The short answer
You are ready for a puppy when you can give it time every day, pay for its care for the next decade and more, live somewhere a dog is allowed, and cope with Canadian winters and summers. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) puts the first year at $5,142 to $5,245 in Ontario, before you buy or adopt. In Ontario, a no-pet clause in a residential lease is void under the Residential Tenancies Act, but condo rules can still restrict dogs. Use the yes/no checklist below. If you answer “no” to several lines, fostering or waiting a year are good choices, not failures.
Key takeaways
- A dog is a long commitment. A 2024 study of more than 584,000 dogs in the United Kingdom found a median lifespan of 12.5 years (U.K.).
- OVMA’s 2026-27 averages: $5,142 to $5,245 for a puppy’s first year in Ontario, then $4,993 a year for an adult dog.
- Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act says a lease clause that bans animals is void. A landlord can still ask the Landlord and Tenant Board to end a tenancy in set cases, such as serious allergies, danger or substantial interference.
- Condo owners and tenants must follow the condo’s declaration, by-laws and rules under Ontario’s Condominium Act, 1998. Read them before you bring a dog home.
- Research has found no dog breed that is free of allergens. If anyone at home has allergies, see a doctor or allergist first.
- Not ready yet? The Ottawa Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA both run foster programs that supply food and medical care.
Time: what a puppy needs from you every day
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) lists time commitments among the first things to weigh before you choose a pet, right after species and breed. With a puppy, the time is front-loaded. The first months are the busiest of the dog’s life.
- House training. A young puppy needs frequent trips outside, including at night, and someone home to take it. Our guide to house training sets out a routine.
- Socialisation. Puppies learn what is normal in their first weeks of life. That work starts with the breeder or shelter and continues in your home. See the socialisation window.
- Training. Short sessions every day, plus a class. Good classes fill up, so book early. See puppy kindergarten.
- Vet visits. A puppy needs a series of visits and vaccines in its first year. In Ontario, every dog 3 months or older must be vaccinated against rabies (Regulation 567 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act). Your vet sets the schedule. See your puppy’s first year of vet visits.
- Exercise and play. Needs differ a lot by breed and age. A working or sporting breed needs far more than a small companion breed. See exercise needs by breed group.
- Grooming. Coats that keep growing, such as Poodle and doodle coats, need regular brushing at home and professional grooming.
Write down a normal weekday and a normal weekend. Mark who feeds the dog, who walks it before work, who comes home at midday and who trains in the evening. If every slot has the same name, ask whether that person wants all of it for the next year.
Money: the first year and every year after
The purchase price or adoption fee is the smaller part. Our guide to how much a puppy costs in Canada breaks down every line. The headline figures:
| Cost | Figure (CAD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First year of a puppy, Ontario average | $5,142 to $5,245 | OVMA, 2026-27 |
| Each year for an adult dog, Ontario average | $4,993 | OVMA, 2026-27 |
| Ottawa Humane Society adoption fee | $500 adult dog; $590 puppy | OHS, checked October 16 2026 |
| Ottawa dog licence, every year | $22 spayed or neutered (or under 6 months); $42 not spayed or neutered | City of Ottawa, effective January 1 2026 |
| Average accident and illness insurance premium per dog, Canada | $1,176 a year | NAPHIA, 2025 data |
| Breeder prices | No published Canadian range | We found no credible Canadian source |
Every year after the first. The adult cost repeats for each year of the dog’s life. OVMA’s yearly figure leaves out grooming, walkers, daycare, boarding and emergencies. Your own total will differ with your dog’s size, health and where you live.
Two practical tests: can you pay an unplanned vet bill of several hundred dollars this month without a loan, and can you keep paying for food and insurance if your income drops? If not, build a savings buffer first. For insurance, read the waiting periods and pre-existing condition rules before you buy. Our pet insurance comparison covers 12 insurers. PawTrace has no commercial agreement with any insurer listed.
Housing: renting, condos and the Ontario rules
This section is general information about Ontario law, not legal advice. Rules differ in other provinces. For your own situation, speak to a lawyer, a paralegal or a community legal clinic.
If you rent in Ontario
Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 says: “A provision in a tenancy agreement prohibiting the presence of animals in or about the residential complex is void.” In plain terms, a “no pets” clause in your lease cannot be enforced on its own.
That is not the whole story.
