You’ve read raves about the wonderful experiences dogs and their humans have had in a new kind of dog park. You’ve wondered what a SniffSpot is? I asked friends online to talk about SniffSpots and to share their tales of SniffSpot visits with their dogs.
Might a SniffSpot be a happy place for you and your dog?
Grace Linden (Idaho) SniffSpots are private dog parks that you can rent for your dogs! It’s a safe way to allow your dogs to be dogs without the stress of other people, dogs, and cars. SniffSpots are the favorite part of the week for my dogs and me, and SniffSpots have allowed me time with my dogs that is truly stress free.
Photo by Grace Linden
Em E Wolf (Colorado) I am certified professional dog trainer, and I also run a rescue. The rescue and I collaborated to build a two-acre SniffSpot this summer. I’m also a certified Family Dog Mediator, which looks at dog behavior through an ethological lens. Dogs have species-specific needs that are very difficult to meet in our increasingly urban/suburban environments. Dogs need to run, sniff, dig, forage, mark, roll, and explore natural environments with their noses. A good SniffSpot can help us meet our dog’s needs.
Christine Hale Vertucci (Tennessee) I was at one this morning! We have a big yard, but sometimes I just want the dogs to have more space to run, or I want some more space to train. My favorite SniffSpot is three acres and has agility equipment, a variety of toys, plenty of fresh water and clean-up bags, etc. It’s completely fenced in and private, and there is a cushion between appointments so that we never see other dogs. Our host even decorates for holidays and provides toy and treat gifts.
Photo by Christine Hale Vertucci
Erin Saywell (Indiana) We use SniffSpot a lot in the fall/winter months, when we don’t have as much going on with dog sports, and when it’s not too hot for ME. We do a lot of off-leash hiking spots and love them! Hiking acres of land, and not encountering anyone else? Amazing. I also appreciate the SniffSpots with smaller securely fenced areas for my littles to play freely without my being worried about them escaping. My favorite one for them is full of equipment for them to play on, and it has an indoor area with enrichment for the dogs … plus the hosts offer hot cocoa in the winter months!
Photo by Erin Saywell
Mandy Lorian (Wisconsin) SniffSpot is a life saver. I take my reactive dog there all the time with the few dogs he actually does like! It’s like having a private dog park. All the fun and none of the stress. The hosts tend to be wonderful and leave toys, water, and poop bags, so you have everything you need. I’ve even been to spots with pools and private ponds. My dogs always have a blast. It’s safe and they’re exhausted for the whole rest of the day!
Alisha Ardiana (California) I live in San Francisco. It is very difficult to find outdoor space that is truly safe from interruption. SniffSpot is amazing to provide that outlet. There are not very many in San Francisco because yards are so rare. However, there is one about 40 miles south, near Palo Alto. It has a running creek and a swimming hole. I went down there with another client. The dogs had so much fun running in the creek. It is worth my SniffSpot membership.
Adrienne Critchlow (United Kingdom) Sniff spots are usually called freedom fields in the UK. I’m not a regular user of them, but every now and again I will hire one, especially those with a bit of woodland, just so my dogs and I can feel completely and utterly relaxed in our own little world.
James Stripes (Washington) The first one we went to was small (about the size of an urban lot) and the weather was cold. Vixen did not want to climb on the equipment set there for that purpose, but enjoyed chasing the ball at full speed. We were done in twenty minutes. The second one was a steep three-and-a-third acres on the edge of the Palouse. Vixen ran hard in the snow and had a great time. We’ve been back to that one a couple of times. At another, there were Chuck-its available for use. We found that our puppy, who was not good at bringing balls back to us after chasing them, was now ready to do so. Again, we wore Vixen out in about 40 minutes. We’ve been there a few times and now have Chuck-its that we use almost daily in our own yard. SniffSpots proved useful while traveling across the state, too. On the way to Tacoma, we scheduled one in Ellensburg to break up the routine of the road trip.
Michelle Brady (Washington) SniffSpot has changed my senior dog’s life. He gets too excited about the world and that makes it difficult to get him out in the world. With Sniff Spots we can enrich his life in a controlled area with new smells where other dogs have been but aren’t there at the same time. He spends an hour sniffing and goes home happy and tired. We like to cycle through all the fenced SniffSpots within a 40-minute drive to give him different experiences.
SniffSpot: Private Dog Parks for Rent & More Sniffspot is designed for safe exercise and training in the safety of a private dog park. The best experiences and fun for you and your dog.
SniffSpot Private Dog Parks: An Option For Traveling Dogs —by Pamela Douglas
Your own private dog park. Wondering where to go with a reactive or shy dog? With SniffSpot, you can rent a safe, off-leash space for any pup.—by Julie Falconer
