50 miles north of Dallas, outside of Denton, Texas, Sniffspot host, Carol, values several things in life, two of which are an appreciation for the outdoors, and seeing happy dogs. “I'm a senior citizen,” she said. “I've lived at my property for 20 years now, and have a total of 10 acres, which is fenced in completely.” With time on her side and ample space for her dogs to exercise, Carol has made the most out of country living.
As a member of several dog-centric groups on Facebook, Carol noticed a trend in posting – people complaining about their local dog parks, but who had no other solution for exercising their dogs. “I see constantly people complaining about going to dog parks and their dogs being attacked,” Carol said. “I guess couple of years ago I saw a sponsored ad about Sniffspot I thought that sounded interesting. I looked into it and I realized here's the way I can help people that don't like dog parks or have dogs that don't do well at dog parks. So I thought I'd give it a try.”
With several acres of unused land and the desire to provide a solution for dog owners in need of open space for their pets to roam, Carol took a leap and signed up to host, which took a little time to take off. “I signed up, and for a while I didn't get any customers,” she said. Eventually, things picked up after a regular visitor utilized Carol’s space, which is listed simply as a “Rural Yard.” “I've got a husband and wife with their two dogs that have been coming every weekend since the first of the year. It picked up from there.”
Since then, hosting has been a steady endeavor for the retired landowner, who most enjoys seeing people and their dogs enjoy the land that she’s called home for two decades. “I've met very nice people, I enjoy having them,” she explained. “I like to see them having fun without having to worry about their dogs being attacked or their dogs running off.” A lifelong dog lover, Carol also understands that not all dogs particularly enjoy the company of other dogs, especially in dog park settings, which can be overwhelming for some canines. “Some dogs don't get along with other dogs, so their owners don't have to worry about their dogs attacking somebody else’s dog either,” she added. “They seem to have a good time and that's all I want – for people and their dogs to have a good time.”
In addition to providing dedicated dog owners with the time and space they need to give their dogs exercise in a safe setting, Carol also enjoys allowing her canine visitors the opportunity to be themselves, whatever that may look like for them. “With the visits, the dog owners can see a different dog then they normally see,” she said. “That’s because they can run and play and investigate, since I live rurally. I have a pond, so the dogs can go swimming. There are rabbits, there's armadillo, sometimes you can smell the skunk who lives nearby, so there's a lot of different things for the dogs to explore, and I think people see different dogs when they get home. It's not always the dog they came with.”
Interested in hosting?
Learn more here about how your land can help dogs and you can earn up to $1,000 per month!
Every Sniffspot host has their own style of hosting, and Carol has found hers over the last several months. For starters, she always likes to meet new visitors the first time they arrive, to give them a lay of the land and so everyone can familiarize themselves with each other. “I try to be outside when people come so I can introduce myself,” she said. “Then I walk them down to where I have a freshly filled bucket of water for their dogs to drink, and show them the big, lined bucket to throw their poop bags in.” Carol also has a horse who stays in a dry lodge on the property. “If your dog will run the fence with them, he'll run the fence with your dog, but I make sure people don’t let their dog get into the lot – he won't intentionally hurt your dog, but there's always a possibility an accident could happen,” she explained. From there, a quick visit to the pond, and a head’s up about the occasional tree stump ends the tour, at which point Carol leaves her visitors to enjoy their time. “The first time I like to meet everybody, other than that my dogs and I stay in the house for the time they blocked off. My yard is their yard for that hour.”
When it comes to Carol’s bottom line standards, one sticks out above all else – treating her guests as she would want to be treated. Not only does she implement this by offering her guests privacy during their visits, she also gives a heads’ up about preparing for certain conditions of the Texas landscape. “We're in spring here in Texas, and sometimes it can rain a lot, so if I happened to get behind on mowing I'll send visitors a note that says I haven't been able to mow,” she said. “If the grass is long I would want to know because I wouldn't want to come in shorts and flip flops and the grass would be up to my knees. I would be frustrated, so I try to be transparent about stuff like that when it happens.”
Hosting with Sniffspot has further allowed Carol to show her guests care and respect. “This past weekend I had a client come book the time for 9:00 o'clock in the morning and I just peeked out the door to make sure everything was OK and saw that they were leaving. I asked if everything was OK, and their dog had got injured within 15 minutes of their visit,” she recalled. “So I wrote customer service and asked if we could refund their money. Sniffspot didn’t have to, but did, which I thought was really nice. If they had been here longer maybe I wouldn’t have asked, but I don't think that that's how I would want to be treated, so I try to treat the people that come to my yard the same way.”
For now, Carol has no huge plans to change things up at her place, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t open to hearing about how she could improve her guest’s experiences. “I've been thinking about sending my return visitors a short questionnaire to see what they want, and if anything might make it better for them,” she said. “To me, if I lived in town, just being able to come out here and let my dogs wander around where there's no traffic and nobody bothering me while my dogs run and play, would be enough for me. But I don't know what the clients want. The idea is for their dogs to have a good time – that's the most important thing, and that's what I want to do. I want to make sure the dogs have a good time and then their humans have a good time too.”
In the meantime, Carol aims to keep things simple, and doing those things well, as that’s been working for her and her guests so far, and often results in return visitors, which lets her know she’s doing things right. “I enjoy meeting the people that come, and seeing the variety of dogs that people bring,” she said. “And I really enjoy it if the person comes back, because I like hearing people tell me that their dog had so much fun running and smelling, and knowing they would come back to enjoy more of that.”
Interested in hosting?
Learn more here about how your land can help dogs and you can earn up to $1,000 per month!
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.