This list showcases the top dog rescues & shelters in Montana. These remarkable organizations have been recognized for their unwavering dedication to the well-being of countless dogs. We've compiled this list by gathering heartfelt testimonials from both the Sniffspot community and the wider public, ensuring a comprehensive perspective on these exceptional shelters.
#98 in United States, #1 in Montana, #1 in Bozeman
Bozeman
Heart of the Valley, Inc. (HOV) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit animal shelter located in Bozeman and serving the Gallatin and Madison Valleys. Our primary service area includes Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, Big Sky, West Yellowstone. HOV also has contracts to serve as a stray holding facility for Gallatin County, City of Bozeman, City of Belgrade and the Town of Manhattan. HOV is an open admission shelter which means we accept any dog or cat brought to the shelter regardless of condition or circumstance. In addition to reuniting lost pets with their families and finding new homes for homeless animals, HOV serves as a resource for the community by providing programs and services designed to help bring people and pets together. We offer humane education programming, canine training classes and behavioral consultations, special adoption programs for senior adults and military veterans, low cost micro-chipping, ID tags, pet licensing and a no cost Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP).
"Beautiful and caring no-kill shelter in Bozeman, MT. I spoke with a volunteer who has been there for many many..."
— chelsie g.
Fan
"Rescued my cat from Heart of the Valley four years ago and they took great care of him and he..."
— toni s.
Adoptee
#99 in United States, #2 in Montana
The Humane Society of Western Montana was incorporated in 1963 as the Missoula Humane Society. At that time, our community had a considerable overpopulation of pets. So much so that thousands came through our doors and difficult decisions were made. Fast forward to the present and there is much to celebrate. Our community embraced spay/neuter programs and as a result, the sheer volume of pets coming through our doors for rehoming dropped from over 8,000 to approximately 1,400. HSWM is grateful for the work of all our volunteers and staff over the years. We wish our work was done. However, in many ways it is just beginning. When we consider pet welfare across the state, there are many areas where spay/neuter has simply been an unavailable and unaffordable service. There are communities where pet populations are at unsustainable levels and dogs and cats go hungry. People and pets in those areas need our help. And, as costs rise, many here in Missoula are now finding they cannot afford care. This is why we offer free vaccine clinics, low cost spay neuter services and travel long distances to provide care to underserved clients and pets. Through our programs, which include a robust foster care system, food pantry, behavior hotline and veterinary care, we serve more animals outside the shelter than within our walls. And we are growing.
"HSWMT does so much good for our communities and the animals here. They put on free/low cost immunization and spay/neuter,..."
— kris b.
Fan
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana, #1 in Billings
Billings
Janeen’s Catahoula Leopard Dog Rescue (JCLDR) is a 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue, consisting of volunteers who worked together successfully in years past for other rescue organizations. JCLDR was officially organized in 2014. After being in rescue 15 years, serving in the capacity of Coordinator at Large, in-house behaviorist and Vice President, Janeen Jackson pulled together trusted volunteers to create JCLDR, sharing 40 years of experience and expertise with the Catahoula breed. Our goal is to be a help to the staggering numbers of dogs being thrown away, traumatized, and euthanized. We wish to aid humans in keeping their commitments to dogs, through education and support. We offer a proven Board of Directors who are compatible in rescue and skilled in business operations. In spite of hectic lifestyles, we each share part of the load as volunteers, seeking no reward or benefit for ourselves except giving life another chance. Dogs are not unfeeling pieces of furniture, and they deserve love, dignity, and a second chance. We are passionate about our mission, and for many of us it is a personal one. We understand that sometimes all people really need to inspire them to give a dog another chance, is to hear someone say, “I can help. Together we can make it work; I believe in you.” We strive to build a bridge of trust.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana, #1 in Billings
Billings
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2007 and officially took over the sheltering of the City’s companion animals in 2009. It is a common misconception that Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) is a division of the City of Billings. While we do maintain a contract with the City to care for Billings’ lost/stray animals, we are separate entities. In fact, our City contract accounts for less than one-third of the shelter’s annual income, leaving us to raise the remainder of our budget through other means. YVAS also maintains contracts with the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and the Laurel Police Department to house and reunite lost dogs. YVAS hopes to one day provide an open-door policy to County cats. We will accept cats from outside Billings city limits on a case-by-case basis, depending on adoptability and availability of space. Over the last decade, YVAS has grown to become the largest shelter in Montana, intaking over 5,000 animals every year. YVAS has also made many changes over the years; ever-evolving to provide the best care for animals and the people of the Billings community. Our current shelter programs include reuniting lost pets with their owners, adoption, foster care, volunteer, outreach & education, low-cost spay & neuter clinics, and our life-saving Working Cat Program. We have recently partnered with the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program to increase our lifesaving capacity and improve the health and well-being of the animals in the community.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana, #1 in Billings
