Lifelong animal lover Leticia has always felt connected to canines. She grew up with dogs of her own and recalls that she used to be the person people would reach out to when a pet was abandoned. “I was the house where someone would come and say ‘hey, we’ve got this dog’ and I’d have a backyard full of them,” she said of her efforts to help as many pets as she could. “I’ve always been the dog person. I’m just a sucker for them.”
Years later, Leticia and her family found themselves living in a house with a fully fenced backyard in Bellflower, California. She was intrigued when she heard of Sniffspot on a short news segment. Connecting dogs in need of off-leash freedom with hosts who could rent out their properties? “It sounded like a cool idea, so I looked into it more.”
Leticia had already been interested in using her outdoor space to make some extra income by hosting parties or other events, but the liability of large gatherings made her nervous. Sniffspot was the perfect fit: A safe, simple side gig that perfectly matched her dog-loving background.
Leticia grew up on a large property in Alabama where she got to enjoy the company of dogs. Later on her family moved into an apartment — and she experienced firsthand the struggle of spending time indoors without ample room to play. “I felt caged,” she said of the transition from her childhood house to their new building.
As an adult, Leticia lived in an apartment once again, this time with a pit bull mix named Cowboy. He was a great dog, but the tight living situation — without any easy access to greenspace — made it hard to meet his exercise and enrichment needs. Eventually, her family made the heartbreaking decision to surrender him in hopes that another home would be able to provide more fulfillment.
Cowboy’s memory has become a huge reason for Leticia to give back through her Sniffspot. She knows dog parks aren’t for everyone (and simply aren’t accessible in some communities) but that every dog owner wants to give their pets a full life. “I understand what it’s like,” she said. “Sometimes you keep yourself from getting a dog you really want because you’re in an apartment and don’t think it’s possible, but now that things like [Sniffspot] exist, it is.”
Leticia loves giving fellow dog owners in her community the chance to enjoy safe off-leash time with their pets, especially because she knows those opportunities can be the difference between a lifelong happy ending or a heartbreaking shelter tale.
Beyond giving back? Leticia also enjoys the extra income and connections she’s made through Sniffspot. She was able to quickly set up her space to rent out, spending less than a hundred dollars to get started. Her face lights up when she talks about guests leaving her positive reviews, and she recognizes a few regulars who keep coming back.
Leticia particularly loves seeing dogs and kids play together. She wants to emphasize that even if families don’t live in the ideal environment, platforms like Sniffspot make it possible for children to grow up knowing the love of a dog. ““You can bring your kids with you, too!” she said. “You can still let your kids grow up with a dog.”
“If friends come to my door and I don’t answer, they literally just go out back. They know that’s where I’ll be,” Leticia said about how much she loves her backyard. “It’s really peaceful.” She can sit in stillness and listen to the birds chirp, watch plants soak up the sun, and breathe in the fresh air. Her resident dog enjoys the reprieve, too — six-year-old Bulldog mix Sally loves to amble around the property sniffing interesting smells. She occasionally flops onto her back for a classic roll in the grass, paws outstretched, mouth open in a happy pant.
While her own dog is pretty laid back, Leticia is thrilled to see more energetic Sniffspot guests taking advantage of her space to romp and play. She knows that a safe area free of distractions is important to so many dog-owner teams — she’s happy to create an environment where pets are able to feel comfortable enough to both relax and enjoy their favorite games. (As a bonus, Sally gets to sniff everyone’s left-behind scent trails after visitors leave — meaning it provides her own dog with extra enrichment, too. Hosting truly is a win-win!)
Leticia’s favorite memory of hosting so far? Watching a family of travelers come through with a picnic lunch one afternoon. When she glanced out the window, she saw a scene reminiscent of her own favorite childhood memories: A teenage daughter laughing and playing with the family dog while her parents enjoyed a break from the stress of traveling. “I remember doing that at our house growing up,” she said. “We’d have a big old blanket in the front yard and we’d sit outside and eat.” She loved seeing a family hanging out together, enjoying nature and each other all without modern distractions like technology and fast-paced stress.
Leticia says renting her yard out to fellow dog owners has exceeded her expectations. When she first opened up her Sniffspot, she purchased a few toys from the local Dollar Tree, confirmed her booking settings, and that was all it took. “It’s really easy,” she said about the process. “Just get started and see where it goes.”
Once her backyard rental was up and running, Leticia focused on keeping things in perspective. She had nothing to lose! While it’s possible to be pretty hands off as a Sniffspot host, she’s enjoyed engaging with the local community on forums and sharing what she gets to do with her space. Above all, she’s remained centered on her original goal: Helping everyone — dogs and people alike — be able to enjoy a few moments of peace.
She started out with just a few simple pieces of furniture, but as time has gone on, Leticia’s added more and more to her Sniffspot space. “I put a lot of the money from Sniffspot back into the yard,” she said, sharing how she’s added more tables, chairs, and dog toys to spruce up her listing over time. Visitors can also pay a small extra fee for use of her doggie pool.
Cycling her profits back into her yard and giving guests the option of purchasing “extras” has enabled her to keep her hourly price low. She knows the value she provides to the community — and she loves knowing that her yard is accessible to those who might need it to fulfill their pets.
On top of renting her yard to fellow dog parents, Leticia has also started selling her own homemade dog treats. (You can get a free sample when you visit her Sniffspot!)
In the near future, she’s most excited to support Sniffspot’s initiative for displaced dogs. She loves the idea of providing free off-leash time to people involved in the rescue community. Foster pets can get the decompression they need while their caretakers benefit from some extra rest, too.Beyond that, Leticia wants to keep exploring ways to both engage with her local pet community and make some extra income. “I’m excited about whatever else comes next!” she said about her future plans. “This gave me a good foundation to get started. I always have ideas,” she added with a laugh.
Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, but what do you do when adventure calls you to a place that’s a bit too far for a drive? If you're a pet-owner who want to jetset with your pup, then you’ll want to find the best dog-friendly airlines.
Discover the Great Pyrenees, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, loyal, and independent nature. Recognized as a large dog, the Great Pyrenees have their origins in France where they were initially bred as livestock guardians starting in the roots back to 3000 BC century.
Discover the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a breed celebrated for its loyal, playful, and friendly nature. Recognized as a medium-sized dog, Staffordshire Bull Terriers originated in the United Kingdom, where they were initially bred for bull-baiting and later for dog fighting starting in the early 19th century.
Discover the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a breed celebrated for its friendly and affectionate nature. Recognized as a small dog, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have their origins in Wales, where they were initially bred for herding cattle, sheep, and horses starting in the 10th century.
Discover the Boxer, a breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and alert nature. Recognized as a large dog, Boxers have their origins in Germany, where they were initially bred for hunting large game starting in the late 19th century.
Discover the Great Dane, a breed celebrated for its friendly, affectionate, and curious nature. Recognized as a large dog, Great Danes have their origins in Germany, where they were initially bred for hunting and guarding starting in the 16th century.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.