With Toronto’s exploding dog population, it only makes sense that entrepreneuring dog lovers would meet the moment with businesses devoted to providing our canine pals with the best products and experiences available. These local shops offer everything from stylish pet accessories to luxury grooming, handcrafted food and treats, and fun community events. Here, five store owners share how they turned their fondness for dogs into their livelihood, plus their top-selling product recommendations.
Sniffany & Co.
10 Case Goods Ln., sniffany.ca
Natalia Aurnhammer opened Sniffany & Co. in the Distillery District in 2019 after beating Hodgkin’s lymphoma and deciding to build a business around her lifelong love of animals. The boutique blends pet retail with a paw spa, professional grooming services and a puppuccino bar, where dogs can enjoy coconut cream topped with everything from beef liver to dog-friendly birthday sprinkles. Its grooming services are appointment-only, meaning pets aren’t exposed to other dogs or left waiting in cages — an approach designed with anxious or reactive dogs in mind. For Aurnhammer, the goal was to build something more thoughtful than the typical pet store or salon. “I wanted to create a safe space for dogs and cats that focuses on quality and reduced stress,” she says.
Sniffany Woof Pupsicle, starting at $28.99
Perfect for high-energy dogs, teething puppies or rainy days spent indoors, the Pupsicle is designed to keep dogs mentally stimulated. The refillable toy can be stuffed with homemade treats or the brand’s Pupsicle Pops (sold separately) for up to 30 minutes of entertainment. Unlike traditional bones or chews, the reusable toy offers a less messy, lower-stress way to keep dogs occupied — while giving owners a little quiet time, too.
Our Haru
28 Bathurst St., ourharu.com
Chaewon Kim couldn’t find the modern, well-designed pet products she loved from Korea anywhere in Canada. So, she began curating and selling them herself. What started as a small operation run out of her apartment during the pandemic quickly grew into a destination for stylish pet owners looking for elevated Korean pet brands that blend fashion, function and quality. The Stackt Market boutique — named after Kim’s dog, Haru — has since built a devoted following in Toronto, with some customers even travelling from overseas just to visit the store and meet Haru herself. “Haru, my dog, is the reason behind everything,” says Kim. Haru also means “a day” in Korean, which perfectly captures the store’s ethos. “Our days with a furry baby, we need to spend ‘a day’ more preciously,” she says — a philosophy that speaks to a broader shift in how many people now view their pets: less like animals and more like family.
CiriusPet Red Light Therapy Warm Pad, $199.99
This Korean-made red light therapy device — for both small and large breeds — is designed to support mobility, circulation and long-term joint health. The lightweight wrap-style pad uses gentle heat therapy to target common issues like arthritis and joint inflammation. “A lot of customers are really interested in long-term health and wellness right now,” says Kim.
Dog World Resort & Spa
23 Camden St., dogworldrs.com
Stephanie Lomberg has spent more than 12 years working with dogs, starting in doggy daycare before going on to work as a receptionist, grooming assistant and manager of a boarding facility. When she opened Dog World Resort & Spa in 2021, she wanted to create something more elevated than a traditional kennel or grooming salon. “My dream was always to have a house dedicated to dogs,” she says. Set inside a retrofitted semi-detached house in the Fashion District, the space includes a lower-level daycare, a fenced turf backyard, curated retail on the main floor, and a grooming spa upstairs. On a typical day, between 20 and 50 dogs come through the doors. Special spa services include mud baths, blueberry facials and pawdicures, complete with paw butter massages. “I really wanted to lean into the luxury side of it,” she says.
The Working Dog Co. Sherpa Jacket, $89
When the temperatures drop, small and short-haired dogs alike need to bundle up. The Working Dog Co.’s handmade sherpa-lined jackets are Stephanie’s pick. Available in striped denim and brown canvas, the Vancouver-made coats are crafted using offcuts from the brand’s dog beds as part of a more sustainable production process. “The fact that [the owner] hand-makes everything and puts so much detail into it, I think is very cool,” says Stephanie.
Furrr
2207 Queen St. E., furr.ca
Jennifer Pau and Scott Jeong spent more than a decade each in the corporate world — Pau in consumer products marketing and Jeong in banking — before quitting their jobs to open Furrr, a pet boutique in the Beaches. The couple launched the business in 2025 after getting their first dog, a French bulldog named Blue, during the pandemic and noticing a gap in the market for fashion-forward pet products. “I didn’t understand why having a dog felt so joyful, but then shopping for him didn’t always feel that way,” says Pau. “I want my dog to be an extension of me. I want him to be co-ordinated the way I’m co-ordinated, so that when we go out for walks, it’s extra fun and special.” Today, Furrr operates as part boutique, part grooming studio and part neighbourhood gathering space, with events like pet portraits, adoption events and art pop-ups — all part of the couple’s goal to create a space that can “bring the community together.”
iCANDOR Dumpling Bag, $130
This quilted pet carrier looks more like a fashion accessory than traditional pet gear. Available in Midnight Navy and Lettuce Green, the lightweight sling-style carrier is designed for small dogs and can be worn cross-body or over the shoulder. It speaks to the growing number of pet owners who want their dog accessories to feel as design-forward as the rest of their wardrobe. Toting your dog around town has never looked so good.
MollyWagz Pet Boutique
3023 Dundas St. W., mollywagz.com
Michele Reynolds calls MollyWagz Pet Boutique her “life act two.” After a major life change in her late 40s, the former accountant found herself asking, as she puts it, “what do I wanna do when I grow up?” The answer was close to home. “The best times in my life always were surrounded by either a dog or a cat,” she says. Reynolds opened MollyWagz in 2019, naming the shop after Molly, her late Newfoundland “heart dog.” It has since become a pillar in The Junction neighbourhood. Reynolds says the store is 90 per cent Canadian, with many treats sourced from Toronto makers, and customers often come to her specifically for food advice. “We are really serious about nutrition,” she says.
Carna4 Hand Crafted Dog Food, starting at $25
Carna4’s handcrafted dog food line is a bestseller at MollyWagz, where Michelle has built a reputation for her expertise in canine nutrition. Available in proteins like chicken, lamb, venison, fish, goat, and grain-free duck, the Canadian-made food is quick-baked and air-dried and made without synthetic additives, preservatives, corn, wheat or soy. “Gone are the days when people just pick up their food at the grocery store and don’t pay attention to ingredients,” says Reynolds.
