City Name
Temperature
Home » Recent posts » The 5 Best Dog Walkers in Ottawa for a Happy, Active Pup

The 5 Best Dog Walkers in Ottawa for a Happy, Active Pup

best-dog-walker-ottawa
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Experience and Training: I looked closely at the professional background and certifications of each team. It matters a lot that handlers know how to manage different temperaments and use safe, positive reinforcement techniques.

Safety Measures: I evaluated the specific security protocols and insurance coverage each business maintains. This includes checking for canine first-aid skills and a clear track record of keeping pets secure.

Client Communication: I checked how well each provider updates owners about their dog's daily activities. Clear updates and photos give pet parents real peace of mind while they're away.

Group Size and Settings: I assessed the environment where the walks happen and how many dogs join at once. Small groups or secure private areas help your pup get focused attention without feeling overwhelmed.

Finding someone trustworthy to look after your beloved pup can feel pretty overwhelming.

You want a walker who treats your furry family member with real affection while keeping them safe and active during those long work hours.

Maybe you’re juggling a packed schedule, or maybe you find it tough to get out for long walks yourself. Either way, your dog deserves great care.

Fortunately, our local community has some wonderful options, so I did the legwork to find the best dog walker in Ottawa to give your pup a happy, healthy routine.

How much does dog walking cost in Ottawa?

Dog walking in Ottawa typically costs between $16 and $25 for a standard mid-day walk, though longer 60-minute adventures can reach up to $38.

Service TypeAverage Rate
15-minute relief visit$16.50
30-minute walk$16 to $25
60-minute walk$26 to $38

1. Jadzia’s Pet Care

jadzias-pet-care

Website:jadzias.com

Address: 313 Donald Street

Contact: (613) 818-7827 | [email protected]

Hours: Available 24/7

Jadzia’s Pet Care stands out instantly thanks to owner Jadzia’s behavioural background as a Level 2 Canine Enrichment volunteer at the local humane society. This makes her well-equipped for challenging pups. 

She also runs an intimate, boutique home-boarding setup. It limits overnight guests to just two dogs, so the care closely mirrors your household rules.

For high-energy dogs, her structured 70-minute off-leash pack walks offer plenty of trail adventure. Meanwhile, older pups benefit from her specialized large-dog strollers.

I’m a fan of how her flexible approach pairs so well with other local support, like reliable pet sitters in Ottawa, when you’re lining up full coverage for your dog.

Because these group walks are strictly off-leash adventures, though, the service isn’t a good fit for dogs with poor recall or a heavy prey drive. And since she runs everything on a small, independent scale, grabbing a last-minute spot can be tough.

Pros

  • Full 70 minutes of trail time
  • Level 2 Canine Enrichment experience
  • Strictly capped small pack sizes
  • Specialized stroller for senior dogs

Cons

  • Unsuitable for strict on-leash needs
  • Limited last-minute availability

Customer Reviews

Our pets were in good hands

Jadzia was amazing with pet sitting our fur babies. She kept our dogs engaged and comfy. It’s great to know your pets are in good hands and you can be worry free when using her services. We highly recommend everyone use her services.

– Umber Hamilton |Google Review

A fun home-away-from-home

Jadzia is always my first choice when I’m travelling and can’t bring my dog, Viva, as she provides a welcoming, fun home-away-from-home for animals. She clearly cares about all of the animals in her care, and takes pains to get to know them and your preferences for their care. I feel absolutely safe knowing that Viva is with Jadzia and Jim, and love receiving texts from Jadzia with photos and funny stories that keep me up to date on Viva’s vacation. 100% recommend!

– Heather Logan |Google Review

2. Waggy Walks Ottawa

waggy-walks-ottawa

Website:waggywalksottawa.com

Address: 1204 Cavallo St, Stittsville

Contact: (613) 898-9717 | [email protected]

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Waggy Walks Ottawa uses an advanced tracking app to log the exact route and duration of every single stroll. This is perfect if you love staying updated on your pet’s day. 

They feature a certified dog trainer on staff to guide behaviour-focused walks. They even offer exclusive playdates inside a completely private, fully fenced dog park.

I chatted with a neighbour who uses them, and she mentioned how much she appreciates their extensive safety trials and first-aid credentials. 

Their complete care ecosystem can even point you toward reliablepet grooming in Ottawa when your pup needs a wash.

On the downside, they enforce a strict minimum of at least two walks per week, so they don’t work for occasional one-off needs. Their cancellation policy is also non-refundable unless it’s a medical emergency.

Pros

  • GPS and media tracking updates
  • Fully insured through PROfur
  • Access to private fenced park
  • Certified trainer on staff

Cons

  • Rigid two-walk weekly minimum
  • No refunds for client cancellations

Customer Reviews

Treated like royalty

Waggy walks have been absolutely amazing with my dog ‘Auston’. Always reliable, walkers give me constant updates. Truly worth every penny if you are looking for some peace of mind that your dog will be treated like royalty when you are out of the house! Will continue to use this service and suggest to anyone! Simply above and beyond normal customer service standards!

– Brock Burge |Google Review

You can tell they love what they do

We have been with waggy walks for a couple of years now and are very happy! Our guy Ted, always knows when it’s his time for his walk and eagerly greets Mike at the door waiting for his belly rubs. I trust Mike and any of the other dog walkers that we have met, you can tell they love what they do and really care about the dogs. Mike is always responsive by text and I love the pics and videos he shares!

– Amanda Carwardine |Google Review

3. Walk With Me Ottawa

walk-with-me-ottawa

Website:walkwithmeottawa.com

Address: 2565 Dunrobin Rd, Dunrobin

Contact: (613) 869-4428

Hours: By appointment; hours may vary

Walk With Me Ottawa takes dogs to a private 46-acre fully fenced property in Dunrobin for safe, off-leash nature hikes away from busy city streets. 

