What to know
- Mutts & Butts offers pack walks, dog-friendly workouts, and community events across Toronto.
- Founder Kareen Awadalla was inspired by her own experience as a foster dog parent struggling to balance fitness and quality time with her pup.
- The movement advocates for more inclusive city infrastructure—like winter-friendly spaces and dog-owner workout zones—to make wellness accessible year-round.
Leaving your dog behind to hit the gym or explore the city can bite at any pet lover’s heart—that’s why Mutts & Butts is redefining dog-friendly wellness, offering workouts and activities designed for both you and your four-legged friend.
Three years ago, the founder of Mutts & Butts, Kareen Awadalla, was asked to foster a very energetic dog who needed lots of exercise.
During that period, she felt like she never had enough time with her foster dog.
This challenge continued after she became a foster fail and eventually adopted her dog, Bruno.
Last year, Awadalla had a physio appointment, a 15-minute walk from home. She thought, “That would be a great walk for me to take Bruno, but I don’t know if they would let me bring him?”
After a phone call, the clinic said they love dogs. That’s when Awadalla realized that dog-friendly wellness spaces can exist in Toronto beyond just patios.
“It’s just inside that we’re always so reluctant to ask,” Awadalla told Now Toronto.
Creating dog-friendly spaces
Awadalla started hosting pack walks where the owners could “get more steps in,” and the dogs could, too. Dogs stop to sniff a lot when walking alone with their owner, but pack walks show people a dog-friendly wellness community.
Eventually, packs evolved into dog-friendly spaces, events and activations.
Some are placed at the STACKT Market, where fenced-off activities are held once or twice a month for dogs to play. Others are dog-friendly gyms — or trainers coming to STACKT to do full-body workouts off a bench.
“In that, I could see the demand was there. People wanted to find more opportunities to do more life with their dogs,” Awadalla said.
How about the dogs’ wellness?
Some of her friends, fellow foster fails, or dog parents have started treat companies or apps to figure out raw food versus kibble diet. Awadalla has fostered a community in her neighbourhood — even with a dog massage therapist.
With this dog-friendly network, Awadalla hopes to make it easier for others to make the best decisions for their dogs’ health.
“We don’t have them for very long. We’re lucky if we get them for like 10 to 15 years. I’m just trying to do everything I can to make sure his life is as long and healthy as possible,” she said.
How would a dog-friendly city look?
Mutts & Butts is already encouraging an active life with your dog and integrating them into your routines, but Awadalla hopes the city will welcome all-seasons, dog-friendly infrastructure.
The Dome at the Lamport stadium is a great example, and she hopes it will be introduced at other hotspots, too.
“Spaces for winter because I feel that’s when people really struggle the most,” she said.
But Awadalla added that another step is to add water bowls across the city during warmer weather, too.
Dog parks may exist, but they’re missing the “human component,” Awadalla explained.
Awadalla encourages the city to install callisthenics in dog parks so both owner and pet can move at the same time. Benches and simple infrastructure inside dog parks would allow for a wider range of exercises, beyond lunges or air squats, so small additions can go a long way.
Is there a demand for dog-friendly spaces?
“[Toronto] is so ready for dog-friendly wellness spaces,” Awadalla said.
With dog-friendly communities around Humber Bay, Fort York, The Beaches and Liberty Village, she’s excited for what the future of the city can look like for dogs.
For dog owners who are afraid to join these activities because their dog is too loud, Awadalla encourages you to come to the events anyway.
“My dog is crazy and barks sometimes, but that’s kind of the point. We’re both outside together, we’re both moving, we’re both stretching, we’re both benefiting from even the social aspect of being with other people and other dogs,” she said.
She shared that nine times out of 10, people who were initially skeptical said their dog became more comfortable in a pack, so dog owners can relax from being “Mama Bear” or “Papa Bear” and enjoy a workout with their best furry friend.
Vote Mutts & Butts for Entrepreneur of Impact
Entrepreneur of Impact is holding a competition between purpose-driven business leaders, awarding the top-voted business $25,000, a one-on-one mentoring session with Shark Tank star Daymond John, and a two-page advertorial in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Mutts & Butts is in the running and currently in fifth place at the time of publication.
Awadalla explained that the competition is in groups, and the group finals are on Thursday.
All you need to do is use a Facebook account to vote — and if you wish, make a donation to GenYouth, their charitable organization dedicated to helping school children thrive in a well-nourished and physically active life.
The grand prize winner will be announced by June 25.
You can vote for her on the website.
Winner or not, Awadalla believes she’s already learned lessons in asking people to vote — to support the dog-friendly wellness community and is thankful for the exposure.
Overall, she wishes to keep pioneering dog-friendly wellness.
“I think being able to have them with you when you want them there shouldn’t be a barrier. I think they regulate us and we regulate them,” she said.
“I’d say in a lot like five years ago, we got used to a lifestyle where we were home with our dogs almost every day. And I think people really miss that. You know, there are fewer remote work opportunities now. So I think just having the option to bring your dog along, you know, spaces that make them feel welcome and included and won’t give you a hard time about it,” Awadalla added.
