# Dogs in Ottawa

URL: https://pawtrace.ca/cities/ottawa/
Updated: 2026-10-22

City guide · Ottawa, Ontario

## Dogs in Ottawa: registration, leash rules, vets and dog services

What the City of Ottawa requires of dog owners, what Ontario law says about buying a puppy, and where to find a vet, a groomer or a daycare.

The short answer
Register your dog with the City every year: $22 if it is spayed or neutered (or under 6 months), $42 if not. Keep it on a leash no longer than 3 m on City land, except in parks signed for off-leash use. A home can keep up to 3 dogs. Every dog 3 months or older needs a rabies vaccine.

### Registering your dog

Ottawa’s [Animal Care and Control By-law 2003-77](https://ottawa.ca/en/animal-care-and-control-law-no-2003-77) requires every dog owner to register the dog with the City and renew every year. The City tag must stay on the dog’s collar or harness.

| Registration | Fee per year

| Spayed or neutered, 6 months or older | $22

| Under 6 months | $22

| Not spayed or neutered, 6 months or older | $42

| Service dog | Free

| Replacement tag | First one free, then $10

Register online through My ServiceOttawa, or in person at a Client Service Centre (Laurier, Nepean or Orléans, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; or a rural centre one day a week: Metcalfe on Tuesdays, West Carleton on Wednesdays, North Gower on Thursdays). Not registering is an offence under the by-law.

### Leash and off-leash rules

- On City land your dog must be on a leash and under control. The leash can be no longer than 3 m.
- Off-leash is allowed only in parks designated for it. Parks are signed “Dogs Allowed” (off-leash), “Dogs on Leash”, “No Dogs” or “Mixed”. Follow the sign at the park.
- Even in an off-leash park, keep your dog under control and at least 5 m from children’s play areas and pools.
- Pick up after your dog right away and take the waste with you.
The City’s [dog parks page](https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/recreation-and-parks/parks-and-green-space/dog-parks) has a map of parks whose designation is finished. Read our guide to [leash laws and off-leash parks in Canadian cities](/leash-laws-and-off-leash-parks-in-canadian-cities/) for how other cities compare.

### How many dogs, barking and rabies

- No more than 3 dogs over 20 weeks old per home. Where dogs and cats live together, the limit is 5 animals, with no more than 3 dogs. Licensed kennels are exempt.
- Constant barking can breach the City’s noise rules. Neighbours can report it online, and a by-law officer follows up.
- Every dog 3 months or older must be vaccinated against rabies and kept up to date. See the [puppy vaccination schedule](/vaccination-schedule-for-canadian-puppies/).

### Ontario rules that apply to buyers

- **Pit bulls are banned in Ontario.** Section 6 of the [Dog Owners’ Liability Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90d16) still says no person shall own, breed or transfer a pit bull. Announcements over the years have not changed the law.
- **The PUPS Act is only partly in force.** The [Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2024](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s24014) received Royal Assent on June 6 2024. The part now in force makes running a “puppy mill” an offence under the [PAWS Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19p13), with minimum fines of $10,000, or $25,000 if a dog dies or is euthanized.
- **Not yet in force:** the limits on breeding young females and close relatives, the rule against separating a puppy from its mother before 56 days, the sale and transfer rules and the record-keeping rules. Each starts on a date the province has not yet set. Asking for a puppy of at least 8 weeks is still good practice.
- **Rabies vaccination is required** for every dog 3 months or older under [Ontario Regulation 567](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900567). Your vet issues a certificate and a tag.

### Before you pay a breeder anything

- Meet the puppy and its mother where the puppy was raised. A breeder who only meets in a parking lot is a warning sign.
- Ask for the vet records: vaccines given, deworming, and the clinic that did them. Then call that clinic to confirm.
- Ask which health tests the parents had for their breed, and for the result documents, not a description of them.
- Get the sale agreement in writing before any deposit, and read what it says about refunds and health problems.
- Search the breeder’s name and phone number. Scam sites reuse photos and phone numbers across many names.
You can look up any breeder name on [PawTrace Verify](/verify/) and read [how to avoid puppy scams in Canada](/how-to-avoid-puppy-scams-in-canada-2026/). Breeders in the list below were compiled from public sources. An unclaimed listing has not been checked by PawTrace.

