a margarita (of course), and a lovely patio with shade for your dog. 

Stray Dog Brewery

Visit Straw Dog Brewery for a dog-friendly taproom and enjoy some of their award-winning beers. 

Driphouse

There is a cozy atmosphere and great food, which you can enjoy with a coffee or cocktail. You can get some work done while your dog takes a snooze under your table. 

Tavern on the Hills/Falls

With a beautiful view of Parliament, the Ottawa River, or the National Art Gallery, you won’t want to leave. Take shade from the sun and have a couple of drinks with your dog and friends. 

Heart & Crown

With multiple locations around Ottawa, the Heart and Crown is a nice place to make the most of the summer weather with your dog and friends. 

Bicycle Craft Brewery

Bring your pup and enjoy a brew in the Bicycle Craft Brewery taproom. Try their Sun Puddle IPA or Frequency Hazy Pale Ale. 

Irene’s Pub

Located on Bank Street, Irene’s Pub offers live entertainment, an impressive list of whiskeys, and a secret patio where you can bring your dog. 

Umbrella Bar

Located in Dow’s Lake Pavillion, you and your pup will love this bar. It has a great ambiance and delicious food for you to try. 

Black Dog Manotick

The perfect location for casual dining and a drink on their patio. Need help to make it to the patio? Take home one of their frozen meals and some baked or frozen items from their bakery. 

King Eddy

All your diner favourites and a patio for you and your dog to enjoy the meal. We also heard that sometimes, they give your pup bacon. 

Moon Room

Found in Little Italy, this lounge offers the relaxing outdoor environment you sought. Sipping a drink with your dog by your side, you’ll feel like you’re in your backyard. 

Stittsville Food Truck Tour

Check out my guide to a Stittsville food truck tour for a fun place to bring your dog in Ottawa. All of the food trucks have outdoor seating, so it would be easy to grab a bite with your pup. 

Know more dog-friendly patios in Ottawa? Comment them below! 

Puppy Cones in Ottawa: 

Carp Custom Creamery

The perfect place to take your pup. You can purchase a cone or tub of ice cream and a pup cone for your dog. I’m a big fan of their Dulce de Leche. 

Jojo’s Creameria 

Bring your dog to Jojo’s Creameria in the heart of Stittsville for a puppy Cone. Behind the food truck, there is plenty of seating and plenty of fun Instagram-worthy cones you’ll want to try yourself.

Unique Dog-Friendly Activities in Ottawa

Robert Plante Greenhouse

Bring your pup to this picturesque greenhouse to help you choose a plant or two for your home. Feel like you’ve escaped somewhere tropical with your dog. 

Apple Picking

There are a few dog-friendly apple orchards in Ottawa, making apple picking the perfect dog-friendly activity for September. Check out my full guide to apple picking here.

Pumpkin Picking 

Embrace fall by picking pumpkins for a fun dog friendly activity with your pup. Get a cute photo together and enjoy the festive fun. I have a full guide to pumpkin picking in Ottawa, including dog-friendly ones. 

Dog-Friendly Events in Ottawa

For fun dog friendly places in Ottawa, why not check out a local event! Here are some fun ones to start with:

• Bring your pup to the Canadian Tulip Festival and admire the flowers. Check out my guide to the best places to see the tulips here. 
• Go for a stroll to see the cherry blossoms in Ottawa. Check out my guide of where to find the blossoms here. 
• Ottawa Christmas Market—This event can get packed, so I recommend going at an off-hour if you’re bringing your dog to avoid the crowds. 

Visit a Farmer’s Market

Farmers Markets are wonderful dog friendly places in Ottawa. Get our pup and explore local vendors at:

• Lansdowne Market
• Barrhaven Market
• Westboro Market
• Orleans Market 
• Carp Farmers Market (check out my Carp guide for more ideas for your visit)

Parks In Ottawa to Bring Your Dog

Arboretum

This park offers a wide variety of plants and trees to explore. Relax on the grass or under a tree with your pup and a good book by the water. 

Sheila McKee Park

This scenic spot is a great place to go for a run along the beach or to walk and enjoy the wildflowers. 

Stanley Park

This park has a big off-leash area for your dog and a nice spot to enjoy the Ottawa River with a book. 