Billings
We are Freckles and Tomcat Rescue A non profit animal rescue that treats unwanted animals like family. Since 2016 we have dedicated ourselves to rescuing, rehabilitating and homing as many needy animals as possible. Our Initiatives Rescue With our mission always in mind, we strive to rescue and rehabilitate as many animals as possible. Contact us to learn more about our teams hard work and commitment to this cause. Advocacy We support responsible spay and neutering and host several free clinics yearly. This is by no means an easy feat, but through cooperation and community involvement, we believe we can facilitate progress in this area. Rehabilitation On this point, we will not waiver. We believe every life has value. Our goal is to support the welfare of animals in need. With the support of our dedicated volunteers we do everything we can to help every animal. Learn more about this initiative and how you can help.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana, #2 in Bozeman
Bozeman
Tiny Tails is a 100% volunteer group that works from foster homes. We do not have a facility. Our rescues usually come to us needing special care and we find that providing that care in a home, rather then a kennel works best for our rescues. Petco & Petsmart adoption partners and Petfinders.com partners
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana, #2 in Bozeman
Bozeman
We are a non-profit animal sanctuary & rescue organization located in Park County, MT. Our mission is to place amazing animals in amazing homes.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
Great Pyrenees Rescue Montana, is staffed entirely by a very small group of volunteers, whose purpose is to facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of abused, unwanted, displaced, and abandoned Great Pyrenees and Great Pyrenees mixes into safe, caring companion, or working homes. We serve Montana, but do support other surrounding states. We wish to educate the public and breeders in order to prevent overbreeding, as well as to prevent the overall increase in the number of dogs in shelters that end up being euthanized. Additionally, we serve a number of dogs that continue to be abandoned as sheep are brought off the mountains at the end of the season. Although we became a 501C3 in June 2023, we also operate under the guidance and umbrella of National Great Pyrenees Rescue, a 501C3 non-profit organization formed in 2006, for charitable purposes and incorporated as a 501C3 not-for-profit in 2007. We do not have a central location or shelter. All of our dogs are housed in foster homes or in a boarding facility. Our dogs are placed in fosters or boarding based on availability and compatibility with other existing dogs. We are pleased to partner with Old Farm Kennels located in Florence, Montana. When we are unable to find a foster home for a dog, our Great Pyrenees / Great Pyrenees mixes find love, care, and safety with the staff there.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
Since 1994, PAWS of Chinook has assisted Blaine, Hill, Liberty Counties and beyond. We are committed to providing a safe, loving place to land for pets looking for their forever home. We are powered by a group of volunteers who put our resident dogs first. As the only brick and mortar shelter in all of Blaine County, Montana our shelter is quite often over capacity. We have just 5 kennels to serve the needs of many. We are always in need of volunteers, fosters and adopters. Please ask us how you can help! As one of many dog shelters, we understand the need to control pet overpopulation and disease. All PAWS dogs are fully vaccinated, microchipped, and altered.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
RC’s story begins on Sunday March 4, 2007 at the Valley of the Moon Recreation Area along Rock Creek near Missoula. On that day, ARC’s founder took his two shelter mutts on a Sunday morning walk. On that fateful morning, Cupcake was killed by a beaver trap. The trauma of trying to rescue his dog set our founder on a path, which would ultimately, many years later, lead to ARC. "Rez Dogs"? ARC's founder sought healing through employment at the Humane Society of Western Montana, where he strived to help other animals and people. It was there that he had his first encounters with what others around him were calling “Rez Dogs.” He noticed the occasional tendency of some animal advocates to attribute the plight of these very special canines to indifference and cruelty in Tribal communities. He didn’t quite feel the same way, recognizing there was more to the story. He also recognized that these dogs held a special, gentle power. His experiences were already inspiring thoughts about the links between helping people and animals. An Idea Shortly thereafter, our