55Wonderful spot for my dog to run. He loves coming here and gets lots of exercise & sniffs. The host has added more fresh water bowls and chairs as well. Highly recommend!Laurie T.
Laurie T.
January 2024
Wonderful spot for my dog to run. He loves coming here and gets lots of exercise & sniffs. The host has added more fresh water bowls and chairs as well. Highly recommend!
55Great Sniffspot! Our LGD wore herself out exploring all the smells and climbing to the top of the hill to get an overlook of the area. As others noted, there are a lot of cow patties around, but luckily our girl didn’t care. You can hear the animals on the neighbors’ properties. Kelley K.
Kelley K.
January 2024
Great Sniffspot! Our LGD wore herself out exploring all the smells and climbing to the top of the hill to get an overlook of the area. As others noted, there are a lot of cow patties around, but luckily our girl didn’t care. You can hear the animals on the neighbors’ properties.
55Leia loved this place! Fully fenced in, large spot to sniff and explore. Leia wishes she was a farm dog so hearing birds and other sounds of nature is her favorite! Will be back! Angela A.
Angela A.
January 2024
Leia loved this place! Fully fenced in, large spot to sniff and explore. Leia wishes she was a farm dog so hearing birds and other sounds of nature is her favorite! Will be back!
55My dog Koda did have a wonderfully time playing frisbee, fetch and sniff around.
The property is big enough for a god dog exercise besides just walking. Fully fenced.
For sure we will comeback.
Thank you Kristie!
Clemencia H.
Clemencia H.
December 2023
My dog Koda did have a wonderfully time playing frisbee, fetch and sniff around.
The property is big enough for a god dog exercise besides just walking. Fully fenced.
For sure we will comeback.
Thank you Kristie!
55This was such a fun spot for my 100 lbs German Shepherd. There are signs that direct you to a designated parking spot and to the sniff spot entrance.
The property is pretty flat at the entrance and begins to slope a bit more when you walk further into the area. There are logs, plants, grass, and so many great things for my dog to sniff and get stimulated. Just be wearing of some livestock manure throughout the property.
There are two gates and a lot of separating space between the Sniff Spot and the neighboring backyards, but you can still hear the neighbors dogs barking when you stay near the entrance. We walked further into the property where two fences and a road separate you from a horse, so the dogs didn't bother us after that. You can hear the horse neighing and some cows mooing, but they are out of sight for the most part and not a problem for my dog.
My dog and I are excited to come back! The host is very friendly and has a phone number posted on the gate if you need anything at all. Charity K.
Charity K.
December 2023
This was such a fun spot for my 100 lbs German Shepherd. There are signs that direct you to a designated parking spot and to the sniff spot entrance.
The property is pretty flat at the entrance and begins to slope a bit more when you walk further into the area. There are logs, plants, grass, and so many great things for my dog to sniff and get stimulated. Just be wearing of some livestock manure throughout the property.
There are two gates and a lot of separating space between the Sniff Spot and the neighboring backyards, but you can still hear the neighbors dogs barking when you stay near the entrance. We walked further into the property where two fences and a road separate you from a horse, so the dogs didn't bother us after that. You can hear the horse neighing and some cows mooing, but they are out of sight for the most part and not a problem for my dog.
My dog and I are excited to come back! The host is very friendly and has a phone number posted on the gate if you need anything at all.
55Kristie was so accommodating, even when we had to change the appointment time due to heavy rain! The Sniffspot itself was plenty of room for both my dogs to run, sniff, and play! Shannon Y.
Shannon Y.
December 2023
Kristie was so accommodating, even when we had to change the appointment time due to heavy rain! The Sniffspot itself was plenty of room for both my dogs to run, sniff, and play!
55Easy to find and clear signage for where to park etc. Big fenced-in field, there were one or two gaps that a smaller dog could have fit through. Water and trash cans available. Dogs in yard next door barked most of the time so if you have a dog that is sensitive to dogs barking, might not be the best spot for you. Ilene W.
Ilene W.
December 2023
Easy to find and clear signage for where to park etc. Big fenced-in field, there were one or two gaps that a smaller dog could have fit through. Water and trash cans available. Dogs in yard next door barked most of the time so if you have a dog that is sensitive to dogs barking, might not be the best spot for you.
55We brought our 4 dogs to meet and great before the holiday in a nuetral environment and this was great for that . We will be back. Lots of zoomies we’re had by allLinda W.
Linda W.