### Emergency vets in Ottawa

These clinics are listed on PawTrace as emergency hospitals. Hours and services change, so call before you go.

- [VCA Canada Alta Vista Specialty and Emergency Veterinary Centre](/clinic/vca-canada-alta-vista-specialty-and-emergency-veterinary-centre/) — Walkley Rd
- [Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital](/clinic/capital-city-specialty-emergency-animal-hospital/) — Silver Seven Rd
- [Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital](/clinic/ottawa-animal-emergency-specialty-hospital/)
Not sure if it is an emergency? Read [when to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital and what it costs](/when-to-go-to-a-24-hour-emergency-hospital-and-what-it-costs/).

### Adoption and reporting a problem

- Ottawa Humane Society: 245 West Hunt Club Rd., Ottawa. Adoption, surrender and lost-and-found. [ottawahumane.ca](https://ottawahumane.ca/)
- By-law complaints (dog at large, waste, barking): call 3-1-1 in Ottawa, TTY 613-580-2401.

### Vet clinics, dog services and breeders in Ottawa

Search all listings on [Find a vet](/find-a-vet/), [Dog services](/dog-services/) and the [Breeder directory](/breeder-directory/).

### Vet clinics in Ottawa (32)

- [Alta Vista Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/alta-vista-animal-hospital/) · Ottawa South · emergency
- [Barrhaven Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/barrhaven-veterinary-hospital/) · Nepean
- [Beechwood Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/beechwood-animal-hospital/) · Vanier / New Edinburgh
- [Beechwood Veterinary Services](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/beechwood-veterinary-services/) · Rideau-Rockcliffe
- [Bells Corners Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/bells-corners-animal-hospital/) · Nepean
- [Britannia Heights Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/britannia-heights-veterinary-clinic/) · Lincoln Heights
- [Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/capital-city-specialty-emergency-animal-hospital/) · Silver Seven Rd · emergency
- [Centretown Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/centretown-veterinary-hospital/) · Centretown
- [Chapel Hill Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/chapel-hill-veterinary-clinic/) · Orléans
- [Chelsea Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/chelsea-veterinary-clinic/) · Chelsea Creek
- [Crossing Bridge Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/crossing-bridge-veterinary-clinic/) · Stittsville
- [Cumberland Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/cumberland-veterinary-hospital/) · Orléans
- [Eagleson Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/eagleson-veterinary-clinic/) · Kanata
- [Glebe Pet Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/glebe-pet-hospital/) · The Glebe
- [Gloucester Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/gloucester-veterinary-hospital/) · Orléans
- [Greenboro West Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/greenboro-west-veterinary-clinic/) · South Keys
- [Innes Road Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/innes-road-animal-hospital/) · Orléans
- [Kanata Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/kanata-animal-hospital/) · Kanata
- [Kanata Highlands Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/kanata-highlands-veterinary-hospital/) · Kanata
- [Manotick Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/manotick-veterinary-hospital/) · Manotick
- [March Road Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/march-road-veterinary-hospital/) · Kanata
- [Mer Bleue Veterinary Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/mer-bleue-veterinary-clinic/) · Orléans
- [Montreal Road Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/montreal-road-animal-hospital/) · Montreal Rd · emergency
- [Orléans Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/orleans-veterinary-hospital/) · Orléans
- [Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/ottawa-animal-emergency-specialty-hospital/) · Central · emergency
- [Riverside South Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/riverside-south-animal-hospital/) · Riverside South
- [Stittsville Small Animal Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/stittsville-small-animal-clinic/) · Stittsville
- [The Hamlet Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/the-hamlet-veterinary-hospital/) · Blackburn Hamlet
- [VCA Canada Alta Vista Specialty and Emergency Veterinary Centre](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/vca-canada-alta-vista-specialty-and-emergency-veterinary-centre/) · Walkley Rd · emergency
- [VCA Ottawa Veterinary Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/vca-ottawa-veterinary-hospital/) · Westboro
- [Veterinary Learning Centre and Clinic](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/veterinary-learning-centre-and-clinic/) · Nepean
- [Westboro Animal Hospital](https://pawtrace.ca/clinic/westboro-animal-hospital/) · Westboro

