Pet-Friendly NoCo

Photo by: @mazie_thedalmatian

Sometimes you want to bring your four-legged family member on your getaway. No problem – take them Northumberlanding! Here's a list of places that are pet-friendly in Northumberland County.

(Note: Information may be subject to change, so please confirm pet policies upon booking hotels, etc.) 

Pet-Friendly Patio Restaurants 

• Arthur's Pub at the Best Western Plus in Cobourg invites your dog to join you at a table on their outdoor patio. Their menu offerings include classic pub fare and a variety of beer on tap.

• Beamish House Pub in Port Hope is a place where you can enjoy a pint and sit with your dog at an umbrella-shaded table on the patio. Pub fare includes burgers, fish & chips, bangers & mash, sandwiches and shareable plates. 

• Cucina Urbana in Cobourg is an Italian-style kitchen and wine bar with a pet-friendly patio. Located down near the water, it prides itself on its appetizers, pizzas, pastas and mains. Cucina Urbana features a seasonal, heated patio through November. 

• Harbourview Marina Restaurant & Café in Brighton welcomes your dog with you as you dine on the patio. The Harbourview is a casual spot overlooking the marina and Presqu'ile Bay. The menu is a mixture of classic diner dishes, seafood options, and specialties like the house vegetarian curry.

• The Dockside Bistro in Campbellford is a restaurant with a large patio where you and your dog can take in the breezes from the Trent River. Located in a renovated Church building (c. 1826), this friendly bistro offers a large range of lunch and dinner dishes from smoked meat poutine to herb crusted salmon. 

Pet-Friendly Hotels & Accommodations 

• Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre is pet-friendly. This is a great spot for families since some rooms come with three queen beds, and many have pull out sofas. Each room has a mini fridge. Your doggie can join you for a meal on the outdoor patio at Arthurs’ Pub. 

• Comfort Inn, Cobourg has pet-friendly guest rooms located on the ground floor. Both dogs and cats are permitted, and well-behaved pets may be left in rooms unattended. 

• Comfort Inn, Port Hope welcomes you with up to three pets per guest room. Both dogs and cats are allowed. Pets may not be left unattended in rooms.

• The Hampton Inn by Hilton Port Hope has some hotel rooms that you can stay in with your pet. It also offers rooms that are easily accessible for wheelchairs and walkers. A microwave and mini-fridge is in each room. The breakfast bar is open daily and included in your stay. 

• Timber House Resort in Brighton welcomes you with up to three pets per guest room. Both dogs and cats are allowed. Pets can be left in rooms unattended for short periods of time. Four-legged guests will receive bowls and treats upon request.

• Willowmere Lakeside Retreat in Cobourg is a B&B with a designated suite for pet owners. Call first to confirm the availability of the pet-friendly room. Well-behaved, crated pets may be left unattended. 

• Windswept on the Trent in Campbellford welcomes you with up to two pets per guest suite. Both dogs and cats are permitted. This is an elegant small inn with a few other B&B properties. 

Pet Stores with Perks

• Global Pet Foods in Port Hope features a wide selection of natural and holistic pet food, treats and supplements, plus toys and other essential products for pet parents. Products offered (including the largest selection of Canadian-made pet food) are for cats, dogs, birds, fish, and other small animals. Their online shopping is easy, with curbside or in-store pickup for heavy orders of supplies you may need while on your travels.

• All Creatures Great & Small in downtown Cobourg is a place where everyone knows your pet’s name. Dogs and cats on leash are welcome. There’s lots in stock for dogs, cats and horses (a specialty division of the store). You can find lots of fun and healthy offerings here for your pet, including perfectly decorated doggie biscuits. Other services include access to dog training courses and animal chiropractic services. Open since 2000.

• Justin’s Pet Store in Cobourg is a wonderful-nugget-of-a-store for pet food, treats, vitamins, supplies and other pet goodies. In warmer weather, the water bowl outside is filled regularly. Dogs and cats on leashes are welcome. Timid dogs are greeted with a treat to determine how they feel among other dogs. Justin’s also offers free pet weighing, senior shopping discount days, and events where proceeds are donated to the local humane society. Open since 2005.

• Raw 101 in Cobourg offers a free in-store, raw food tasting (of two selected blends) for your pup. They choose the raw food blends with you, based on your pet’s needs. The owners, who have business and restaurant backgrounds, take a local-first approach to all the natural ingredients that go into their 20 mixes of pet food made right at Raw101. You can purchase any of the blends frozen or fresh, depending on how far you are to a cooler or fridge. Natural treats (for oral health), plus raw bones and dried chicken feet, are also for sale.

• Peppers Pet Food & Supplies in Hastings has lots to offer (from cool to cute) for dogs, cats, and birds (from backyard birds to domesticated pets). Your pup can sport a new, fashion collar and leash, or harness, in eye-catching prints – or chow down on a “Bully” stick or donut-shaped cookie. Cat’s have equal billing here in terms of nutritious dried and wet foods (like the “catastroni” lamb and vegetable stew). Pets on leash welcome. 