January 2024
We brought our 4 dogs to meet and great before the holiday in a nuetral environment and this was great for that . We will be back. Lots of zoomies we’re had by all
55My Lola enjoyed this spot. I was a bit worried about the cow poo. Lola is a Lab and tends to eat everything but she wasn't phased by the poo. Huge lot, nice bark covered hill for fun climbing. Lola is ball obsessed so plenty of room to fetch. Great place to keep your pup safe during this virus. Will return the first week of January and bring another friend with us. Definitely will return. 🐾🐾Amanda B.
Amanda B.
December 2023
My Lola enjoyed this spot. I was a bit worried about the cow poo. Lola is a Lab and tends to eat everything but she wasn't phased by the poo. Huge lot, nice bark covered hill for fun climbing. Lola is ball obsessed so plenty of room to fetch. Great place to keep your pup safe during this virus. Will return the first week of January and bring another friend with us. Definitely will return. 🐾🐾
55This was our first time visiting this spot, and it was a great experience all the way around! The space was nicely tended and large. My dogs had the best time, and we are going to make this a regular outing! Highly recommend! Amy M.
Amy M.
December 2023
This was our first time visiting this spot, and it was a great experience all the way around! The space was nicely tended and large. My dogs had the best time, and we are going to make this a regular outing! Highly recommend!
55This was an awesome place! The perimeter is very well fenced - there are a few teeny tiny gaps where a super small, super determined dog *might* be able to get through, but they clearly maintain the fence very very well. My dog is 45 lbs and a proven escape artist, and I felt safe letting her run here. The neighborhood is pretty quiet, and the views were beautiful! A bonus: even after a full day of rain, the ground was firm. Keats I.
Keats I.
December 2023
This was an awesome place! The perimeter is very well fenced - there are a few teeny tiny gaps where a super small, super determined dog *might* be able to get through, but they clearly maintain the fence very very well. My dog is 45 lbs and a proven escape artist, and I felt safe letting her run here. The neighborhood is pretty quiet, and the views were beautiful! A bonus: even after a full day of rain, the ground was firm.
55Beautiful spot to enjoy for both the human and dog! Lots of variety of terrain for my puppy to explore and the host was very responsive and helpful!Alice W.
Alice W.
December 2023
Beautiful spot to enjoy for both the human and dog! Lots of variety of terrain for my puppy to explore and the host was very responsive and helpful!
55Such a beautiful meadow, and so much to sniff! The fencing is very secure and has even been reinforced in some areas. Horses are visible but still a ways away. Lots of room to run and lots of things to sniff. No distractions from the car to the spot, and appreciate the garbage cans at the entrance and the clean drinking water on the site. What a beautiful property, thank you for sharing it with us!K G.
K G.
December 2023
Such a beautiful meadow, and so much to sniff! The fencing is very secure and has even been reinforced in some areas. Horses are visible but still a ways away. Lots of room to run and lots of things to sniff. No distractions from the car to the spot, and appreciate the garbage cans at the entrance and the clean drinking water on the site. What a beautiful property, thank you for sharing it with us!
55Great spot, very open, lots of room for dogs to run full speed. The sniffspot is easy to locate with well posted signs. There is a dedicated parking spot right across from the spot.
There are neighbor dogs that barked but didn't last for long. The excitement of a big open space and new smells kept my dogs occupied. There were a few cow pies, but they were avoidable, and my dogs largely ignored them.
All in all, a great spot for dogs and the hill makes for some great cardio for the owners, too! We will definitely be booking again.Jessica B.
Jessica B.
January 2024
Great spot, very open, lots of room for dogs to run full speed. The sniffspot is easy to locate with well posted signs. There is a dedicated parking spot right across from the spot.
There are neighbor dogs that barked but didn't last for long. The excitement of a big open space and new smells kept my dogs occupied. There were a few cow pies, but they were avoidable, and my dogs largely ignored them.
All in all, a great spot for dogs and the hill makes for some great cardio for the owners, too! We will definitely be booking again.
55Huge open space, green, and fully fenced! Our mini aussie was in love. You will hear dogs and other animals but they are not visible. There are some holes in the ground so be careful if your dog is on the smaller side. All in all, we love the space and will try to make regular visits. Shahryar (Shawn) N.
Shahryar (Shawn) N.
January 2024
Huge open space, green, and fully fenced! Our mini aussie was in love. You will hear dogs and other animals but they are not visible. There are some holes in the ground so be careful if your dog is on the smaller side. All in all, we love the space and will try to make regular visits.
55Absolutely beautiful hillside pasture that my pup Charli got to romp around and play at today out in south San Jose/Almaden area. Lots of luscious green grass and areas for her to explore while we were there. The hosts were very kind and answered my questions promptly and made their property and the entrance to the hillside easy to find and access. We will definitely be back! ThanksTracy H.
Tracy H.
