dog friendly kw

Dog friendly everything.

Dog Friendly KW is your local hub for dog-friendly events, information, and community.

Text on graphic reads Dog Friendly KW Podcast, Saturdays at 11am on Midtown Radio. Listen now on Spotify or Apple Music. The graphic background is teal with the Dog Friendly KW Podcast logo overlayed.
Members of the Dog Friendly KW team stand in front of a forest with their dogs.
A black and tan dog with snow on its face sits in the snow, with the Dog Friendly KW logo and the text Community Guide: Winter Edition - the ultimate guide to dog friendly businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge & beyond; Issue 11: November 2023
A member of the Dog Friendly KW team in a red winter hat is instructing her brown dog to sit pretty.
A black background with a white graphic dog nose and mouth, with white text that reads Dog Friendly KW Presents Sniffscape, a pop-up enrichment experience.
A group of Dog Friendly KW volunteers pose with the dogs outside on a summer day in front of yellow Muskoka chairs, with a blue sky and a house in the background.
A photo of the Waterloo LRT train car with dogs in the windows below the Dog Friendly KW logo and text that reads Dog Friendly Transit - help us make the Region of Waterloo LRT dog friendly!
Members of Dog Friendly KW pose with drag performers and dogs on an outdoor stage at night.
A light brown and white puppy with snow on its face sits in the snow, with the Dog Friendly KW logo and the text Community Guide: Winter Edition - the ultimate guide to dog friendly businesses in Guelph and beyond, Issue 3: November 2023 overlayed.
Two members of Dog Friendly KW stand with their backs to the camera wearing red hats and jackets with the Dog Friendly KW on the back. In the background, the Dog Friendly event Paw-liday is taking place. Two small dogs in sweaters stand with them
A group of people practice yoga with their dogs in the park during a summer day, with trees in full bloom surrounding them.

Who we are

We are a group of passionate dog owners who want to make Waterloo Region the most dog-friendly community in Canada!

Dog Friendly KW is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive dog-friendly community through education, community events, and resources like our podcast and quarterly community guides.

  • We host thoughtfully organized events of all sizes throughout the year that focus on creating engaging, fun, and safe activities for humans and dogs.

  • Every quarter we put together jam-packed community guides for Waterloo Region and Guelph to help you live your best life with your dog.

  • We dive into interesting or controversial dog topics to offer new perspectives, support our local dog community and to spread the joy of dogs. Learn more about our podcast!

  • We believe in responsible dog ownership and in the well-being of all dogs.

What we do

volunteer with us

Want to be a part of Dog Friendly KW? We rely on volunteers and are always looking for more dog lovers to join our team!

Dog Friendly KW was created in 2020 by Justine Sparling and Mackenzie Drinkwater as a fun social media account for two friends and their dogs.

It quickly grew in popularity with local dog owners who were seeking more dog-friendly places to go and things to do in Waterloo Region.

In January 2023, Dog Friendly KW was incorporated as a non-profit organization. From its humble beginnings, Dog Friendly KW has now grown to include a board of directors and a team of over 40 volunteers, reaching thousands of community members across Ontario through fun, educational, and engaging content and events.

Two women sit smiling with two small brown dogs and one large brown and black dog outside in the grass with a vine plant in the background..

Dog friendly kw founders, mackenzie & justine

what people are saying about us

“The kindest, most organized people I have ever had a chance to work with in the last 2 years and will continue working with as long as I am capable. I can tell they GENUINELY care about me and my business and show genuine interest and support at and outside their events.”
— Event Vendor
“We always have the best time at Dog Friendly KW events. There is so much variety for things to do and it is obvious that a lot of effort goes into making them safe and fun for dogs and their humans!”
— Event Attendee
“This team is incredible! They really know how to put on a dog-friendly event. With fun games that are interactive with your dog, things to watch with your dog, a sniffing area for your dog or things to buy for you, or your dog. They thought of it all.”
— Event Vendor

Keep in touch

@thedogrink is an impressive 1000-square-foot enclosed training arena for dogs and puppies. Their dog behaviour specialists offer a variety of specialty programs for socialization, agility, obedience, and much more. You can also purchase doggy ge
Tomorrow is the last SNIFFSCAPE® Pop-Up of the year! 😢 Thank you @geraniumhomes for sponsoring this SNIFFSCAPE® Pop-Up! Their new picturesque community Bellwood Estates is now available! Don’t forget your SNIFFSCAPE® Passport! On
Thank you to our amazing sponsors that came together to make Paw-liday presented by @petvalu possible! These amazing groups make this fun festive event come to life! Be sure to give them a follow and thank them for their generosity! #DogFriendlyKW
Check out the adorable @living_fresh in the @stjacobsvillage ! A beautiful flower and home goods store. All arrangements are expertly crafted at their flower shop in St. Jacobs. They work with local growers and importers to source the best of what&r
It’s what a lot of you have been waiting for! Presenting our activity lineup for the 2024 Pawliday Festival presented by @petvalu From free workshops to competitions and craft activities. Amazing speakers, an animal communicator and photo ops

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