Arguably, Tillsonburg, Ontario might suffer a bit of an identity crisis thanks to a certain Stompin’ Tom Connors song about picking tobacco. Tillsonburg is still a primarily rural area, although diversifying significantly since the release of that classic Canadian ditty, and it’s been developing more suburbs and population – and population!

With suburbs comes (usually) dog parks, and this town has a good one. A spring visit with my spaniel revealed Tillsonburg is more dog friendly than I expected.

Here’s what to expect if you spend the day in dog-friendly Tillsonburg, Ontario in Oxford County with your pup.

Downtown Tillsonburg

Tillsonburg’s downtown is surprisingly hopping, especially if you’re used to seeing small-town (or even big-city) downtowns struggling and partially empty. Angled parking – similar to U.S. small towns – lines both sides of Broadway Street, making parking and stopping easy. We arrived before noon, so finding a parking spot was easy, plus the first two hours of parking are free.

Also, the city encouraged big-name stores, including Canadian Tire and Walmart, to locate along this street (similar to how former anchor department stores functioned in malls), increasing traffic and shoppers. This bodes well for smaller cafes and stores that line the street, many of them pet friendly.

Dog-friendly Downtown Shopping

Two stores specifically permit pups: Dande Collective vintage store at 147 Broadway promotes its dog-friendly status on the window. Well displayed second-hand clothing line clothing racks along the walls and some additional vintage household items dot shelves in the back.

Also, Betty’s Marketplace at 87 Broadway is stocked with handmade items from various artisans around the region. This is a ‘rent a shelf’ retail model, so products range from potted plants, essential oils, tote bags, t-shirts, gourmet popcorn, candles and one vendor of pet products such as poop bag dispensers. It’s easy to spend time here browsing because the shop is packed, like a craft show.

Closer to the Walmart end of the street – which is not long and easily walkable – is Ren’s Pet store at 164 Broadway Street, which of course is pet-friendly. Good place to pick up some chews and treats before you head to the dog-friendly patio or Dad’s ice cream outlet.

Dog-friendly Dining

Two restaurants along Tillsonburg’s downtown thoroughfare have outdoor dog-friendly patios: Dominos Pizza at 527 Broadway St. Yes, Domino’s offers take-out, eat in, or eat on the side outdoor patio with your pup. Nectar at 117 Broadway is a popular independent restaurant, especially for brunch on the weekends. The enclosed street-side front patio invites your pup to sit quietly while you dine on the signature omelet wrap or a brie & sundried tomato pesto panini.

A short drive from downtown – and a must-stop if you’re in Tillsonburg – is Dad’s Ice Cream stand at 2 Vance Drive. This place is iconic and appears in many a social media post (including ours). Dad’s Ice Cream is a retro walk-up window ice cream stand where you can get a scoop or two of Shaw’s Ice Cream – made in Tillsonburg at a plant not far away.

Fun flavours even nod to local lore, such as Birthday Cake (my choice – the blue part tastes like icing) and Port Stanley Sunken Treasure. Enjoy your ice cream with the dog outdoors at any of the red picnic tables scattered throughout the yard.

While there, head two doors over to visit the Tillsonburg Custom Food (TCF) production outlet store for some bulk takeaways and a few local surprises. Clearly, the food store is not dog-friendly, but it’s small and a short visit will net you some bags of frozen foods and a tub of Shaw’s ice cream. (I took home mint Polar Eclipse before I tried Birthday Cake at Dad’s). The TCF plant is located on the other side of Dad’s Ice Cream. Very local and all Canadian.

Tillsonburg Dog Park

The Dave Johnson Memorial Dog Park at 45 Hardy Ave., was designed with care, and this was an ideal spot to let my pup burn off some steam after shopping. We met only two other (nice) dogs there, so my spaniel had the run of the big side. There are two sections – a smaller one for small or timid dogs and a larger kidney bean shaped park with two water taps, picnic tables and a pavilion.

