Dorchester, Ontario is one of those small rural towns you pass by on your way to larger urban areas such as London or Windsor, Ontario. However, sometimes those slightly-off-the-beaten-path (in this case Highway 401) locales offer a scenic afternoon with your dog.

Dorchester, Ontario is one of those finds.

Is Dorchester, Ontario pet-friendly? It is during the annual two-day Dorchester Pet Festival at the fairgrounds every July. Cars with canine heads popping up in windows make the turn into the grassy field that doubles as a parking lot for this event.

However, that’s not the only thing to do with your dog in Dorchester. Not far from the Dorchester Fairgrounds, we found the dog park, Mill Pond and trails, and locally made ice cream, making this a tranquil stop any day of the year.

Dorchester Pet Festival

This year, however, it was the Dorchester Pet Festival that drew us here. Worth it too. The festival kept my crazy spaniel busy both because there was a lot for dogs to do and because she’s crazy. Specifically, crazy for the lure course. And Dorchester Pet Festival had a lure course, along with an agility course and dock diving pool. All three were included in the $10 per person admission.

When I pulled into the parking lot of the Dorchester Agricultural Fairgrounds, I realized I’ve been to a pet festival here before. When my dog caught sight of the lure course, she remembered every other time she’s done a lure course and lost her mind. Waiting for her turn, she nearly tore down the gate and thrashed out of her harness.

Dog Lure Course

She went full-speed on her first round of the lure course—one of three she ran that day. Subsequent rounds had to be regulated; otherwise, she would have run until she dropped.

My dog also rocked the dock diving – three jumps straight into the water – and random racing through the agility course surprised even me. Otherwise, this festival had vendors (of course), food trucks, farm animals from a petting zoo, reptiles on display (who didn’t mind the heat), and add-on activities for a fee including Sniff Scape and paw printing.

Dorchester Pet Festival runs annually for two days. Maybe it was the heat or maybe it was a weekend full of other major pet festivals happening in Ontario, but the turnout on the first day was lower than I expected. However, that did mean my pup had easy access to all the activities she wanted to do … especially the lure course.

But from there, we found other dog-friendly spots in Dorchester, Ontario by turning left out of the fairground’s parking lot – and barely venturing off that road.

Dog-friendly Dorchester, Ontario  

Dorchester Dog Park

The Dorchester Dog Park (3245 Hamilton Road) is located on the same property as the large community Outdoor Recreation Complex, so there is plenty of parking. The dog park is in the right-hand corner from where you turn into the facility. This is the first off-leash dog park I’ve been to that’s kissing a corn field – tall stalks bending over the black fence add visual interest to dog photos.

A tall iron fence surrounds the rectangle. There’s enough room for a few laps of zoomies and a double gate in the entrance. The separate small dog zone is small, but offers separation from the big park. Benches line one side and there is no shade, yet it’s nicely maintained with clear signage and posted rules.

The Frozen Cow

We almost missed The Frozen Cow (32 Mill Road) as I drove along Hamilton Road looking for the dog park. But I’m glad we didn’t. Look for the A-frame ice cream sign on the side of the road. The Frozen Cow is one of those old school ice cream stops – outdoor seating only (so you can sit with your dog) – serving 28 flavours of Canadian-made Kawartha Dairy ice cream.

Opened in 2017 by then 16-year-old Tanner Zelenko, The Frozen Cow is now a landmark stop – beside the landmark Old Mill – in Dorchester open seven days a week noon to 9 pm. They offer pup treats, but I forgot to ask for one when I was there. I was too focused on my own coconut ice cream craving.

Mill Pond and Trails

The Old Mill silo is historical, dating back to 1794, and that makes sense considering Dorchester was a thriving logging town in the 1700s and early 1800s. In fact, much of the wood used to build Detroit floated down the Thames River at some point. The Mill Pond, a crown feature of Dorchester, is behind The Frozen Cow and part of the Thames River system. That’s where I’d suggest taking your dog, along with your ice cream cone.

Fishing is permitted in the pond, or at least that’s what someone was doing when we visited. A scenic wooden bridge extends over the dam (reconstructed in 2005), ideal for photos.

If you’re up for it, the Dorchester Mill Pond EcoTrail (99 Mill Road) is a 3.3-kilometre trail that loops around the Mill Pond. Leashed dogs are allowed. The trails are groomed and clearly marked, and a few picnic tables and benches line the route. A boardwalk at the south end of the pond takes you over marshes, just don’t let your dog jump in. My fearless spaniel always wants to, but if our experience of the Dorchester Pet Festival is any indication, she’s up for anything.

If you go….

The Dorchester Agricultural Fairgrounds, 4939 Hamilton Road, hosts events throughout the summer, including the annual Dorchester Pet Festival mid-July.

The Frozen Cow, 32 Mill Street, Dorchester serves 28 flavours of Kawartha Dairy ice cream.

The Old Mill Pond and Trails are located behind The Frozen Cow. Street parking is available.

The Dorchester Dog Park, 3245 Hamilton Road, Dorchester in the Outdoor Recreation Complex. Open daily dawn to dusk.