From a travel perspective, St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada, is known for two things: the downtown Village of St. Jacobs, lined with shops and cafes, and the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, one of the largest farmers’ markets in the country. The first welcomes dogs enthusiastically. The second does not.
But it wasn’t always that way.
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No Pet Dogs at the Farmer’s Market
The St. Jacobs Market is huge and a big tourist draw in the summertime, especially Thursdays and Saturdays when the market runs at the start of the season (early spring). It’s open Tuesdays during July and August. Primarily outdoors, pet dogs used to be welcome outside, but not inside the three buildings. And it worked, with room enough for everyone on the weekdays. I took my previous dog there for the day, and we were even permitted to ride the scenic train that runs three times a day from the market to nearby Elmira.
That changed after some misplaced dog pee and several complaints.
Now, pet dogs are not permitted at the St. Jacobs Market anywhere though you’ll see a few there. And it’s one of the few outdoor farmers’ markets in Ontario that doesn’t permit pups to stroll among the stalls. (See our dog-friendly farmers’ market guide here). Service dogs, of course, are permitted at the market and inside all the buildings (but it’s not always easy to distinguish which are service dogs).
The good news is that there are several dog-friendly hotels near the market, the large patio at Stockyards Brewery is dog-friendly, and the Village of St. Jacobs is noticeably dog-welcoming – arguably, picking up the baton the market has dropped. And the shops are open all year!
‘Pet Dogs Welcome’ Village Program
Spoil the Dog Bakery has been an anchor in the Village of St. Jacobs just off the main drag called King Street. The Dog Bakery, known for its flagship product of baked dog treats in four different shapes and flavours (see our review below), changed owners in early 2026, but the tradition of onsite dog treat baking continues.
The original owner of Spoil the Dog Bakery was the momentum behind the Woof! Dog-friendly Businesses of the Village program. About 25 businesses have signed on, agreeing to permit well-behaved leashed dogs in their stores. Restaurants, such as The Stone Crock Pub and Those Pizza Guys permit dogs on the patio only. Otherwise, look for the dog sign on shop doors.
Note there’s one such dog-friendly sign on the door of St. Jacobs Emporium – two levels of shelves packed with the work of regional artists and crafters (including Tripping with Paw Prints). It’s easy to spend at least two hours strolling the street from one end to the other.
I’d recommend starting and ending near Spoil the Dog Bakery. Parking is easier to find on side streets, and the dog bakery is attached to The Book Loft St. Jacobs, which is also dog friendly.
Dog-friendly Trails of St. Jacobs
Be prepared to walk in St. Jacobs, especially if you visit like I did on a sunny early summer afternoon. At the point you reach the silo on King Street – a former silo that used to be filled with artisans about a decade ago but now awaits a new use – cross the street and head toward the Conestoga River; you’ll get to the entrance to the Health Valley Trail.
The Health Valley Trail runs along the edge of the river, accessed from the parking lot at 35 Albert St., E. The trail is a popular (and recommended) dog walk for several kilometres. Popular because it’s scenic and paved. And it’s dotted with dogs because it leads to the off-leash dog park near the fire station.
As much as my dog likes being taken along, she loves off-leash running more. It’s usually her reward for tolerating shopping. And guess what? Small town dog parks are usually not crowded. Sometimes you have the place to yourself. We have many times, including in the village of Haliburton and Port Dover, Ontario.
Dining with your Dog in St. Jacobs
Most patios in St. Jacobs permit dogs, but my favourite is The Stockyards Brewing Company across from the market and anchoring the Outlet Mall. The outlet mall does not permit dogs and is hanging on with a few stores left, including Spanner women’s clothing. Decades ago, the entire building, including what’s now a brewery, was an outlet mall with a large Levi’s outlet as the main draw, but Levi’s is no longer there and the mall has shrunk to about half its original size.
Today, the new Stockyards Brewing Company takes up a lot of the real estate, both by brewing craft beer and cider on site and offering an indoor beer hall and outdoor patio, perfect for chowing down with your pup. Traditional pub fare, including pizza and burgers, dominates the Stockyards menu. But a unique standout is the Forager Funghi Tacos, with oysters and cremini mushrooms – this dish alone is worth the drive to St. Jacobs.
And if you are driving, consider using a crashed tested harness on your dog in the car, like this harness from Kurgo (affiliate link) – one of our favourite brands.