- Before you sign. Steps to Justice, the Ontario legal information site led by CLEO, says a landlord can ask whether you have pets and can turn down your rental application because you have one. The protection in section 14 is about the lease once you are a tenant.
- When a landlord can act. Under section 76, if a landlord’s application to end a tenancy (after a notice under section 64, 65 or 66) is based on an animal, the Landlord and Tenant Board must be satisfied that the tenant keeps an animal and that one of three things is true: the past behaviour of an animal of that species has substantially interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the building by the landlord or other tenants; an animal of that species has caused the landlord or another tenant a serious allergic reaction; or an animal of that species or breed is inherently dangerous to their safety. The Board will not rely on interference or an allergic reaction if your own animal did not cause or contribute to it.
- Damage and noise. Other sections of the Act let a landlord give notice for undue damage (section 62) or for conduct that substantially interferes with others’ reasonable enjoyment (section 64). A puppy that chews trim or barks for hours can create those problems.
- Deposits. Section 105 says the only security deposit a landlord may collect is a rent deposit under section 106. If you are asked for a separate pet deposit, ask a legal clinic before you pay.
- Shared homes. Section 5 says the Act does not apply where you share a bathroom or kitchen with the owner, or the owner’s spouse, child or parent, and they live in the same building. If you rent a room in a house like that, the section 14 rule does not protect you.
If you own or rent a condo in Ontario
Condos run on their own documents. Under the Condominium Act, 1998:
- A declaration may contain conditions or restrictions on the occupation and use of the units and common elements (section 7(4)(b)).
- The board may make rules on the use of units and common elements to promote safety and welfare or to prevent unreasonable interference. Rules must be reasonable and consistent with the Act, the declaration and the by-laws (section 58).
- Owners and occupiers of units must comply with the Act, the declaration, the by-laws and the rules. An owner must take reasonable steps to make sure a tenant complies too (section 119).
- For a new condo, the table of contents of the developer’s disclosure statement must show whether the documents contain a provision about pets (section 72(4), item 5).
Steps to Justice lists condo by-laws among the reasons a landlord might be able to require a tenant to remove a pet. Before you buy a puppy, ask the condo management office for the current declaration and rules. Look for limits on the number of dogs, size or weight, leashing in hallways and elevators, and noise.
City rules in Ottawa
The City of Ottawa requires a yearly registration for every dog. Other cities set their own fees and rules. See dog licences in Canada’s big cities.
Climate: Canadian winters and summer heat
A dog walks outside in every season. In Ottawa that means icy sidewalks, road salt and long dark evenings in winter, and hot pavement in July. Ask yourself whether you will walk a dog at 7 a.m. in January, and whether your breed choice suits the weather you have.
- Winter. Our winter guide explains why puppies, seniors, small, short-legged and short-coated dogs get cold faster, and why salt and de-icers can irritate paws. Ask your vet whether your dog needs a coat or boots, and plan reflective gear for dark walks. Read winter with a dog.
- Summer. Never leave a dog in a parked car. Our summer guide explains why flat-faced, older, overweight and northern-breed dogs struggle most in heat. Walk early or late, and test pavement with your hand. Read summer heat: cars, pavement and water safety.
Timing matters too. A puppy that comes home in December does its house training in the snow. Some families wait for spring for that reason.
Family and allergies
The CVMA asks you to consider every family member, including their health. Everyone in the home should want the dog, not only one person.
Allergies. A 2012 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology measured the main dog allergen, Can f 1, in breeds sold as low-allergy, including Labradoodles and Poodles. Their hair and coat had higher allergen levels than the comparison dogs, and airborne levels in homes did not differ between breeds. The authors found no evidence to describe any breed as allergy-friendly. If anyone at home has allergies or asthma, see a doctor or allergist before you commit. Then spend time with the actual dog, or the puppy’s parents, before you pay. The doodle buyer’s guide covers the research in more detail.
Children. Young children and puppies both need supervision. Puppies nip while teething. Plan who supervises, and teach children how to approach a dog. See dogs and kids.
Other pets and life changes. Think about your current pets, a planned baby, a move or a new job in the next two years. The CVMA lists life stages among its factors. A dog will be part of each of those changes.
Work schedules: who is home in the day?
We found no Canadian government or veterinary source that sets a maximum number of hours a dog can be left alone. Every dog differs, and a young puppy needs frequent toilet trips. Ask your vet or a qualified trainer what suits your dog’s age.
