Endlessly, I have been told by friends that owning a dog is almost like test driving the car to start a family. The early mornings, the dependency, as well as the love that you not only have to give, but will be fortunate enough to receive from your dog, is the closest representation to a parent-child relationship there is.
Our dogs are dependent on us and because of the close bonds we develop with them, they tend to enjoy many of the same activities in life that we do. From sitting down for a healthy, protein-loaded meal to having our backs scratched by our closest friend, to going for a nice long walk through the woods, dogs really are life companions.
Chances are if you’re an exercise enthusiast in Toronto, than your dog will be too and as a result, we need to take care of our dogs the same way we take care of ourselves, by getting them outside and moving.
Although bringing our dogs on our treadmills with us sounds like a good idea:
It is quite often easier said than done…
Since our dogs don’t exactly have the luxury of visiting a warm gym for some good, old-fashioned exercise, braving the cold Canadian winter is there only option. To get to the bottom of this we have to look no further than our friends over at the City of Toronto, Parks and Recreation Department for the solution.
Graciously, our city has placed our pups as a top priority this winter and created designated dog parks in the Toronto area for dog owners and commercial walkers to enjoy.
Listed below are some great places to grab your favorite cup of coffee, your best four-legged friend and get outside this winter to stretch all our legs and make some long lasting memories.
Also, if we at Exercise Toronto.com can recommend anything else to, it would be to bring your camera with you… A classic picture of your dog rolling in the snow never gets old… Enjoy!
View Dog Parks In Toronto in a larger map
North District
Sherwood Park
- The designated dog park is located at 1200 Mt. Pleasant Road at Sherwood Avenue
Sunnybrook Park
- The designated dog park is located below the Sunnybrook Hospital, on the west side of the West Don River.
Woburn Park
- The designated dog park is located in the northwest section of the park. This area is fenced off. Woburn Park is located just east of Bathurst off of Cranbrooke Drive.
Toronto & East York District
Allan Gardens
- The designated dog park is located in the west end of the gardens, at 160 Gerrard Street East, Gerrard & Jarvis Street
Bickford Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 400 Grace Street at Harbord Street
Cassels Avenue Playground
- This dog friendly playground is located at 69 Cassels Avenue at Brookside Avenue
Cawthra Square
- The designated dog area is located at 519 Church Street at Wellesley Street East
Cedarvale Park
- The designated dog are is located at 1611 Bathurst Street at Lonsdale Road
Cherry Beach
- This dog friendly area is located at the foot of Cherry Street
Craigleigh Gardens
- This dog friendly area is located at 160 South Drive
David Crombie Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 131 to 171 ‘The Esplanade’ at Lower Sherbourne Street
Don Valley Brickworks
- This designated dog park area is located at 550 Bayview Avenue
Gerrard Carlaw Parkette
- This designated dog park area is located at 855 Gerrard St. E.
Greenwood Park
- This designated dog park area is located at 150 Greenwood Avenue at Dundas Street E.
Hideaway Park
- This pet friendly park is located at 23 Audley Avenue
Hillcrest Park
- This pet friendly park is located at 950 Davenport Road at Christie
Kew Gardens
- This designated dog park is located at 2075 Queen Street East at Lee Avenue
At the foot of Lee Avenue, on the beach delineated by fencing.
Monarch Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 115 Hanson Street at CNR tracks
Norwood Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 16 Norwood Road, Woodbine & Gerrard Street
Oakcrest Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 30 Oakcrest Avenue at Woodbine Avenue
Park Drive Reservation Lands
- This dog friendly area is located at 200 Park Drive at Mt. Pleasant Road
Ramsden Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 215 Avenue Road
Riverdale Park West
- This dog friendly park is located at 375 Sumach Street at Carlton Street
Lower playing fields, southeast of Riverdale Farm
Silverbirch Park
- This dog friendly park is located at the foot of Silverbirch Ave. to the foot of Nursewood Rd.
Sir Winston Churchill Park
- The designated dog area is located at 301 St. Clair Ave. W.
South Stanley Park
- This dog friendly area is located at 845 King Street West at Adelaide
Trinity Bellwoods Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 790 Queen Street West at Shaw Street
Vermont Square
- This dog friendly park is located at 819 Palmerston Avenue (Bathurst & Dupont area)
Wildwood Crescent Playground
- The designated dog park area is located at 110 Wildwood Crescent (Gerrard & Woodbine area)
Withrow Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 725 Logan Avenue at Danforth Avenue
Wychwood Car Barns Park
- The designated dog area is located at 575 Christie St. (Christie St. and Benson Ave.)
Etobicoke & York District
Don Russell Memorial Park
- This dog friendly park is located at Birmingham Street at Faustina Drive
High Park
- The designated dog area is located at 1873 Bloor Street West at Parkside Drive
Rennie Park
- This dog friendly park is located at 140 Ellis Avenue
Scarborough District
There are no off-leash parks in Scarborough District at this time… Talk to your city councilor!
Exercise Toronto.com Staff.