Dog-friendly Hotels of St. Jacobs
Here’s a fun fact: the St Jacobs Market and the nearby hotels are technically in Waterloo, Ontario, though closely associated with St. Jacobs and everyone calls it St. Jacobs. (Technically, only the ‘village’ is in St. Jacobs.) Several hotels across from the market are pet-friendly (see below), but the one I stayed at was the Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo St. Jacobs. According to the hotel, it permits two pets up to 22 kg in size for a fee of $75 per stay – however, I did meet a Great Dane when I was there, so it appears the weight policy is flexible, though he might have been registered as a service dog.
The Marriott rooms are comfortable, new and stylish, much like the lounge. If you get a room with one King bed (like I did), there is enough room for the dog to roam a bit. A room on the first or second floor will allow you to take the stairs quickly when the dog needs to potty. (There is also an elevator). A bit of grassy area around the hotel works in a pinch, but the zone around the Marriott is mostly parking lot and a sidewalk heading to the market. All roads lead to the market here, and if you go (without the dog), it’s easier to leave your car in the hotel parking lot.
Mennonite Heritage
A significant feature of the town: St. Jacobs is home to Old-Order Mennonites who settled in the region in 1800. They still live much like they did two centuries ago, including driving horse-and-buggies as their primary means of transportation. They drive their horses fast and hard down King Street, the village’s main street, so watch as you cross, especially with the dog.
Being farmers, they have a strong presence at the market too. A log cabin interpretive centre on the market grounds tells visitors about their culture, so they can be left alone to sell their produce and maple syrup.
Overall….
St. Jacobs, Ontario is a destination that doesn’t welcome dogs everywhere but it’s still worth a visit, especially during the fall and spring when the market is not the central focus. You’ll have to skip the market with your pup, anyway, because it’s no longer dog-friendly. Instead, spend the day discovering a village that has quietly become one of Ontario’s most dog-friendly small towns. And be sure to visit the St. Jacobs Emporium.
Dog-friendly St. Jacobs at a glance …
Restaurants
Stockyards Brew Hall, 25 Benjamin Road, Waterloo (edge of St. Jacobs), Ontario
Those Pizza Guys Wood Fired Pizza, 9 Front Street, St. Jacobs, Ontario
The Stone Crock Pub, 1394 King Street N., St. Jacobs, Ontario
Dog Park
St. Jacobs Off-leash Dog Park, 35 Albert Street E., St. Jacobs, Ontario
Shopping
Spoil the Dog Bakery, 1A 4 Hachborn Street W., St. Jacobs, Ontario
The Book Loft St Jacobs, 1 B 4 Hachborn Street W., St. Jacobs, Ontario
St. Jacobs Emporium, 1395 King Steet N., St. Jacobs, Ontario
Check out the Woof list here.
Hotels
Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo St. Jacobs, 50 Benjamin Road E., Waterloo (edge of St. Jacobs), Ontario – Permits two pets up to 22 kg in size for a fee of $75 per stay.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Waterloo, 45 Benjamin Road, Waterloo (edge of St. Jacobs), Ontario – Permits two puts up to 35 kg in size for a fee of $75 per stay up to four days. Fee is $100 for stays longer than four days.
Staybridge Suites Waterloo, 10 Benjamin Road, Waterloo (edge of St. Jacobs) – Permits two pets less than 36 kg and pet fees depend on the length of stay: $75 for one to six nights; $125 for seven to 13 nights; and $200 for more than two weeks.
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Waterloo St. Jacobs, 55 Benjamin Road, Waterloo (St. Jacobs) – Permits both cats and dogs up to 35 kg with a $75 charge per stay.
Spoil the Dog Bakery Review!
Spoil the Dog artisan dog cookies are made from 100% human-grade ingredients and are free from wheat, soy, corn and meat. Chickpea flour is the protein source and there are five flavours, all represented by their own shape. Drop in to Spoil the Dog bakery in St. Jacobs, Ontario and pick up a sample pack of all five.
My dog, who is not usually a crunchy cookie fan, ate all five flavours with gusto. I laid them out so she could pick her favourites. Either she did, or she just ate them in the order I put them out. Either way, she started at one end and ate in this order: First, the clover-shaped pumpkin pie; second, the flower-shaped Cheddar Parsley; third, heart-shaped Organic Banana; fourth, the moon-shaped Peanut Butter; and finally, the round Apple Coconut.
You can buy a bag of each flavour (I assumed my pup would go for peanut butter first, so that’s what she got) or you can buy an assorted pack of all five flavours.
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!
