Canada may be known for our winters, but we also have pretty epic summers! With rivers and lakes criss-crossing our nation, beautiful beaches and lush forests, it’s a doggy paradise. Although we have tons of places to explore in Ontario, most of us live in urban spaces where “off leash” isn’t always safe, practical or legal. So we’ve put together a list of the best dog parks in Toronto, where both you and your pet can stretch your legs.
Cherry Beach
Cherry St & Waterfront (Toronto)
One of the most beautiful beaches in Toronto with a quiet shoreline and dozens of acres of running space. Plus, lots of parking.
Etobicoke Valley Park
Horner Ave & Browns Line (Etobicoke)
A huge off-leash area with a majestic creek for your dog to splash around in. Bonus: free parking.
Humber Bay Shores Park
Lakeshore Blvd W & Marine Parade Dr (Toronto)
A famous spot for dog walkers! It’s a bit secluded from the rest of the park at the tip of the peninsula, with big boulders lining the water. If you have a larger dog, this is the spot to hang.
High Park
Parkside Dr & High Park Blvd (Toronto)
One of the largest inner-city parks, with off leash trails and rivers and ponds.
Monarch Park
Coxwell Ave & Danforth Ave (Toronto)
A 12 acre community park with off-leash and small dog zones, featuring lovely trees and rolling hills.
Jack Darling Memorial Park
Lorne Park Rd & Lakeshore Rd W (Oakville)
One of the biggest fully fenced parks in all of Ontario! During the week, this huge leafy space is off-leash friendly.
Don Valley Brick Works
Bayview Ave & Pottery Rd (Toronto)
A playdate with a view! This park includes historic buildings, a beautiful panoramic lookout, and a wetland conservation habitat.
Kew Gardens
Lee Ave & Waterfront (Toronto)
Often called the “Beaches Park,” Kew Gardens stretches across the water front. You’ll find it across from an ice cream and snack stand, so you can both cool off at once.
King Road Dog Park
King Rd & North Service Road (Burlington)
Best fenced-in dog park in the Burlington area! Lots of shade to keep you humans cool, and a small dog zone to keep the little ones safe.
Riverdale Park West
River St & Bayview Ave (Toronto)
Can’t beat the city views you’ll find in this beautiful valley following the Don River. Features an off-leash dog park near the lower playing fields.
Okay, okay - here’s a few extra for good measure:
Thomson Memorial Park
Brimley Rd & Dorcot Ave (Scarborough)
For the East Enders - with both a big dog and little dog zone, with lots of seating so you can snap pics of your pup making friends.
Sunnybrook Park
Eglinton Ave E & Leslie St (Toronto)
Beautiful walking trails with an off-leash section.
So there you are! Don’t forget to bring fresh water for you pup, and enjoy summer 2019!
If you’ve ever been on the fence about neutering or spaying your pet, here’s a little known fact for you:
Between one unspayed female dog, her mate and their puppies … they could produce 67,000 puppies in six years.
SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND homeless puppies.
Now, book that appointment and spay/neuter your pet.
Read more here:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-petOn April 27th we celebrate World Vet Day, in honour of the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping us keep our pets and animals healthy, happy and safe.
Are you in search of a new vet? Maybe you’re thinking of adopting a pet - or recently did!? If you google “vet” you’ll probably find a ton of options at your fingertips. Choosing the right one is a little harder. So, we thought we’d share with you a little about the process of finding the right veterinarian for your pet.
The best way to assess the suitability of a vet or vet clinic for your pet is by going there yourself. Bring your pet so they can get a feel for the place, and for them to meet their potential new veterinarian. Below are the five things you should consider when choosing a veterinarian for your pet:
1. Environment
From the first call you make to book an appointment to when you and your pet walk in the door, feel out the environment. Start with reading online reviews of the facility - and then use your own judgment. Are the staff friendly? Informed? Professional? Does your pet get stressed meeting strangers? Consider how calm or boisterous the staff is. Is the vibe right for your pet?
2. Philosophy
There are some touchy subjects when it comes to pet health that can set people on edge, like euthanasia, chronic disease planning, to spaying and neutering. It’s important to make sure your philosophies are in sync, or you’re willing to hear altering perspectives. Asking your vet questions about these things can be difficult, but are a necessary part of choosing the right vet for your pet.
3. Availability
While a quiet clinic may mean free openings for all, it might not be a good sign. Empty clinics can suggest poor quality of care - so we’d opt for a busier clinic with a strong reputation. Usually, busy clinics have extra staff on-call for emergencies, so your pet won’t be unable to get care - it just means planning ahead for general check-ups or scheduling procedures.
