One of the perks of having a dog in the city is that your furry pal will likely expand your social circle and make you meet other dog owners in your neighborhood who share a passion for little four legged creatures just like you do. In a short while, you’ll have a host of new friends to spend time with and your dog will have a tonne of new play mates to chase each other instead of their own tails. Toronto can feel big and overwhelming at times but is also a very dog friendly city with over 50,000 dogs residing from the Beaches to High Park and all the way up to North neighborhoods. There are many groups that bring dog owners together and create wonderful communities that let owners have more fun together and help out each other by sharing experience, advice, and knowledge whether based on breed or a specific issue like winterizing your pet, traveling with your pets, diet, and much more. It won’t be long before your old NDOF (non dog owner friends) will slowly convert to new DOF (dog owners friends) to join in on fun outings and events! I wanted to put a list of local dog groups together that would help you make new connections around you and let you have more fun with your furry pal. Here is a compilation of local Facebook groups, Meetups, and Forums that you can join to learn more about what’s happening in your neighborhood, and:
- help you become involved and participate in the community
- be a part of local dog walking groups
- share experience, knowledge, and advice about all aspects of raising and living with dogs
- understand of local issues
- meet owners in your local community who share your interests and make new friends
- empower local dog owners through discussion
- raise concerns
This is not an exhaustive list but a good overview of groups and sites that bring local dog owners together! Hope you find it useful and always happy to hear if you’ve got suggestions or comments! Browse away:
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Local Dog Park Groups
Riverdale Dog Park
550 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2P1
This group is for people who frequent the Riverdale Dog Park in Toronto. It’s a place to connect, post pictures, and raise concerns regarding the use of the dog park. It’s also a place to organize activities and play dates, and find dog related services in the area.
Gerrard-Carlaw Parkette
855 Gerrrard t E, Toronto, ON M4M
This group is for individuals who frequent the Gerrard-Carlaw Parkette to converse, post photos and raise concerns regarding the use of this off leash dog park. More so, it’s just a casual place to connect, enjoy, and have fun finding out how our furry friends and their humans are doing outside the park.
Cherry Beach Dog Owners Association
255 Cherry St, Toronto, ON M5A
This group brings together dog owners and walkers that frequent the off-leash area at Cherry Beach.
Toronto Beaches Dog Association
This group is for dog owners and non-dog owners who care about our community and how our public space is utilized. The group was formed to work with the city so dogs can share Toronto’s beaches. Learn about current and trending issues.
Thomson Memorial Dog Park
1005 Brimley Ave, Toronto, ON
This group is for anyone who visits the Thomson Memorial Dog Park.
Related group: https://www.facebook.com/thomsonmemorialdogpark/
Greenwood Doggie Park
150 Greenwood Avenue, Toronto, ON
This is a group for people who frequent the TORONTO Greenwood Doggie Park, to converse, post pictures and raise concerns regarding the use of the dog park. Mostly, it is just a place to enjoy and have fun keeping in touch and finding out how we and our dogs are doing.
Withrow Park Dog Owners
725 Logan Avenue at Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON
This is a group for dog owners and non-dog owners alike are free to share stories, photos, events and experiences about the Withrow Park Off-Leash Area and surroundings. Mainly, we’re here to have fun, and bring together the Withrow Park Community!
Toronto Midtown Local Dog Groups
Wychwood Dog Owners Association
575 Christie St. (Christie St. and Benson Ave.) Toronto, ON
This is a group for dog owners and dog lovers in the Wychwood Barns area.
Stay informed about issues in the off leash.
Cedarvale Dogs
1611 Bathurst Street at Lonsdale Road, Toronto, ON
A place to connect with people and their dogs in Cedarvale Park. Learn about the community, petitions, recommendations, post pictures etc.
Sunnybrook Dog Park Association
Below the Sunnybrook Hospital, on the west side of the West Don River, Toronto, ON
Sunnybrook Dog Park Association is here to facilitate better communication between all of the park users.
Toronto Downtown Local Dog Owner Groups
Ramsden Park Dog Owners Association
1020 Yonge St, Toronto, ON
The Ramsden Park Dog Owners Association promotes and advances the interests of dogs and their owners in our community. The group aims to promote and advance the interests of the local dog-owner community, play a role in neighbourhood safety, promote responsible dog ownership, and foster community fellowship between dog owners and our neighbours.
The Dogs of Trinity Bellwoods
790 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G3
This is a community group for users of Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Dog Park, a unique unfenced space for off-leash dogs and their people, shared with other park users. Lost & found animal reports, community discussions, information about our dogs, the park, and the neighbourhood.
Liberty Village Dog Owners Association
This is a group for responsible dog ownership in Liberty Village. Learn about meetups, dog walks, share resources and coordinate seasonal clean up.
Toronto West Local Dog Owner Groups
High Park Dog Park
1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3
A group is for dog owners that take their dogs to High Park Dog Park.
OTHER GENERAL TORONTO DOG FACEBOOK RESOURCES
TORONTO DOGS
A group for everything dog in Toronto! Do you have a dog? Want a dog? Work with dogs? Share pictures, brags, advice, tips, best places to walk your dog, dog park reviews, great shopping deals for all the dogaholic shopaholics..you name it!
Dog Owners In Toronto
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area and own a dog join this group.
Share stories, pictures and meet others who live near you.
Local Meetups in Toronto that are Breed Specific
Local meet ups are a great way to connect with dog owners that own similar breeds, find new playmates for your dog, and make new friends!
Toronto Puppy Socialization Meetup
Building a wonderful foundation for you and your fur baby when done in a professionally supervised setting, to ensure a well balanced healthy experience.
Greyhound Walkers of Toronto
Monthly walking group. Meeting of hounds and their humans for a walk on the first Sunday of each month. We’ll explore different areas and neighbourhoods. (Brothers and sisters of Greyhounds are welcome as well).