The business is led by Emma Murdock, a Protection Sports Association (PSA2) world champion dog handler, and her team consists entirely of professional trainers and trained apprentices.

They focus deeply on fulfillment-based care, making sure your pup gets plenty of mental stimulation and structured exercise.

What really won me over is how transparent they keep everything, uploading detailed photos and video updates to Instagram every single day.

The main catch is that their door-to-door transportation doesn’t cover the entire city, fully excluding areas like Orleans. They also enforce strict behavioural rules to join the pack, so reactive dogs or those lacking solid recall can’t participate in these large farm hikes.

Pros

  • Private 46-acre fenced facility
  • Highly credentialed handler leadership
  • Door-to-door transit included
  • Daily transparent Instagram updates

Cons

  • Service excludes the Orleans region
  • Reactive dogs cannot participate

Customer Reviews

A real game changer for socializing

Walk with Me pack walks have been a game changer. They have given Aspen an opportunity to socialize and get exercise in a way that feeds his doggy soul. Our walker Shannon has been outstanding. She is amazing with him and has always made me feel confident and comfortable, knowing he is in good hands. Thanks to Shannon and Walk with Me, Aspen is living his best doggy life!

– Sheena Murphy |Google Review

He comes back clean and happy

Our experience with Walk with Me has been Fantastic! We started with weekly walks for our dog Bailey with Andre and he’s amazing! She loves him and gets excited every time he picks her up. Even though she gets covered in mud in some walks, she comes back clean because he hoses the dogs down before bringing them back. It is obvious that Andre loves all of the dogs and takes great care of them. We love seeing pictures or quick videos of their walks on Instagram.

– Rosalinda Ruelas |Google Review

4. Walk of the Town

walk-of-the-town

Website:walkofthetown.ca

Address: 62 Pinehurst Ave

Contact: (647) 895-4060 | [email protected]

Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Walk of the Town means your dog gets direct, consistent care from the founder, Caroline, rather than a rotating cast of contractors. 

She specializes in ultra-intimate pack walks limited to just two to four dogs, so regular furry friends can build genuine bonds in a calm environment.

She also offers great puppy visits that reinforce whatever specific house rules and training routines you’re practicing at home.

During my own time trying out local pet options, I found that her customized private walks are lifesavers for high-strung rescues adjusting to city life.

Since she’s a solo operator, though, her daily availability is strictly capped, with no backup coverage if she falls ill or takes a vacation. Dogs with unpredictable tendencies are also restricted from group rates, so owners pay a premium for individual care.

Pros

  • Intimate packs of two to four dogs
  • Customized strolls for anxious rescues
  • Customized strolls for anxious rescues
  • In-home training reinforcement

Cons

  • No backup staff during owner leave
  • Higher rates for unpredictable dogs

Customer Reviews

Patient with my senior dogs

Caroline is a fantastic dog walker! I’ve trusted her with 2 senior dogs. One had health issues and she was very patient and always willing to stay with him when needed. The other is leash reactive and she worked to find group walks that worked and improved the dog’s reactivity. She is flexible and understanding. Her Instagram stories of the dog walks are the best! Would definitely recommend Caroline!

– Lindsay Earnshaw |Google Review

Reliable and accommodating

Caroline has been so wonderful and loving towards my dogs for the past 4+ years. Tippy can’t wait for walks with Caroline! She posts the sweetest pics on her instagram of the cuties she walks. She is a sweet and compassionate person who is also very organized, responsible and professional. She’s super reliable, communicative and accommodating whenever there might be a change of plan. I would recommend her services to anyone in a heartbeat!

– Debbie Chenier |Google Review

5. Westboro Daily Dog Care

westboro-daily-dog-care

Website:westborodailydogcare.com

Address: 491 Wentworth Ave

Contact: (613) 422-4836 | [email protected]

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Westboro Daily Dog Care offers a three-hour extended playtime session running every Monday through Friday, which is ideal for high-energy pups that need serious exercise. 

They handle all the stressful logistics for you by including complimentary door-to-door pick-up and drop-off straight to your home or crate.

They also keep full reference transparency by listing the phone numbers of active clients on their website, so you can verify their performance directly. 

By focusing strictly on a hyper-local service area, they maximize actual play time and keep their rates remarkably low for the value.

What stood out to me is how this hyper-local focus means your dog spends more time playing and less time riding around in a van.

The biggest limitation is that tight geographic boundary, so if you live outside Westboro or West Centretown, you can’t book them. They also lack any weekend options, meaning you’ll need alternative care for Saturday or Sunday walks.

Pros

  • Minimum three hours of playtime
  • Free home pick-up and drop-off
  • Very competitive daily rates
  • Verifiable client phone references

Cons

  • Operation limited to the Westboro area
  • No weekend care options available

Customer Reviews

The best experience ever

Nora and Dave take care of my baby Mika like their own, they have been walking Mika for over a year now and it’s been the best experience ever. She’s exhausted when she’s back from her walks and she loves Nora!

– Stephanie W |Google Review

Like a second family to her

Nora and Dave are the best canine care providers a dog or family could ask for. They have been taking care of Poppy for 4 years and we consider ourselves very lucky to have them in our lives. Poppy gets great exercise, has tons of friends to play with every day, Nora and Dave are like a second family to her. And to us. Poppy is an important member of our family, and we trust Nora and Dave with her implicitly. It feels so comforting to know they care about her as much as we do.

– Yasmine McLean |Google Review