Pet-Friendly Travel Tips for Your Northern Ontario Cottage Trip

Well-behaved pets are always welcome at Hartley Bay Cottages, and a bit of planning goes a long way toward a smooth stay for your pet — and for the wildlife and other guests around you.

Each of our three cottages has its own private waterfront, so your dog has real space to explore, swim and dry off without needing a leash the whole trip. That said, we're surrounded by crown land, and Northern Ontario's wildlife — bears, wolves and more — is real. Keep pets in sight during the day and inside at night; a dog doesn't stand much of a chance against a wolf, and we'd rather you never find that out.

Pack more than you think you'll need: your pet's usual food (the nearest full grocery run is a scenic but real drive away), a leash for walks along Hartley Bay Road, waste bags, and something to protect furniture if your pet isn't used to staying off it — we ask guests to keep pets off the sofas and beds, or bring your own covers.

A few house rules make the whole system work: guests are responsible for cleaning up after their pets, pets shouldn't be left unattended inside unless crated, and everyone benefits from keeping pets calm and supervised around the shared driveway and docks. Our full pet policy is on our Policies page if you want the complete list before you book.

Bring your best friend — just come prepared for cottage country, not a city park.