Pet-Friendly Hotels in Richmond Hill, Ontario, by Dog Size

The Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites has the best score of the three, 8.5 from 456 reviews. Marriott's listing is precise: two pets per room at most, 18 kg maximum, one non-refundable fee per stay, and the hotel wants to hear about the pet before you arrive. That fits a beagle, a cocker or a French bulldog; most Labradors are over the line. Pet rooms are limited, so the advance notice is the step that actually secures you a room, not a formality. Two small dogs can share a room, as long as each one is under the cap.

The Best Western Parkway Hotel Toronto North shares the 600 Highway 7 East address and is the one for big dogs. Booking sites list two dogs per room at up to 80 lb each, about 36 kg, with a pet deposit and a pet fee, rooms on availability, and pets kept under supervision. Service animals are exempt from the fees. With 868 reviews and a score of 8.1, it is the most reviewed of the three, and the one I would call first with a shepherd or a retriever. Its pet rules differ from the Sheraton's, so never assume one covers the other.

What makes the Parkway pair practical in winter is the indoor link. The Best Western connects inside to the Sheraton and to the Shoppes of the Parkway, a small mall with a food court, so one person can fetch dinner without a coat while the other stays with the dog. That matters more than it sounds: the Best Western's listings say pets must be supervised, so leaving the dog alone in the room for a restaurant meal is not the plan. In January, when nights in York Region usually fall below freezing, that indoor route is the main reason I would pick this complex.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Toronto - Markham is at 10 East Pearce Street, which is in Richmond Hill despite the name, and scores 8.3 from 340 reviews. IHG's own page says pets are welcome, with a non-refundable deposit for the first night and a nightly charge after that, capped per stay, and warns that a local bylaw may apply. Third-party listings give one pet per room up to 20 kg and say pets cannot be left alone in the room. It suits a single medium dog and an early start on the 404.

For a real run, the Town of Richmond Hill names Phyllis Rawlinson Park, on Leslie Street north of 19th Avenue, as its main off-leash facility, because it is the largest, has washrooms and parking, and is fully accessible. Tower Hill Park, off Yonge Street, has the second fenced area, with a separate small-dog section; council kept it open after neighbour complaints about barking. There is no designated parking lot off Tower Hill Road, so by car Phyllis Rawlinson is the easier stop from Highway 7. Both are public town parks, free to use.

For long leashed walks, Rouge National Urban Park lies east of the hotels, across Markham towards Toronto. Parks Canada requires a leash of 3 m or less everywhere in the park, beaches included, asks owners to pick up and bring water, and warns that blacklegged ticks there can pass Lyme disease to dogs. Stay on marked trails, and check the dog's coat, ears and paws before you put it back in the car, especially from spring through autumn. Leashing is the law there, and 2024 patrols could fine owners of loose dogs.