### Dog services in Ottawa (66)

- [BetterDog](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/betterdog-ottawa/) · training
- [A Pawsitive Difference Dog Training](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/a-pawsitive-difference-dog-training/) · training
- [Above and Beyond Petcare](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/above-and-beyond-petcare/) · daycare, walking
- [Awesome K9](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/awesome-k9/) · walking, training
- [Beamer’s Buddies](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/beamer-s-buddies/) · daycare
- [Beds for Tails Country Kennels](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/beds-for-tails-country-kennels/) · boarding, grooming
- [Bekkers Pet Care](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/bekkers-pet-care/) · boarding, daycare
- [Best Friends Dog Training](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/best-friends-dog-training/) · training
- [Boogity Dog Walking](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/boogity-dog-walking/) · walking
- [Brooke’s Dog Grooming](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/brooke-s-dog-grooming/) · grooming
- [bwd Petcare](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/bwd-petcare/) · walking, grooming, training
- [Call of the Canine](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/call-of-the-canine/) · training
- [Canadian Canine Training Academy](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/canadian-canine-training-academy/) · training
- [Carolark — The Canine Learning Centre](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/carolark-the-canine-learning-centre/) · training
- [Chris’s Groom Room](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/chris-s-groom-room/) · grooming
- [Cuddly Cuts Grooming](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/cuddly-cuts-grooming/) · grooming
- [Dawg Gone It Pet Sitting Services](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dawg-gone-it-pet-sitting-services/) · walking
- [Dayna’s Pet Services](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dayna-s-pet-services/) · walking
- [Dog Dayz Dog Care & Training](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dog-dayz-dog-care-training/) · daycare, training
- [Dog World](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dog-world-ottawa/) · boarding, daycare
- [Dogging It – Dog Grooming & Daycare in Ottawa](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dogging-it-dog-grooming-and-daycare-in-ottawa/) · daycare, grooming
- [Dragonluck Kennels](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dragonluck-kennels/) · boarding
- [Fox & Hound Grooming Co](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/fox-hound-grooming-co/) · grooming
- [Furry Friends Spa and Daycare](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/furry-friends-spa-and-daycare/) · daycare, grooming
- [Furry Tails](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/furry-tails/) · grooming
- [Good Looking Dog](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/good-looking-dog/) · grooming
- [Happy Paws Dog Daycare](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/happy-paws-dog-daycare/) · daycare
- [Hwy7 Pet Retreat](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/hwy7-pet-retreat/) · boarding, daycare, grooming
- [Jadzia’s Pet Care](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/jadzia-s-pet-care/) · boarding, daycare, walking
- [Kennel Club Boarding](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/kennel-club-boarding/) · boarding, daycare
- [Keshet Kennels](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/keshet-kennels/) · boarding, daycare, training
- [Leone’s K9 Lounge](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/leone-s-k9-lounge/) · daycare
- [Liam the Dog Trainer](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/liam-the-dog-trainer/) · training
- [Living K9](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/dogawalk-adventures/) · boarding, daycare, training
- [Matthews Kennels](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/matthews-kennels/) · boarding
- [Mutts n Pups Doggy Daycare](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/mutts-n-pups-doggy-daycare/) · daycare
- [Ottawa K9 Guru](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/ottawa-k9-guru/) · training
- [Parliament Paws](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/parliament-paws/) · walking, training
- [Patrick Dogwalker](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/patrick-dogwalker/) · boarding, walking
- [Paw Parade Dog Walking](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/paw-parade-dog-walking/) · walking
- [Pawllywoof Pet Spa — Kanata Lakes](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/pawllywoof-pet-spa-kanata-lakes/) · grooming
- [Pawllywoof Pet Spa — Riverside South](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/pawllywoof-pet-spa-riverside-south/) · grooming
- [Pet Agree – Dog Daycare, Cat Boarding and Pet Grooming](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/pet-agree-dog-daycare-cat-boarding-and-pet-grooming/) · boarding, daycare, grooming
- [Petminders](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/petminders/) · walking
- [PetSmart Dog Training — Heron Rd](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/petsmart-dog-training-heron-rd/) · training
- [PetSmart Grooming — Heron Rd](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/petsmart-grooming-heron-rd/) · grooming
- [PetSmart Grooming — Innes Rd](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/petsmart-grooming-innes-rd/) · grooming
- [PetSmart Grooming — Merivale Rd](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/petsmart-grooming-merivale-rd/) · grooming
- [Priority Pet Boarding Services Inc.](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/priority-pet-boarding-services-inc/) · boarding
- [Purrdy Paws Pet Spa — The Glebe](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/purrdy-paws-pet-spa-the-glebe/) · grooming
- [Riverside South Pet Grooming Services](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/riverside-south-pet-grooming-services/) · grooming
- [Shield K9 Ottawa](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/shield-k9-ottawa/) · boarding, training
- [Stride Canine Services](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/stride-canine-services/) · walking, training
- [Sunny Dog Training Ottawa](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/sunny-dog-training-ottawa/) · training
- [The 2 Sisters](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/the-2-sisters/) · walking
- [The Barking Barber](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/the-barking-barber/) · grooming
- [The Canine Clubhouse](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/the-canine-clubhouse/) · boarding, daycare, training
- [Total Dog Care Home Based Daycare for Dogs](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/total-dog-care-home-based-daycare-for-dogs/) · daycare
- [Trish’s Dog Walking and Pet Sitting](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/trish-s-dog-walking-and-pet-sitting/) · walking
- [Underdog Grooming](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/underdog-grooming/) · grooming
[See all in the directory →](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/)