January 2024
Absolutely beautiful hillside pasture that my pup Charli got to romp around and play at today out in south San Jose/Almaden area. Lots of luscious green grass and areas for her to explore while we were there. The hosts were very kind and answered my questions promptly and made their property and the entrance to the hillside easy to find and access. We will definitely be back! Thanks
55This is our second time at Hillside Meadow. This place is Amazing! It has plenty of space for sniff around, fresh air, nice view, nature, nature, nature.
During our visit we got to see Peacocks, chickens and horses next door. Koda, my dog got a lot of exercise going up and down the hill.
Thank you Kristie for sharing this beautiful space for our dogs.Clemencia H.
Clemencia H.
January 2024
This is our second time at Hillside Meadow. This place is Amazing! It has plenty of space for sniff around, fresh air, nice view, nature, nature, nature.
During our visit we got to see Peacocks, chickens and horses next door. Koda, my dog got a lot of exercise going up and down the hill.
Thank you Kristie for sharing this beautiful space for our dogs.
55Hillside Meadow is a great place for a dog to exercise. There is enough room for play fetch and sniff around. Fully fenced, huge water bowls. Surrounded by nature, nature, nature! In our last visit we saw some peacocks, chickens, and horses next door.
Thank you Kristie for sharing this amazing space with us! Clemencia H.
Clemencia H.
January 2024
Hillside Meadow is a great place for a dog to exercise. There is enough room for play fetch and sniff around. Fully fenced, huge water bowls. Surrounded by nature, nature, nature! In our last visit we saw some peacocks, chickens, and horses next door.
Thank you Kristie for sharing this amazing space with us!
55Clear directions on how to find the property. Cow pies on the field, so bring shoes you don’t care getting dirty. Overall great experience for the price point! Hope to come back soon. Audrey M.
Audrey M.
January 2024
Clear directions on how to find the property. Cow pies on the field, so bring shoes you don’t care getting dirty. Overall great experience for the price point! Hope to come back soon.
How do Castro Valley's private dog fields work?
Private rentals by the hour
Our hosts are locals that are renting their yards and private land to dog owners
Trust and safety first
Spots are designed for safety and both hosts and guests are reviewed after each visit
Designed for private play
Only the people and dogs in your booking are allowed in the spot during your visit
Reactive dogs welcome
Many of the spots we list are designed with sensitive dogs in mind
Become a Sniffpass holder!
Get discounts on all bookings at all spots by buying monthly credits! Learn more!
FAQ about our Castro Valley dog fields
Are dog fields safe?
If you are looking for an adventure, but also looking for safety, Sniffspot dog fields are a great option. While public dog parks have a number of safety issues, such as aggressive dogs, distracted dog owners, disease transmission and general cleanliness, Sniffspot dog parks are much safer than public dog parks. With Sniffspot all bookings are private space for just you and doggy friends you bring with you and we require all dogs to be vaccinated (or have equivalent titers). Especially for training, privacy is ideal. Contrary to public dog parks, all Sniffspot locations are vetted and reviewed by guests so you can find the perfect place for you and your dog for off leash exercise or outdoor training. 93% of reviews on Sniffspot visits are 5 stars, while public dog parks often do not even have verified reviews. All payment is done securely online by credit card in a few simple clicks.
All park rental information is available online. Start by filtering parks by fencing, size and distractions, to find a private spot that works for your dog. If your dog has poor recall, you can visit one of our secure fields. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you can visit one of our dog fields where there are no dogs audible or visible nearby. You can review the details of the listing to make sure it works as your desired activity space, for example, safe dog exercise, dog training, a stress-free adventure with your furry friend or even a puppy event. You can even check the park amenities chart for amenities such as indoor training facilities, agility field, synthetic turf, exercise balls or field parking availability in advance. If inclement weather is an issue or poor field conditions, you can reschedule your visit up to 2 hours in advance.
What are the requirements to bring my dog to a Sniffspot dog field?
We require that all four-legged friends have basic vaccinations or equivalent titers. We do not allow dogs with a bite history. We require that guests sign our waiver and agree to follow our safety rules. Make sure to check host rules before visiting to ensure, for instance, that you are following allowable sports activities rules and any special events rules.
Will there be other dogs at the Sniffspot field at the same time as me?
No. Facility rentals are for private play time and any host dogs are required to be kept away from the area during visits, so this is perfect for a private adventure for you and your doggie friends, and perhaps a human friend. Hosts understand that many guests have dogs in training and are nervous owners. So when you book a Sniffspot dog field you have the entire private spot to yourself. We also enforce 30 min time buffers between time slots so you will not run into other guest dogs or a previous person when coming or leaving in the field parking area. Some hosts may have multiple fields, but there is always a buffer between fields.