Traveling with dogs and pets has become increasingly popular over the last few years. 54% of dog and cat owners now say they are planning on traveling with their pets and because of this more pet friendly accommodations, activities and businesses are popping up all over.
Nova Scotia and the maritimes in particular are increasingly popular destinations to travel to with your pet. It isn’t always that easy to figure out where the best spots are for traveling with your pets are though so I have put together a guide of some of the best places for traveling with pets in Nova Scotia.
NOTE: Pet policies can change and some accommodations only have a certain amount of pet friendly rooms or only allow a certain size of dog. Be sure to always request and plan ahead for your dog, cat and pet adventures in Nova Scotia. Also note there sometimes might be extra pet fees that you could incur.
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Road trip with your Dog in Nova Scotia
Lockeport, Nova Scotia is home to one of the provinces most beautiful beaches, Crescent beach. It is also home to the pet friendly Lockeport Inn that also has a dog treat bakery on site. The Salty Dog Barkery in the Lockeport Inn makes healthy treats often made with seaweed and fish for your canine road trip companion. Inspired by the local surroundings and their dogs love of seaweed on the beaches the owners found out what a great source of vitamins, and fibre seaweed could be for dogs and created unique and healthy treats for them. They also sell other great locally made pet products in the shop as well.
The Lockeport Inn is also a pet friendly accommodation and the perfect place to stay with your dog. Take your dogs on a road trip to Lockeport, enjoy the beaches, grab some treats at the Barkery and have a rest at the Lockeport Inn. Please note that dogs must be kept on leashes on Nova Scotian beaches especially in areas where piping plovers and other birds and animals may nest.
All of Canada’s National Parks are also dog and pet friendly allowing them in picnic areas, campsites and trails. A great dog friendly get away is to go camping at Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site. Your dog can enjoy the trails, go for a swim in the lake and enjoy relaxing by the bonfire. Or head to Cape Breton to tour the Cabot Trail. Open the windows and let them hang out, tongue wagging as they enjoy the salty air breeze and epic views of the coastline as you drive by.
Pet Friendly Activities in Nova Scotia
A great place to travel with dogs in Nova Scotia is to the Steele Wheels Motor Museum in Bayers Lake. You won’t find many museums that let dogs or pets in, but Steele Wheels is a dog lovers dream. You and your pooch can check out some awesome old, antique, and unique cars and enjoy a bite to eat. In May 2024 they also held an event called Joy Ride that was a fundraiser for APAC Cuban Rescue and included a market with dog and pet friendly vendors, a beer garden for people and dogs, a performance of “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Dyson Knight of the Baha Men and more! Stay tuned for the next Joy Ride market and pet friendly events.
If you are visiting Halifax for the first time and want to do some sightseeing with your pet then head to the waterfront. The Halifax boardwalk is one of the longest wooden waterfront boardwalks in North America and is very dog friendly. There are lots of things to see, explore, and sniff as well as some good spots for pet relief. Let me give their legs a stretch and explore from one end to the other.
Once you are done with the waterfront hop on board the Halifax to Dartmouth ferry. Take your pet for a nice 15 minute boat ride before you explore downtown Dartmouth and it’s outdoor patios. If you aren’t a fan of water you could also hike up to the top of Citadel Hill and tour the fort with your dog or pet. Pets are welcome to explore all exhibits around Citadel Hill except for the food service areas.
Take your dog or pet for a hike!
Another great pet friendly activity in Nova Scotia is to go to a park! There are several off leash dog friendly parks in Halifax. The most popular and probably the most beautiful being Point Pleasant Park in the south end of the city. Look for signs for the off leash areas and enjoy the over 35km easy walking trails throughout the park. Other dog friendly parks include: the Dartmouth Common, Shubie Park, and Sandy Lake Park. For a list of all off-leash parks in Halifax click here. Nova Scotia is also full of great hikes all over the province, find a trail, keep your dog on a leash and enjoy nature!
If you want to give your dog some outdoor wild off leash time, but away from other dogs and animals a unique spot on the south shore is Even Stanley Two Can Learn. Here you can rent a trail for $15 an hour and let your dog run loose while you hike or bike and explore. They also offer dog training, and agility courses and have a dog pool opening soon.