Double gated at two points, the Tillsonburg dog park is open seven days per week but is a bit challenging to find. Locating the Tillsonburg Community Centre easily – between the splash pad, kids’ play area, and baseball diamond, recreation is the name of the game here. However, the dog park is a little harder to find. Look behind the main community centre building – it isn’t visible until you drive through the parking lot. Park beside the gate.

Flower Power Dog-friendly Farm

On the edge of the town, the Makkink’s Flower Farm and Bakery Café at 164604 Kellett Road, is dog-friendly and especially beautiful when the flowers are in bloom. Walk through several acres of flowers for $10 or purchase a ‘cut your own’ experience. With that option, you’ll get a bucket and snippers to cut 10 stems for $40 or 25 stems for $50 of your own selection.

You can also fill a picnic basket with food from the bakery and make a day of it. Dogs are permitted on-site outdoors, but not in the bakery café. There are red Muskoka chairs to eat outside the café door, however.

Unfortunately, we visited too early in the season to see the flowers bloom but hope to head back when they do (June to September) because getting some pics of my pup among the buds is an opportunity too precious to pass up.

The Trans Canada Trail

Another reason to stop at the Makkink’s Flower Farm is that it offers access to the Trans Canada Trail via a stone path right through the property. Seventeen kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail runs through Oxford County – through Tillsonburg. It’s a flat easy to moderate walk with a leashed dog, but you’ll share the trail with cyclists and even horseback riders at a designated point.

The portion of the trail behind the Flower Farm is an easy way to exercise the pup for a few kilometres then return, hopefully, a little more tired and empty … and willing to sit still among some flowers for great pics. (Similarly, checkout our photo experiences at a lilac farm).

Other dog-friendly activities in Tillsonburg

dog If you are visiting on Saturdays (we were not), the Tillsonburg Farmers Market at Bridge Street West (In Front of the Station Arts Centre) is outdoors and dog-friendly from May to October every year. But only on Saturdays and you’ll have to get up early – the farmers market is open from 8 am to noon. (Check out other dog-friendly farmers markets here).

Additionally, like so many towns these days, Tillsonburg has a pooch plunge one day per year: this year on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, dogs can dive into the public pool at Lake Lisgar Waterpark, 9 Ross Street. Cost is $10.90 per dog and only 40 dogs are permitted at either the 4 to 5 pm or 6 to 7 pm time slots, so preregistration is necessary. The last day after the last day the pool is open for people, dogs get to have their day frolicking in the water.

Overnight with the dog in Tillsonburg, Ontario

While we did not stay overnight in Tillsonburg, research indicates there’s one dog-friendly hotel in this town: the Howard Johnson by Wyndham at 92 Simcoe Street, Tillsonburg. This motel-style carpeted accommodation offers free parking, free coffee and breakfast item, and permits dogs for an extra $10 per night.

If you go ….

Tillsonburg, Ontario is a small town with a surprisingly upbeat downtown, extensive community centre with recreational activities and was dog-accommodating everywhere we went. Care has been taken to modernize the dog park facilities.

Dog-friendly Shopping: Dande Collective vintage store at 147 Broadway Street; Betty’s Marketplace at 87 Broadway Street; 164 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg.

Dog-friendly Dining: Nectar, 117 Broadway Street; Domino’s Pizza, 527 Broadway Street; Dad’s Ice Cream, 2 Vance Drive, Tillsonburg.

Off-leash dog park: Dave Johnson Memorial Dog Park, 45 Hardy Ave., Tillsonburg

Dog-friendly Experience: Makkink’s Flower Farm and Bakery Café at 164604 Kellett Road, Tillsonburg

Trans Canada Trail: 17 kilometres in total. Entrance behind Makkink’s Flower Farm.

Dog-friendly Farmers Market: Saturdays, May to October, 8 am to 12 pm. 41 Bridget Street West, Tillsonburg.

Dog-friendly Accommodation: Howard Johnson by Wyndham at 92 Simcoe Street, Tillsonburg.

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!