If you work long days away from home, your options include:
- taking time off, or working from home, for the first weeks;
- a midday visit from a family member, a neighbour or a dog walker;
- daycare a few days a week (see what daycare, boarding and walkers cost);
- choosing an adult dog that is already house-trained and calm when alone.
Shift workers and people who travel for work should plan backup care before the dog arrives, not after the first missed shift.
Travel and holidays
List the trips you take in a normal year: the cottage, family at the holidays, a winter week away. For each, decide whether the dog comes, stays with someone, or goes to a boarding kennel. Ask each kennel which vaccination records it needs, and whether it accepts a puppy that has not finished its vaccine series. Book early for holiday weeks.
If the dog will travel with you, read travelling in Canada with your dog and flying with a dog in and out of Canada. Airline rules, crate sizes and border rules for the U.S. all need checking before you book.
Puppy or adult, breeder or rescue
Readiness also depends on which dog. A puppy asks for the most time. An adult dog from a shelter or rescue may already be house-trained, and its adult size, coat and energy are already known. A responsible breeder can show you health results for both parents and how the litter was raised. Our honest comparison of rescue and breeder sets out the trade-offs. Whichever route you choose, see the dog where it lives, read the records and never pay a deposit under pressure. Our guide to questions to ask any breeder helps.
The printable readiness checklist
Print this table and answer each line honestly with everyone in your home. A “no” is not a fail. It tells you what to fix first.
| Question | Yes | No | If no, do this first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can someone take a puppy outside several times a day, and at night, for the first months? | ☐ | ☐ | Arrange time off, a walker, or consider an adult dog |
| Do we have time for daily training and a puppy class? | ☐ | ☐ | Book a class and block the time before you choose a dog |
| Can we afford $5,142 or more in the first year and $4,993 a year after (OVMA 2026-27 averages)? | ☐ | ☐ | Build a savings buffer; compare insurance quotes |
| Could we pay an unplanned vet bill this month? | ☐ | ☐ | Start an emergency fund or get insurance quotes |
| Are we ready for a commitment of 12 years or more? | ☐ | ☐ | Foster first, or consider a senior dog |
| Have we read our lease, or our condo declaration and rules, for limits on dogs? | ☐ | ☐ | Ask management for the current rules; get legal information |
| Can we stay in pet-friendly housing for the next few years? | ☐ | ☐ | Wait until housing is settled |
| Will we walk a dog in -20°C and in summer heat? | ☐ | ☐ | Choose a breed and size that suits your climate and energy |
| Has everyone with allergies or asthma seen a doctor and spent time with dogs? | ☐ | ☐ | See an allergist before you visit any litter |
| Does every adult at home want the dog? | ☐ | ☐ | Talk it through; do not buy a dog as a surprise |
| Is there a plan for supervising young children with the dog? | ☐ | ☐ | Read our dogs and kids guide; set house rules |
| Do we know who cares for the dog on workdays? | ☐ | ☐ | Line up a walker, daycare or family help |
| Do we know who cares for the dog when we travel? | ☐ | ☐ | Visit a boarding kennel or find a sitter |
| Have we found a vet clinic taking new patients? | ☐ | ☐ | Call local clinics before the puppy comes home |
| Do we know how we will register the dog with our city? | ☐ | ☐ | Check your city’s licence page |
Need a vet? Use PawTrace’s free Find a vet directory to see clinics near you.
If not now: good alternatives
- Foster. The Ottawa Humane Society supplies all food, supplies and medical care for foster animals. Fosters give time and space. OHS asks fosters to be 18 or older, to have a separate room for a foster animal, to have access to a vehicle, to pass a phone interview and a criminal records check, and to commit to at least one year as a volunteer. OHS fosters cannot adopt their foster animals. The Ontario SPCA’s provincial foster program also supplies food, beds, treats, toys and medical supplies. Read our fostering guide.
- Volunteer. Shelters need dog walkers and helpers. Ask your local humane society.
- Dog-sit for friends or family. A weekend with someone else’s dog shows you the routine.
- Adopt an adult or senior dog later. An older dog can suit a quieter home or a busier schedule.
- Save first. Put the monthly cost of a dog into a savings account for six months. You test the budget and build an emergency fund at the same time.
