Ottawa, Canada
Dog Friendly Ottawa
Where To Walk And Stay With Your Dog In Ottawa
Ottawa wraps a walkable capital in a Greenbelt of forest and river, and dogs get the run of a lot of it. You can hit the forested trails of Gatineau Park across the river, let them loose at the Greenbelt off-leash areas of Conroy Pit and Bruce Pit, then walk the canal pathways back through the centre. This is our working guide to the best of it, and the certified hotels that genuinely welcome your dog.
Where to walk
Dog Friendly Parks, Trails and Walks in Ottawa
The forest hills, Greenbelt off-leash areas and canal pathways locals actually walk their dogs on. Tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
Gatineau Park
Forested hill trails, Gatineau, one of Ottawa's reliable spots to get the dog out into the open air.
Conroy Pit
Off-leash Greenbelt trails, out in Gloucester, with room for a proper dog walk and a welcome for well-behaved dogs.
Bruce Pit
Off-leash field & pond, Nepean, and a favourite with Ottawa dog owners for an hour out on four legs.
Major's Hill Park
Downtown riverside park, ByWard Market, one of Ottawa's reliable spots to get the dog out into the open air.
Rideau Canal Western Pathway
Canal-side pathway, Central. Bring the lead and give the dog a good stretch in the Ottawa air.
Hampton Park
Fenced neighbourhood dog park, Westboro. Bring the lead and give the dog a good stretch in the Ottawa air.
Mud Lake, Britannia
Conservation nature trails, Britannia, one of Ottawa's reliable spots to get the dog out into the open air.
Andrew Haydon Park
Lakeside city park, out in Nepean, with room for a proper dog walk and a welcome for well-behaved dogs.
Petrie Island
River beaches & trails, Orléans. Bring the lead and give the dog a good stretch in the Ottawa air.
Where to eat and drink
Dog Friendly Bars & Restaurants In Ottawa
Looking for dog friendly bars, restaurants, cafes or taprooms in Ottawa? Here is the honest answer: Canadian health law keeps dogs out of nearly every indoor bar and restaurant in the country, Ottawa included, so in the warmer months a licensed patio is your best bet. It is a rule that badly needs changing, and Let Dogs In is our campaign to welcome well-behaved dogs into Canadian bars and taprooms, the way they already are across Europe.
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Where to stay
The Best Dog Friendly Hotels In Ottawa
Every hotel here has been inspected and ranked against the Dog Friendly Standard. No pay to play, no vague pet friendly badge, just the ones that earned their place, best first.
Dog Friendly Ottawa · Good To Know
Is Ottawa a good city to visit with a dog?
Ottawa is a rewarding city for dog owners, with the NCC Greenbelt's famous off-leash pits, kilometres of riverside pathways and Gatineau Park just across the river. The compromises are public transit, which only takes pets in carriers, and indoor dining, which Canadian health law keeps dog free. If you have a car, or you are happy exploring on foot, the capital treats dogs very well indeed.
Can I take my dog on public transport in Ottawa?
Only small dogs, sadly. OC Transpo allows pets on buses and the O-Train, but they must be secured in a carrier at all times, held on your lap when seated or at your feet when standing. There is no provision for larger leashed dogs, so most visitors with a bigger dog will want a car or a pet friendly taxi. Registered service animals travel freely under Ontario accessibility law.
Where can dogs go off the leash in Ottawa?
Ottawa's off-leash crown jewels are the NCC pits in the Greenbelt. Bruce Pit near Bells Corners is the largest, a fenced former sand pit with grassland and wooded trails, and Conroy Pit in the south end covers more than forty hectares with forest paths and a swimming pond. The NCC also designates off-leash areas at Hampton Park, Pine Hill and elsewhere, and the City of Ottawa runs many smaller designated dog parks. Read signs, as rules vary park to park.
Where are the best dog parks in Ottawa?
Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit are the two everyone talks about, both run by the National Capital Commission and both big enough for a proper run. Bruce Pit has parking, benches and communal water dishes, while Conroy Pit offers dense forest trails and a pond for swimmers. Closer to the centre, Hampton Park has a popular NCC off-leash area. Between them you could visit a different park every day of a week-long stay.
Are dogs allowed in Ottawa restaurants, pubs and bars?
Not in indoor dining rooms, which Canadian health law keeps dog free. Ontario is more progressive than most provinces though. Since 2020 restaurants may welcome dogs on their patios at the owner's discretion, and even indoors at places serving only low-risk items, which is why some Ontario breweries are dog friendly inside. In practice, look for patio season. Let Dogs In, our campaign at letdogsin.com, is fighting to open more doors nationwide.
What dog friendly things can I do in Ottawa?
Walk the pathways along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River, which are beautiful with a leashed dog, then let them loose at Bruce Pit or Conroy Pit. In summer, patios around the ByWard Market and Wellington West increasingly welcome dogs. Cross the river for a hike in Gatineau Park, and in winter seek out the handful of Gatineau trails that still allow leashed dogs. It is an outdoor city, and dogs fit right in.
Are there dog friendly trails or day trips near Ottawa?
Gatineau Park is the classic day trip, fifteen minutes from downtown. From April 15 to November 30 leashed dogs are allowed on most official trails, with a two metre leash limit, though a few trails such as Pink Lake and King Mountain are always dog free. In winter dogs are restricted to a small set of designated walking trails because the rest become ski trails. The Greenbelt's own trail network is a closer, quieter alternative year round.
What are the rules for dogs in Ottawa?
Ottawa's Animal Care and Control By-law requires dogs over four months to be licensed and to wear their current tag, and dogs must be leashed in public except in designated off-leash areas, with a maximum leash length of three metres. Some parks are on-leash only and a few are no-dog zones, so check the signs. Pick up after your dog everywhere. Bylaw officers do patrol the popular parks, and fines apply for breaches.