Majors Hill Park

A gorgeous location to enjoy with your dog and a short walk to Tavern on the Hills, where your dog is also welcome on their patio. 

Green Belt

The NCC has plenty of dog-friendly trails on the green belt. Dogs are allowed on leash on the trails from from April 15th to Nov. 30th. Here are Green Belt Trails to check out with your dog: 

Shirleys Bay 

This is a beautiful area along the Ottawa River. You can bring dogs on Trails 10 and 12

Stony Swamp 

Stony Swamp is a network of wetlands and forests. You can bring dogs on trails 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29.  Lime Kiln (25) is one of my favourites, where you can see ruins on the trail. Bruce Pit is a year-round off-leash dog area. 

Southern Farm and Piney Forest 

Southern Farm and Piney Forest Trails have 6.4 km of trails passing through farms and forests. Dogs are allowed on trails 31 and 32. 

Pine Grove Trails

Pine Grove Trails has 18.4 km of hiking trails through a towering forest. Dogs are allowed on trails 43, Pine Grove Forest Trail, 44, and 45. The trail system also includes Conroy Pit, a year-round off-leash dog area. 

Mer Bleu 

Mer Bleu Trails is a unique ecological area in Ottawa with bogs and interesting landscapes. Dogs are allowed on trails 51, 50, 53.

Green’s Creek Trails

Green’s Creek Trails has  5.5 kilometres of trails that wind through terrain formed by clay and postglacial deposits. Dogs are allowed on trail 63. 

Multi-Use Pathways

Dogs are allowed year-round on Watts Creek Pathway, Greenbelt Pathway West, Ottawa River Pathway, and Greenbelt Pathway East.

Parks Near Ottawa to Bring Your Dog

Gatineau Park

Dogs are allowed on these Gatineau Park trails year-round:

• Sugarbush Trail (Chelsea – Gatineau Park Visitor Centre)
• Lauriault Trail (Mackenzie King Estate – P6)
• Pioneers Trail (Hull sector of Gatineau – P3)
• Capital Pathway (Hull sector of Gatineau – P1/P3)

From April 15th to November 30th, dogs are allowed on most officially recognized trails. They are NOT allowed on Pink Lake, King Mountain, Luskville Falls, or Equestrian. 

Morris Island Conservation Area

This is one of my favourite hiking places in the capital. Walk through a network of islands with your dog for incredible views. I have a full guide on Morris Island Conservation here. On your way home, stop at the Carp Creamery with your pup. 

Mill of Kintail

Another favourite dog-friendly activity near Ottawa is Mill of Kintail. Enjoy a riverside walk with a beautiful mill and network of trails. We’ve brought the dogs here many times. Check out my guide to Almonte for more ideas while you’re in the town. 

Blueberry Mountain

This is a gorgeous lookout near Ottawa. Use caution, though, because there are steep drop-offs. I don’t recommend this spot if your dog pulls on a leash. 

It looks like we’re on the edge below but I found a flat spot we could sit for a while.

Ontario Provincial Parks 

Check out my guide to Ontario Parks near Ottawa. I’ve indicated which are dog-friendly, including which have dog beaches. This is a great option for a day trip or camping. 

Dog-Friendly Hotels in Ottawa 

Here’s a list of dog-friendly hotels in Ottawa perfect for a staycation or vacation for you and your pup:

• Westin Ottawa
• Holiday Inn Downtown
• Hilton Garden Inn Airport
• Arc the Hotel 
• Alt Hotel
• Delta Hotels by Mariott Ottawa City Centre
• Fairmont Chateau Laurier
• Andaz Ottawa
• The Metcalfe
• Ottawa Mariott Hotel
• Sheraton Ottawa
• Novotel Ottawa City Centre
• Le Germain

Doggy Daycare: The Pup’s Place 

Are you out for a long day and can’t bring your dog? Bring your dog to The Pup’s Place. It’s a great chance for your dog to get some exercise and socialize with other dogs. You can drop off your dog for the morning, the afternoon, or the whole day. 

My sister loves bringing the family dogs here, and they always have a blast! 

Have more dog-friendly places you’d like to add to the list? Comment them below!