Pet Friendly Hotels in Halifax
One of the fanciest hotels in all of Halifax is also one of the pet friendliest. The Muir Halifax hotel in downtown Halifax has high end pet friendly rooms. Tell them you have a sweet pup checking in with you and they will even have your room set up with a dog bed, water dish, treats and more. Other pet friendly hotels in Halifax include the Prince George Hotel, the Sutton Place Hotel, the Atlantica Hotel, and Hotel Halifax.
image credit Tourism Nova Scotia : Photographer- Alexa Cude
Pet Friendly Accommodations in Nova Scotia
We previously mentioned the Lockeport Inn on the South Shore of Nova Scotia as being a great pet friendly destination. Owned by dog lovers that also operate a dog bakery on site, what more could you want? Other great pet friendly accommodations in Nova Scotia include the White Point Beach Resort, the Kitch’Inn in Mahone Bay, Albert’s Inn in Shelburne, the Tru by Hilton in Yarmouth, Seek Wilderness Accommodations in Truro, the Marmalade Hotel on the Eastern Shore, the Maritime Inn Antigonish, and more.
If you are traveling to Cape Breton and looking for pet friendly accommodations then the Lakeside Luxury Domes should be on your list. They are also one of the only glamping dome properties in the province to be dog friendly.
There is also a pet friendly filter option when searching on Airbnb. There are many Airbnbs across Nova Scotia that allow dogs and other pets to stay.
Local Pet Food, Toy and Accessory Companies
In Nova Scotia there is an increasing amount of dog and pet food companies or creators making unique dog and pet toys and accessories. One of the coolest is Crafty Beasts Brewing Co. based in New Brunswick. Crafty Beasts brews beer for dogs. Non-alcoholic of course, its a flavourful drink to keep your pooch hydrated. Find them online or for sale at various stores around the maritimes including the Salty Dog Barkery in Lockeport. Crafty Beasts is also available at: Island Folk Cider in Sydney, Cape Breton, Frank & Gino’s in Amherst and Truro, and various Pet Valu and Global Pet Food locations.
Other locally made delicious dog and pet treats you should check out are: Chow Time Pet Foods – Kibble Drizzle from PEI, Sam & Paisley Treat Company from NS, and Dog Treats by Madison. A great local pet store to check out in the north end of Halifax is East Coast Dog. They sell a lot of these products and more and you can get your dog a nice bath there too.
Dine with Pets
Halifax is home to over 80 outdoor restaurant patios in the summer months. In the past few years there has been a law passed where it was ok to bring pets to the patios while you eat and/or drink at all patios in Nova Scotia. (At the business owners discretion.) A few great patios to bring your dog in Halifax are Garrison Brewing at the Seaport (dogs are allowed inside as well.), as well as their Oxford Street location and the Smokehouse Taproom on Agricola Street. All three locations also serve the previously mentioned Crafty Beasts dog beer so you can both quench your thirsts.
If you are headed to the Annapolis Valley with your dog the Lightfoot and Wolfville vineyard is also a great option to enjoy with your pet. They have an outdoor patio area with picnic tables that is dog friendly. Enjoy a flight of wine and delicious pizza with your dog at your side. Benjamin Bridge and Gaspereau Vineyards welcome fluffy friends too.
Shopping in Nova Scotia with Pets
Of course pet stores all across the province are pet friendly and let you shop with your dogs and pets. However there are a few other stores and shops that might surprise you. Winners, Homesense, Staples and Canadian Tire all allow dogs to be shopping companions as long as they are kept on a leash.
If you are looking to shop in smaller more local stores then be sure to always ask before you bring your dog or pet inside. When traveling through Mahone Bay, be sure to check out the Teazer Shop, a great spot for home goods and souvenirs. They are pet friendly and have a great pet section as well. In downtown Halifax the boutique shop Lilac & Thistle sells clothing and gifts and has a wonderful section for dogs so you can shop for yourself and your pet!
Dog Travel Experts in Nova Scotia
To find fun dog and pet travel inspiration for visitinig Nova Scotia be sure to follow Davey and Sky on Instagram. Friends of mine from Cape Breton who travel everywhere possible with their two dogs! Ask them for tips and follow for travel inspiration!.