founder was recruited to be the Executive Director for a fledgling nonprofit working to reform trapping regulations in Montana. During this time, while thinking about the confluence of funding, strategic planning, and mission-driven marketing, he spontaneously jotted down a project idea of creating a sanctuary on a Native American Reservation that would rescue dogs while providing healing to people. He had no idea where, how, when, or whether this idea would ever come to life, but it seemed like a good idea. ARC Finds a Place Some years later, having just finished a short stint as an Animal Control Officer, our founder found a job ad for an ED position with the Mission Valley Animal Shelter (MVAS) on the Flathead Reservation. He never imagined the amazing stories and relationships that would grew out of his time on the Reservation. And he certainly could not have predicted that, upon finishing his time with MVAS, the project that he had long since filed away in the dustbin would suddenly find a place, a time, a purpose, and an amazing community of support. And thus, ARC Becomes a Reality... Our founder witnessed much while doing grassroots rescue work on the streets of hard-hit reservation neighborhoods. In one of these neighborhoods he met Gunner (a Reservation mutt with an endearing underbite and deformed leg) and his human family. Gunner’s owner was a single mother living in poverty who faced a difficult situation and sought help for her dog, who limped around the streets dodging traffic. Rehoming was not a good option, because the mother's ten-year-old son had a strong bond with Gunner and relied on his companionship. Help was arranged, but, tragically, shortly thereafter the ten-year-old boy took his own life. This event was a real shock. Not only did it reaffirm a commitment to confront the inevitable links behind animal and human trauma on the Reservation, but it also spurred a realization that it was time to dig that old project out of the dustbin. Beginnings Since October 2018, many discussions have taken place with amazing people about the extraordinary potential of ARC. Pieces began to fall into place. ARC was incorporated in early August 2019. Bylaws drawn up. A project proposal took shape. A logo and website were conceived. A work plan was drafted and the early steps implemented. ARC initially served as a fiscally sponsored subsidiary program of the Missoula Urban Indian Health Center (now known as the All Nations Health Center), but gained its own 501(c)3 status in November 2019 and launched independent operations in January 2020. A fabulous, Tribal-majority Board of Directors was recruited. Initial discussions with the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) inspired interest in collaboration. In early 2020 ARC applied for and was awarded two year-long Americorps VISTA positions who have since worked hard to develop the young organization's capacity. Plans for launching ARC's pilot programs and fundraising events in 2020 were postponed due to Covid-19, but since then our work has taken off!
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
Pintler Pets is a private, non-profit humane society in Anaconda, Montana. We receive no governmental funding, and operate on private donations, grants, and adoption fees. Pintler Pets serves people and pets from across Montana through pet rescue, re-homing, and adoption services. All pets are microchipped, spayed/neutered, and vaccinated prior to being adopted.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
Life Savers Animal Rescue is a foster based rescue located in Polson, Montana. Our mission is to compassionately foster lost, abandoned and surrendered dogs and place those pets into caring adoptive homes, thereby enriching lives through adoption. We are an all volunteer 501(c)3 organization and 100% of our income goes to programs to help the animals and people that love them. Programs include adoption, low cost spay and neuter assistance, pet rehoming and assistance in keeping a pet in the home. Our wonderful foster homes are the backbone of our organization and we would not be able to function without them! Because we are a private non-profit rescue, not affiliated with city or county government, our rescue dogs come from a variety of places. Our priority placements are dogs in need right here in our community, and we take in strays (please see our stray policy below) and owner surrenders as we have room and an appropriate foster home. We also work with rescues in Texas and California that save dogs from euthanasia at high kill shelters to bring those adoptable dogs to Montana.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
Bright Eyes Care & Rehab Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to animal care and protection. Our goal is to promote responsible animal ownership within the community and to assume those responsibilities when others are unable or unwilling to do so. All of the programs that we offer are supported by contributions from the public and members of our organization. Those programs include pet adoption, humane education, pet therapy, spay/neuter assistance, obedience training, and any information requested by pet owners.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
