Think Toronto, Ontario and images of the CN Tower might come to mind. However, one of the most photographed Toronto landmarks is located blocks away near the St. Lawrence Market. Meet the Berczy Park Dog Fountain: a traditional two-tiered ornamental fountain designed solely to enhance public space.

Only The Berczy Park Dog Fountain has gone to the dogs. Twenty-seven cast-iron sculptures of dogs (and one cat, if you can find it), surround this decorative fountain, all gleefully gathering around a central water source like wildebeest in the Serengeti.

This dog-adorned fountain is jovial with its realist representation of recognizable dog breeds – the individual colourful sculptures are more amusement park aesthetic than cerebral public art, that’s often abstract or representational.

History of Berczy Park

Completed in 1997, The Berczy Fountain is named as such because it’s located in the Berczy Park. Who’s Berczy? It doesn’t matter. What matters is the dogs. Each are different and animated, and I find a new one each time I visit. The Berczy Fountain is one of my favourite sites to experience again and again, each time I find myself in Hog Town along Front Street. I’ve got more photos of these cast iron dogs than I do of the CN Tower.

 (Sidenote: William Berczy was one of the original European 18^th century founders of Toronto, then called York, and few people know this or care).

Berczy Park, isn’t an expansive park – it’s a slice of urban green space wedged between two extremely traffic heavy streets (Front, Wellington East, and Church Streets), and it needed a landscape design update to enhance the surrounding St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. The area has become popular with visitors thanks to the market and nearby Canadian Theatre Company, shops (including dog-friendly Winners), and restaurants – some with dog-friendly patios.

Toronto’s Berczy Park Dog Fountain

Many people call this the dog fountain. Designed by Canadian landscape architect Claude Cormier (who died in 2023), The Berczy Fountain, along the park redevelopment, was part of a larger initiative by the City of Toronto to revitalize underutilized urban spaces. It is also a clear nod to the fact urban green space is utilized by people and their dogs. In fact, it’s a necessity for pup parents, particularly those living in surrounding high rises.

The fountain’s design reflects Cormier’s intention to blend functionality with playfulness. The Berczy Fountain is one of Cormier’s most iconic creations, embodying his philosophy that public art should be accessible and engaging.

Photogenic Dog Fountain

It doesn’t hurt either that it’s extremely photogenic in our document-and-share-everything on social media era. Whether you’re searching for your favourite breed among the 27-dog selection, or posing your pup near their closest doppelgänger, dog lovers will spend time circling this fountain.

The dog sculptures are true to breed sizes. Some sit expectantly around the perimeter; others spout water when the fountain is up and running – in the spring and summer but covered in snow during the winter. Charmingly, the centerpiece high up is a golden bone, cleverly suggesting a treat the dogs are eagerly eyeing.

However, notably absent is a spout or refillable water bowl real dogs can drink from, which would have been practical, considering how many people leash walk their dogs through this space. Also, there’s no off-leash area, and a short leash is necessary considering the amount of traffic whizzing by each side of the slice park, really a very wide road medium.

Nearby Dog-friendly Toronto Hotels

The Berczy Fountain in Toronto is within a leash walk distance (10 minutes) of the dog-friendly historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel, which limits two dogs per room and charges a $50 fee per night. The Fairmont Hotel is notably across from Union Station. Toronto’s Union Station is a busy transportation station serving trains in and out of the city and TTC subways and buses that run within the city.

Toronto’s TTC transportation system is dog-friendly, provided the experience is positive for everyone, according to the TTC policy. Therefore, pet dogs can ride the subways, busses, and street cars.

The Berczy Fountain is also a longer leash walk (20 to 30 minutes) from the dog-friendly Chelsea Hotel, located closer to the central Eaton’s Centre. The Chelsea Hotel charges a $50 pet fee per stay and limit size to under 50 pounds. (We’ll be staying at the Chelsea soon and will report on dog-friendly sites around the hotel).

Or you can ride the TTC with your dog from the Chelsea to the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Note that the market is NOT pet dog friendly (but a great place to buy food); however, some stores along Front Street do permits pups, including a large Winners outlet.

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!