• ​The Fox Hollow Pet Boutique in Warkworth has a focus on supporting local brands and Canadian-made products. Your dog is welcome inside to shop with you. The Fox Hollow carries pet food, accessories, toys, and treats from their “Barkery”. You'll find products with organic ingredients that are sustainable and eco friendly, as well as personally tested to meet high standards.

• Pet Valu & Paulmac’s Pets are larger warehouse-style stores with some nice perks like self-serve dog wash stations and/or pre-booked pet grooming services (not at all stores). Click here to find the store and services in your visiting location in Northumberland: Pet Valu in Cobourg and Paulmac’s Pets in Cobourg; Pet Value in Port Hope; Paulmac’s Pets in Campbellford. Dogs on leash are welcome.

Dog Parks in Northumberland County

• Ferris Provincial Park in Campbellford has one of the few fenced, off-leash dog parks located inside an Ontario Provincial Park. You can give your pooches a chance to meet other friendly pups, run, and enjoy an open yard that measures 11,000 sq ft (1020 sq m), fenced within the Park. See the guidelines from Ontario Parks for bringing your dog to a Provincial Park.
• The Bark Park in Brighton is the municipality’s off-leash dog park managed by Brighton’s Parks and Recreation Department. There’s an area for large dogs, plus a fenced area for small dogs.

• The Big Apple Dog Run Park in Colborne is located right off the 401 (exit 497) at the famous, giant-sized red apple. As well as being a popular family attraction (with mini putt, bakery, food trucks, restaurant, and candy shop), The Big Apple dog run nearby can be a great stop for getting your pup out for a bit of exercise and a bathroom break.

• Baulch Road Dog Park in Port Hope is open May-Oct. This fenced, off-leash dog park has a large, grassy space with trees and tunnels for dogs to explore. Dogs need to be leashed when entering and exiting the park. Puppies (under six months of age) must use the designated puppy-park section. The dog park rules are listed here.

• Leash-Free Dog Park in Cobourg is a fenced, off-leash dog park featuring a large, grassy area for dogs to run and play. Your pup can drink from the water station at the entrance of the park. You’ll find picnic tables, benches and some shade. The Leash-Free Dog Park is supported by the Cobourg and District Dog Owners Group (CADDOG) working together with the Town of Cobourg. See the rules of the dog park posted by CADDOG here.

Pet-Friendly Parks & Trails

• Dogs at Ontario Parks is a really great, quick resource to prepare for all Provincial Park visits with your pooch. In fact, we find it helpful when planning hiking vacations in Northumberland County since many of the guidelines also cross over to cover etiquette in other public places and along trails.

• Ferris Provincial Park in Campbellford is an exciting spot to visit and check out the Ranney Gorge. Walking across the “grid metal” floor of the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge may not be in your dog’s comfort zone. Here’s what’s worked for us: If you’re with a hiking partner you can take turns going it alone on the bridge and coming back to meet your dog and partner. Dogs are permitted on leash in many areas of the park. (Note: Leash length no longer than 2 m or 6 ft.; standard in all Provincial Parks.) 

• Presqu’ile Provincial Park in Brighton welcomes dogs on leash. However, dogs are not allowed on the sand beach at Presqu’ile. (The sandy beach is a designated swimming area for visitors in the summer and, in other seasons, a refuge for migrating birds who need to feed and rest.) Follow Presqu’ile on Facebook to see if the park is at capacity for day visitors. Reserve your daily vehicle permit online up to five days in advance to guarantee your entry and speed up your arrival at the gatehouse.

• The Northumberland County Forest (Harwood, Roseneath and Baltimore areas) has over 45 km of hiking only trails. You can explore the rolling terrain, areas of forest, wetland, sand barren, woodland, savannah and tallgrass prairie. Use a leash and use litter bags. Refer to individual signage on the trails.

• The Ganaraska Forest is southeastern Ontario’s largest forest with hundreds of kilometres of trails. It’s a magical place where you may see some very large “pets”. That’s because horses take some of the trails with their owners. For your reference, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority has put together this Forest Rules and Guidelines document. In general, dogs and horses need to be leashed/haltered/bridled. Owners are asked to remove any of their pet’s waste from the trail. 

• The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail runs along the north shore of Lake Ontario in Northumberland County. It’s easy to access from Port Hope, Cobourg, Colborne or Brighton. It’s a fairly flat trail for hiking and cycling with off-road and on-road terrain. Before you visit, you can check updates on closures and notices. (Pets on leash; expect cycling traffic.) 

• Northumberland County is known for its outdoor adventures – and lots of hiking trails that are well suited for dogs on leash. Check out other hiking trails in Northumberland County you may want to explore. (Individual trail guidelines apply.) 

Tick Precautions for Hikers & Pet Owners

All hikers and pet owners should be mindful that wooded and natural areas can be places for black legged or deer ticks. Check the regional HKPR Health Unit’s resource on tick prevention, identification and removal.  

Some basic tips: 

• Apply bug spray containing DEET on your skin and clothing.

• Talk to your vet or knowledgeable pet store owner about the best products for tick prevention. 

• Wear closed-toe shoes, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Pull socks over your pant legs if possible.
• Stay on marked trails when walking in a nature area.

• Check for any evidence of ticks after time outdoors. (Here’s a link from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to help with checking your pet.)