The Lewis & Clark Humane Society was founded in Helena in 1964 as a means to create a more humane and ethical way to deal with the community’s stray and unwanted pets. LCHS is a small, private, community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides shelter for unwanted and stray animals (primarily dogs and cats) while working to end pet overpopulation, reduce the need for euthanasia, and improve the humane treatment and well-being of companion animals. LCHS serves three counties in Southwestern Montana, encompassing a population of roughly 75,000 residents and services an area covering roughly 5,500 square miles. LCHS also provides shelter for the dogs and cats of animal cruelty cases going to trial. We offer a variety of programs to the Helena and surrounding communities Since its creation in 1964, LCHS has continued to grow and expand its facilities and programs along with the growth of the community. In an effort to decrease the amount of animals that come through the shelter, we work tirelessly to make sure the pets in our community are vaccinated and spayed and neutered while in our care. LCHS also has a comprehensive foster care program – including day-trips and sleepovers – in order to help meet the needs of all the animals in our care while they wait for their forever homes. We also have multiple specialized personnel who work to socialize, exercise, and train animals in our care, in order to provide the best quality of life for the animals.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
The Mission Valley Animal Shelter is a small private no-kill facility serving Lake County, Montana. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), we depend upon the kindness, generosity and love for animals that we all share. Our goal is to reduce the number of abandoned, unwanted and homeless pets through adoption and education. Serving an area spanned by Lake County and the Flathead Indian Reservation, we are faced with both a rural and a reservation environment where stray animals often wander and breed on the streets. Being the only animal shelter between Missoula (60 miles to the south) and Kalispell (60 miles to the north) and serving a county where no Animal Control services exist, we are regularly challenged by the number of animals in need. Our shelter is managed and supported by a Development Director, a Shelter Manager, a Board of Directors, a small staff and a host of wonderful volunteers who help us with the maintenance of the facility and care for our animals. Our Board of Directors meets monthly, and all Directors take an active role in ensuring the organization is run efficiently and professionally. The MVAS projected 2023 annual budget is $352,650, which is to be covered by Thrift Store sales, grants, event fundraising, private donations, investment returns and client fees. The organization has a 501(c)(3) nonprofit determination, meaning that all donations are 100% tax deductible. Our History MVAS was organized in 1989, opened as temporary facility in 1992 and moved to our permanent location in 1994. During 2000 we raised money for an expansion of our shelter, which was completed in 2001. A further expansion was added in 2010 without incurring any debt. In 2018 MVAS embarked upon yet another expansion, which was completed in 2019. This expansion added 4 puppy and/or small dog kennels, and five additional fenced-in outdoor runs, as well as a new washroom. In 2021, we started a Doggy Play yard Campaign to raise money for some new dog yards. In 2022 the construction was completed, and we know have 4 outdoor dog yards for our fabulous furry friends to enjoy. It is in the works for 2023 to install some doggy play equipment into one of the new yards for some good ol' doggy fun! In 2022, we also were able to place a new roof system over the outdoor kennels in our East Yard and enclose the kennels in our West Yard on three sides. Now our doggos have some serious protection against the Montana weather. This was all possible thanks to the help of some amazing donors! In 2023, we will also be working on getting three doggy doors with outside dog kennels set up for our iso dogs so these dogs will be able to go in and out while they await access to our dog yards.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
**Rescue German Shorthair Pointers (GSPs) and other pointing breeds from shelters in Montana and surrounding states. **Provide a loving and caring home for them during the re-training process
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
RezQ Dogs is a non-profit organization, located in north-central Montana, committed to helping the unwanted and abandoned dogs from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. RezQ Dogs' facility is open by appointment only. We respectively ask that ALL visitors request an appointment at least 24 hours in advance of their visit by emailing rezqdogs@gmail.com. Due to the unpredictable nature of our work we do not have set hours of operation. Please be patient with us and we will return your email as soon as possible. RezQ Dogs receives no governmental or tribal funding and operates solely on private donations, fundraisers, adoption fees, and grants.
#100 in United States, #3 in Montana
Tobacco Valley Animal Shelter is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was established on January 1, 2008. We leased the decades old dilapidated animal shelter near the river walk from the county for 2 years and then in 2010 were able to build a brand new facility north of town where we are currently located. We are proud to say that we have had over 9,800 pets through our shelter doors since that time, as well as provide thousands of pounds of pet food to community pets and facilitate over 5,000 spay/neuter surgeries for the owned pets of Lincoln County residents. We are truly living our Mission Statement of "Improving the lives of pets and people in Lincoln County and beyond"!
