In today’s post, the Chairdog of the Ontario Barks committee shows off his best buds at their favourite provincial parks with their humans!
Oh boy! It’s National Pet Day! *zoomies*
Even though this is a special day, I’m going to be fur-real with you – in my household, every day is pet day.
From the endless array of squeaky toys (with yummy stuffing and no eyes), the long W-A-L-Ks filled with my smelly presents, and second dinners because the human thought I didn’t get fed by the other human – it’s a pawesome time.
And get this: the fun doesn’t stop here. Sometimes, the human packs a bag and we head on out to a provincial park (there are hundreds!) for an adventure!
Don’t believe me? I’ve gathered all the evidence below of my best buds enjoying park visits! (Don’t ask about who destroyed the couch though; there is no proof.)
Mud the German Short-haired Pointer
“Mud and I were the first to set tracks in fresh snow on our winter adventure at Pinery Provincial Park. It felt like we had the whole park to ourselves on the road out to Burley Beach that is closed to vehicles in winter.
“The highlight of the day was a stunning view of Lake Huron and a hot thermos at the beach before making the trek back home for a well earned rest.”
Human: Kathryn Harrison, Park Interpreter at Pinery Provincial Park
Benny the Walker Coonhound
“There’s nothing Benny loved more than being outside; luckily we had that in common. However, Benny did things only on his terms. While camping at Lake of Two Rivers at Algonquin Provincial Park, we decided to go for a paddle but when it came time to get in, Benny refused despite being in a canoe often.
“He dug his paws in the sand and wouldn’t budge no matter how many nudges and treats we tried. His stubbornness drew a crowd that found his unwillingness to get in the canoe hilarious. Finally, I gave up and decided the two of us would simply go back to the campsite without canoeing, but as soon as I started walking away he went and jumped right into the canoe, ready to go.”
Human: Mary Jane Dvores, Assistant Park Superintendent at Emily Provincial Park
Rollo the Bernese Mountain Dog
“I first met Rollo in 2021 while at work at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park when I was informing his foster family about the location of our park’s dog beach. I adopted him two weeks later!
“In 2022, Rollo went on his first camping trip where we visited four parks in one go: Silver Lake Provincial Park, Sharbot Lake Provincial Park, Frontenac Provincial Park, and Petroglyphs Provincial Park. It was a whirlwind adventure resulting in one tired but happy puppy. Though Rollo was unable to enjoy more camping trips after unexpectedly passing in 2023, we spent many weekends hiking and exploring our nearby parks. The memories we made remain and it gives me great joy to know that he had such wonderful experiences during our time together.”
Human: Marina Opitz, Chief Park Naturalist at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Wendell the Rottweiler Mix
“Wendell is a silly and sweet boy who LOVES camping and hiking. He has travelled all over Ontario with his parents! He is a regular at MacGregor Point Provincial Park and loves to visit his mom’s co-workers!”
Human: Paige Thorne, Administrative Assistant at MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Mudd Puppy the Dachshund Mix
“Mudd absolutely loves visiting provincial parks. She likes to hike and walk the trails, but by far her favourite thing is the water! She loves to paw at shallow water and try to bite the resulting splash.
“She also loves to paddle out into the deeper water, and when her family goes on a big swim they bring her mini boogie board so she can take little swim breaks (which also looks adorable)!”
Human: Courtney Lafleur, Senior Park Clerk at Murphys Point Provincial Park
Charlie the Bernese Mountain Dog
“Charlie is the perfect camping companion. He loves long hikes and taking naps by the bonfire. Our favourite trip so far was when we visited Killarney Provincial Park last fall and hiked the Chikanishing Trail and The Crack.
“He has only been to seven parks so far, but we plan on visiting many more this year!”
Human: Logan Gillap, Senior Operations Technician at Silent Lake Provincial Park
Courage the Golden Retriever
“Fun fact: Courage has been to over 75 provincial parks – and counting! My family and I call her the perfect camping dog, because she’s always full of energy and happiest exploring different parks and hiking trails.”
Human: Morgan Lane, Senior Operations Technician at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park
Maple the Red Merle Australian Shepherd
“My dog Maple has visited over 25 provincial parks and counting! I love exploring them with my pet because Ontario Parks offers tons of pet friendly beaches, campsites, and trails.
“I have a very energetic dog that loves adventure, which gets me out hiking trails in parks every day. I love that my dog encourages me to spend more time in nature, and gets me outside no matter the season or the weather. I am so grateful for provincial parks!”
Human: Rachelle Law, Assistant Program Coordinator
Loki the Border Collie/Husky Mix
“This photo was taken this past summer on Loki’s first camping trip, he did a great job behaving in the tent and canoe until he made an attempt to help reel in a walleye and went for an unscheduled dip. Luckily, he was wearing his lifejacket!
“At home, Loki is becoming a great hiking buddy as well, frequenting many Ontario Parks trails local to the Thunder Bay area including Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Pigeon River Provincial Park, and Silver Falls Provincial Park.”
Human: Mike Holm, Park Superintendent at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Sitka the Border Collie and Brady the Yorkshire Terrier
“As a seasoned camper and unofficial bark ranger, Sitka took her little pal Brady to Quetico Provincial Park’s Dawson Trail Campground on his first ever tent camping trip. Sitka showed him the ropes by staying on leash unless in a designated off-leash area, keeping their barks down, and respecting park wildlife.
“When they ventured over to Quetico’s off-leash dog beach, they had an absolute tail-wagging good time and it was the highlight of their trip! They loved playing ball and cooling off in the waters of French Lake while their humans took in the beautiful sunset backdrops.
“Sitka and Brady also enjoyed hiking The Pines Hiking Trail (10 km round trip) together and snacking on a picnic of kibbles and treats at ‘The Pines,’ a gorgeous sandy beach at the end of the trail.”
Human: Laura Myers, Strategic Market Development Specialist
Looking for more ulti-mutt doggo destinations?
The Chairdog of the Ontario Barks committee has put together a list with the top five dream dog destinations at Ontario Parks to make your next W-A-L-K extra special!
A reminder from the committee
Longer day hikes can be challenging for both humans and our canine companions.
Please know your dog’s limits, avoid long hikes on hot days, and ensure you are prepared with lots of water and food for you and your best furry friend!
Need more information about bringing your furry companion to one of our provincial parks? We’ve got all the details here.
Farewell fur now,
The Chairdog of the Ontario Barks committee