4. Pricing
While every pet deserves the best care, not all of us can afford exuberant pricing. Ask your vet for general pricing or a price list, and inquire about payment plans. Of course, always be sure to purchase pet insurance in case of an emergency.
5. Your Pet
Don’t forget the most important consideration: does your pet like this vet? Introduce them and let them hang out for a little bit. Pets are usually a great judge of whether this new human is right for them or not. If they get along and meet the criteria above, you may just have found the person who’s going to help you keep them happy and healthy for the rest of their life.
It’s finally March which means it’s nearly spring and we’ve survived another long winter. At this time of year, a lot of people start “spring cleaning,” which means emptying out the garage and taking a scrub brush to the deep corners of our homes. Speaking of cleaning, March is Pet Poison Prevention Month and you know what is very dangerous for your pets? Cleaning products.
Pet Poison Prevention month is dedicated to keeping our furry friends safe - a time when vets and animal organizations remind us it's our job to keep our pets safe - and without making your home puppy proof, your pet could end up very sick or worse.
At Bullwrinkles we take pet prevention month very seriously because thousands of dogs are hospitalized each year by accidentally ingesting household poisons. Educating yourself is the best way you can keep your pet safe. The Pet Poison Helpline is a really helpful resource for both helping you keep your pet safe and also helps you recognize signs if your pet may have ingested something dangerous. Check them out here: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
Here are a few things that are very dangerous for your pet:
For a full list talk to your Vet or check out the pet poison list here: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/_
In honour of Pet Dental Health Month, we’ve put together some things you should know to keep your furry friends’ teeth clean and healthy.
1. Did you know full grown dogs have 42 teeth? All the more to love you with! But with many teeth comes many potential problems. A mouth that is full of plaque and tartar can lead to unhealthy teeth with a build up of bacteria that can actually enter the bloodstream and hurt your dog's heart and liver.
2. Take your dog to the vet to check out their teeth at least once a year. When you plan your own dental check up, think of your best friend’s too.
3. If your vet recommends a professional dental cleaning, it should include cleaning, any adjustments and potentially fillings or extraction if required. Get it done as soon as possible. Just remember your pet probably won’t complain about their teeth until it's far too late.
4. Between check ups, you can help keep your dog’s teeth healthy with treats and bones designed to help clean like Bullwrinkles Pork Flossers.
5. If you ever smell anything rotten in your dog's mouth, schedule a dental checkup right away.
If you take care of your pet’s teeth, they’ll keep smiling. Well, as much as dogs can smile. :)
Dogs thrive on routine. They LIVE for it! A typical daily routine for your pup usually includes eating, sleeping, and playing. Pretty great isn’t it?! Sleeping and playing are pretty straightforward, but a feeding schedule is something that has a few variables.
Typically, adult dogs are fed twice daily; once in the morning and once at dinner time. This usually correlates with most people’s work schedules and keeps an adult dog full throughout the day.
If you are the lucky one to be bringing a puppy home – congrats! Since puppies’ metabolisms are much higher than an adult dog and they have LOTS of growing to do, it is ideal for them to be fed 3x daily. In the morning, afternoon and dinnertime. With a working family, some choose to feed in the morning, after they get home from work, and closer to bedtime. This way their nutrients are split evenly throughout the day. (This is also a great way to feed a highly active dog as well!)
Some dogs aren’t big eaters and will pick at a bowl of food throughout the day. This is fine as long as their daily amount is measured out each day and the food is changed frequently to avoid it getting stale.
Meal feeding is helpful for digestion. The key here is that your dog’s DAILY amount of food DOES NOT change, it just is split into however many meals they will need. Lastly, be sure to provide fresh water at all times for your furry friend!
This summer has been throwing us some serious heat waves and everyone’s feeling it.
Your dog is no different, and if anything, is even more susceptible to the effects of the hot sun.
Could you imagine wearing a winter coat all summer?! Dogs also can’t sweat like people do to reduce body temperature. They have sweat pads on their feet, but otherwise, they use panting as a way to let heat evaporate through their tongues.
Here are some tips to help keep your pup cool so you both can have fun in the sun!
*If you have a brachycephalic dog (short-faced dog), try and keep them out of the heat altogether. These dogs have an increased risk of breathing issues on a regular day, so a short walk on a hot day can be detrimental. Lying around in the A/C is best for these squishy pups.