Janeen’s Catahoula Leopard Dog Rescue (JCLDR) is a 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue, consisting of volunteers who worked together successfully in years past for other rescue organizations. JCLDR was officially organized in 2014. After being in rescue 15 years, serving in the capacity of Coordinator at Large, in-house behaviorist and Vice President, Janeen Jackson pulled together trusted volunteers to create JCLDR, sharing 40 years of experience and expertise with the Catahoula breed. Our goal is to be a help to the staggering numbers of dogs being thrown away, traumatized, and euthanized. We wish to aid humans in keeping their commitments to dogs, through education and support. We offer a proven Board of Directors who are compatible in rescue and skilled in business operations. In spite of hectic lifestyles, we each share part of the load as volunteers, seeking no reward or benefit for ourselves except giving life another chance. Dogs are not unfeeling pieces of furniture, and they deserve love, dignity, and a second chance. We are passionate about our mission, and for many of us it is a personal one. We understand that sometimes all people really need to inspire them to give a dog another chance, is to hear someone say, “I can help. Together we can make it work; I believe in you.” We strive to build a bridge of trust.
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2007 and officially took over the sheltering of the City’s companion animals in 2009. It is a common misconception that Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) is a division of the City of Billings. While we do maintain a contract with the City to care for Billings’ lost/stray animals, we are separate entities. In fact, our City contract accounts for less than one-third of the shelter’s annual income, leaving us to raise the remainder of our budget through other means. YVAS also maintains contracts with the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and the Laurel Police Department to house and reunite lost dogs. YVAS hopes to one day provide an open-door policy to County cats. We will accept cats from outside Billings city limits on a case-by-case basis, depending on adoptability and availability of space. Over the last decade, YVAS has grown to become the largest shelter in Montana, intaking over 5,000 animals every year. YVAS has also made many changes over the years; ever-evolving to provide the best care for animals and the people of the Billings community. Our current shelter programs include reuniting lost pets with their owners, adoption, foster care, volunteer, outreach & education, low-cost spay & neuter clinics, and our life-saving Working Cat Program. We have recently partnered with the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program to increase our lifesaving capacity and improve the health and well-being of the animals in the community.
We are Freckles and Tomcat Rescue A non profit animal rescue that treats unwanted animals like family. Since 2016 we have dedicated ourselves to rescuing, rehabilitating and homing as many needy animals as possible. Our Initiatives Rescue With our mission always in mind, we strive to rescue and rehabilitate as many animals as possible. Contact us to learn more about our teams hard work and commitment to this cause. Advocacy We support responsible spay and neutering and host several free clinics yearly. This is by no means an easy feat, but through cooperation and community involvement, we believe we can facilitate progress in this area. Rehabilitation On this point, we will not waiver. We believe every life has value. Our goal is to support the welfare of animals in need. With the support of our dedicated volunteers we do everything we can to help every animal. Learn more about this initiative and how you can help.
Heart of the Valley, Inc. (HOV) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit animal shelter located in Bozeman and serving the Gallatin and Madison Valleys. Our primary service area includes Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, Big Sky, West Yellowstone. HOV also has contracts to serve as a stray holding facility for Gallatin County, City of Bozeman, City of Belgrade and the Town of Manhattan. HOV is an open admission shelter which means we accept any dog or cat brought to the shelter regardless of condition or circumstance. In addition to reuniting lost pets with their families and finding new homes for homeless animals, HOV serves as a resource for the community by providing programs and services designed to help bring people and pets together. We offer humane education programming, canine training classes and behavioral consultations, special adoption programs for senior adults and military veterans, low cost micro-chipping, ID tags, pet licensing and a no cost Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP).
Tiny Tails is a 100% volunteer group that works from foster homes. We do not have a facility. Our rescues usually come to us needing special care and we find that providing that care in a home, rather then a kennel works best for our rescues. Petco & Petsmart adoption partners and Petfinders.com partners
We are a non-profit animal sanctuary & rescue organization located in Park County, MT. Our mission is to place amazing animals in amazing homes.
Welcome to the 2024 Montana Sniffspot Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List, highlighting the top rescues and shelters in Montana chosen by the Sniffspot community and the public.
Sponsored by Sniffspot, the largest global network of private dog parks, each park offers secure, private bookings on private land, including fenced, water, indoor, and beach parks. As a hub for rescue dogs, our sponsorship underscores our dedication to supporting shelters and rescues. Explore Montana dog parks on Sniffspot's platform.
https://myhswm.org/dogs/
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!
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
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.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.