There is also Greyhound Weekly Playdate at Norwood Park, Sundays 12-1pm. Turnout Muzzles are mandatory on this one.
Mississauga GTA Small Dogs Outings
This group is for owners of small dogs (25 pounds and under) who would like to bring their pets to outings with other small dogs. We do three types of outings; leash free dog parks, shorter midweek early evening walks along nature trails and longer weekend day walks also along nature trails.
Great Danes Toronto
Monthly get-together where our Great Danes can play and socialize. Meet other Great Dane parents who are just as crazy as you are to share stories, experiences, tips and have a fun time.
Toronto French Bulldog Network
This group is exclusive to French Bulldog owners. Meet other owners and learn more about history, newbies, toys, safety, summer health, winterizing your Frenchies, plane rides, car rides what may affect them, what does affect them, how to train them, how to love them, knowing when to give them up to rescue.
Mississauga – GTA Small Dog Outings
This group is for owners of small dogs (25 pounds and under) who would like to bring their pets to outings with other small dogs. We do three types of outings; leash free dog parks, shorter midweek early evening walks along nature trails and longer weekend day walks also along nature trails.
Toronto Dog Owners Social
Social outings for dog owners who enjoy being out and about with their dogs and hanging out with other owners. Not a breed specific group.
The Toronto Yorkshire Terrier Meetup Group
A Toronto and GTA based social Meetup Group dedicated to the enjoyment of our Yorkshire Terriers and Yorkshire Terrier mixes. Open to Yorkie and prospective Yorkie owners for the purpose of socialising with each other and our dogs, and for sharing and learning about this great little breed! Also, available via facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yorkiemeetup/
The Toronto Shiba Inu Meetup Group
This is a fun group of Shiba Inus & their owners. We meet once or twice a month at various parks across the GTA. Whether you have a Shiba now, had one in the past or are waiting for the arrival of yours, we’d love to meet you!
The Toronto Boston Terrier Meetup Group
This group meets about once a month for a Boston playdate at different locations throughout the city, this fun-loving group gives you and your Boston(s) a chance to make new friends!
Muttley Crew
An informal group for people and their dogs to join together for a fun day of hiking. Most hikes are easy to moderate and last approximately 4-5 hours but usually a small group returns after one-two hours of hiking.
Toronto Australian Shepherd Meetup Group
This group is for Australian Shepherd lovers and their Aussies to get together and share some Aussie fun! Bring your wiggle-butt and have a good time! 🙂 Approximately once a month meetups will cover a wide range of Aussie-friendly activities, including urban hiking along local Toronto nature trails, meeting for playdates at fenced in off leash dog parks and the occasional herding test/lesson.
Lil Doggers
This group offers dog owners and their small friendly dogs the opportunity to socialize in a safe / secure setting while learning good doggie manners & appropriate play. Lil Doggers invites small dogs, up to 25 lbs.
The Toronto & GTA Chihuahua Meetup Group
A Toronto and GTA based social Meetup Group dedicated to the enjoyment of our Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes. Open to Chihuahua and prospective Chihuahua owners for the purpose of socialising with each other and our dogs, and for sharing and learning about this great little breed!
Toronto Doberman Pinscher Meetup Group
Meetups will always involve plenty of Doberman playtime + occasional interactive programs for humans on topics of interest: positive reinforcement training of the doberman in various disciplines, physical and psychological health of the Doberman, playtime with Dobermans, the Doberman in competition, etc.
The Toronto Schnauzer Meetup Group
Are you looking to make friends? Find something to do? Thinking of owning a Schnauzer? Socializing your dog? Then join the Toronto Schnauzer Meetup Group for an open minded and relaxed atmosphere, friendly conversations and enjoyable walks (or even a swim)
The Toronto & GTA Dachshund Meetup Group
A Toronto and GTA based social Meetup Group dedicated to the enjoyment of our dachshunds and dachshund mixes. Open to dachshund and prospective dachshund owners for the purpose of socialising with each other and our dogs, and for sharing and learning about the greatest little stubborn, willful, charming, and loving breed!
West End Dog Friends
Make some new friends for you and your urban puppy! This group is for downtown west dog-owners who want to get to know their neighbours. Let’s get iced coffee and chat while our dogs frolic and tire themselves out. Let’s check out dog-friendly street festivals, explore new parks, have a potluck picnic, play frisbee, walk along the lake, and more!
TINY TAILWAGGERS Small Dog Playgroup
TINY TAILWAGGERS is an informal open community for small dog owners where we meet in off-leash parks, go hiking with our dogs and share information about dogs. This group is for small dogs under 25 pounds, toy dogs under 10 pounds are welcome at your own discretion. Meetups in the east of Don Valley, Beaches, Riverside, Riverdale, Leslieville.
Toronto Dog Forums
Stay on top of local dog issue related discussions via Reddit and RedFlagDeals.
Other Useful Dog Resources That Can Help Answer Many of Your Questions
A group for people who feed their dogs and cats raw food in Toronto and surrounding areas to share ideas and raw food resources. Recipes, suppliers, group buys, prepackaged store bought brands, grocery store sales, any thing to do with feeding, buying, and preparing raw food.
Raw Feeding (RF)
This group is an associated group from the very large raw feeding group on yahoo groups. This is for feeding a carnivore. This means, we do not promote the feeding of commercial dog food, pre-made raw food, supplements, veggies, fruits, or grains.
Ontario Dog stuff-Buy/sell/swap
Group for those anywhere in Ontario, Canada. Post all new or used dog related items you have for sale, swap or want to buy, including but not limited to, grooming supplies, crates, leashes, show clothes, show supplies, knick knacks, books, art or anything dog related.