### Breeders in Ottawa (3)

- [Glenfell Eurasiers](https://pawtrace.ca/breeders/glenfell-eurasiers/) · unclaimed · not checked
- [Halfpenny Kennels](https://pawtrace.ca/breeders/halfpenny-kennels/) · unclaimed · not checked
- [RegencyXCL Miniature Schnauzers](https://pawtrace.ca/breeders/regencyxcl-miniature-schnauzers/) · unclaimed · not checked

Listings are compiled from public sources unless a business has claimed them. Unclaimed listings have not been checked by PawTrace.

Run one of these businesses? Claim your listing free to correct it and add your hours: [for vet clinics](/for-clinics/) or [for dog services](/for-services/).

### Sources

- [City of Ottawa — Animal Care and Control By-law 2003-77](https://ottawa.ca/en/animal-care-and-control-law-no-2003-77)
- [City of Ottawa — Cat and dog registration](https://ottawa.ca/en/cat-and-dog-registration)
- [City of Ottawa — Dog parks](https://ottawa.ca/en/residents/recreation-and-parks/parks-and-green-space/dog-parks)
- [City of Ottawa — Barking dogs](https://ottawa.ca/en/noise-law-no2017-255/barking-dogs)
- [Ontario — Dog Owners’ Liability Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90d16)
- [Ontario — PUPS Act, 2024](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s24014)
- [Ontario — PAWS Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19p13)
- [Ontario Regulation 567 (rabies)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900567)
- [Ottawa Humane Society](https://ottawahumane.ca/)
Checked October 12 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Fees and by-laws change; the City’s own page is the final word.