Myth vs fact
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| The puppy’s price is the main cost. | OVMA’s Ontario average for the first year is $5,142 to $5,245, before the purchase or adoption fee. |
| A landlord in Ontario can evict me for breaking a “no pets” clause. | Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act makes that clause void. A landlord can still apply on the grounds in section 76, such as a serious allergic reaction or danger. |
| The tenancy rule overrides my condo’s rules. | Owners and occupiers must follow the condo’s declaration, by-laws and rules under section 119 of the Condominium Act, 1998. |
| Some breeds are safe for people with allergies. | Research found no evidence that any breed is allergy-friendly. Breeds sold that way had higher allergen levels in their coats. |
| A puppy is easier than an adult dog. | A puppy needs the most time: house training, socialisation, training and a series of vet visits. |
| If I am not ready now, I cannot help dogs. | Fostering, volunteering and dog-sitting help dogs and show you what ownership involves. |
How PawTrace helps
When you are ready to choose, PawTrace labels each fact on a breeder profile or puppy passport so you can see what was checked. Labels include “Verified at source” (for example, a health result matched to the OFA database or the lab) and “Self-reported” (entered by the breeder, not yet checked). Paid placement never changes a label. Before you pay a deposit, check a breeder or a passport.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a puppy cost in the first year in Ontario?
OVMA’s 2026-27 average is $5,142 to $5,245 for the first year, before you buy or adopt. After that, it puts an adult dog at $4,993 a year. Grooming, walkers, daycare, boarding and emergencies are extra.
Can my Ontario landlord stop me from getting a dog?
A “no pets” clause in an Ontario tenancy agreement is void under section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act. A landlord can still apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board on the grounds in section 76, and condo rules can still apply. Steps to Justice says a landlord can refuse a rental application because you have a pet. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can a condo ban dogs in Ontario?
A condo’s declaration may contain restrictions on the use of units, and its board may make reasonable rules. Owners and tenants must comply. Ask the condo for its current declaration and rules before you get a dog, and get legal advice if a rule seems unreasonable.
Is there a dog breed for people with allergies?
Research has found no breed that is free of the main dog allergen. See an allergist and spend time with the dog before you commit.
How long can a puppy be left alone?
We found no Canadian government or veterinary source that sets a number. A young puppy needs frequent toilet trips. Ask your vet or a qualified trainer, and plan midday care for workdays.
Is winter a bad time to bring a puppy home in Canada?
It is harder, not impossible. House training happens outside in the cold and dark, and salt irritates paws. Some families wait for spring. Read our winter guide and ask your vet about cold-weather care.
Can I foster before I adopt or buy?
Yes. The Ottawa Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA both run foster programs and supply food and medical care. Each has its own requirements. OHS fosters must be 18 or older and commit to at least one year, and they cannot adopt their foster animals.
Keep reading
- How much does a puppy cost in Canada?
- Rescue or breeder: an honest comparison
- Fostering a dog: how it works and what it costs you
- Winter with a dog: paws, salt, cold and dark walks
- Questions to ask any breeder before you pay a deposit
Sources
- Ontario e-Laws: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, sections 5, 14, 62, 64, 76, 105 and 106 (consolidation from September 21 2026; checked October 16 2026)
- Ontario e-Laws: Condominium Act, 1998, sections 7, 58, 72 and 119 (consolidation from December 31 2025; checked October 16 2026)
- Steps to Justice (CLEO): Can a landlord reject me because I have a pet? (reviewed October 24 2023; checked October 16 2026)
- Ontario Veterinary Medical Association: Cost of Care, Canine, 2026-27 (checked October 18 2026)
- Ottawa Humane Society: adopt (fees checked October 16 2026)
- Ottawa Humane Society: foster an animal in need (checked October 16 2026)
- Ontario SPCA and Humane Society: foster opportunities (checked October 16 2026)
- City of Ottawa: pet registration fees (effective January 1 2026; checked October 16 2026)
- Ontario e-Laws: Regulation 567, Rabies Immunization (checked October 16 2026)
- North American Pet Health Insurance Association: State of the Industry 2026 highlights (June 2026)
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: what type of pet is right for you? (checked October 16 2026)
- McMillan K.M. et al. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports, February 1 2024 (U.K. data)
- Vredegoor D.W. et al. Can f 1 levels in hair and homes of different dog breeds. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2012
Keep reading