Sniffspot Host Spotlights: Real Hosts, Real Backyards, Real Stories

Every Sniffspot started as somebody's ordinary backyard. What turns it into a five-star spot dogs travel across town for isn't square footage, it's the host. This is where we spotlight them: the people who turned a fenced yard, a few open fields, or a quiet patch of land into a place dogs genuinely love to visit.

Below, meet the hosts we've featured so far, plus everything you need to know if you're thinking about becoming one yourself.

Meet the Hosts

Gayle: Dog Haven & Coffee Bar (Pasadena, CA)

Gayle turned a fully fenced yard into a calm, welcoming escape, complete with a free coffee and tea bar for humans. Since opening in September 2025, she's welcomed more than 232 dogs, built almost entirely on personal touches: fast replies, a spotless space, and one signature feature guests won't forget. Read Gayle's story →

Marygrace: Four Separate Fun Fields (Harwood, MD)

Since 2020, Marygrace has welcomed more than 2,624 dogs to her Maryland property, four fenced fields, shaded and wooded areas, water features, and a dedicated "Nose Garden" of dog-safe herbs and plants built purely for sniffing and exploring. Read Marygrace's story →

Lauren: Private Dog Playground Ranch (Creedmoor, TX)

Since May 2024, Lauren has welcomed more than 1,381 dogs to her 5+ acre working ranch southeast of Austin — a fully fenced, totally private space with a splash pad, a stock tank pond, and friendly livestock (goats, sheep, and a rescued Arabian horse) for guests who want to make a whole outing of it.

Read Lauren's story →

Jeannette: 2-Acre Fully Fenced Private Dog Park (Grass Valley, CA)

Since April 2022, Jeannette has welcomed more than 3,580 dogs to her fully fenced two acres of pasture in Grass Valley, complete with a sprinkler play feature, a photo-op wooden bridge, a hot-water wash station, and enough tires, tunnels, and weave poles to keep any dog busy. More than 1,000 five-star reviews later, her advice is refreshingly simple: keep it simple.

Read Jeannette's story →

Sarah: 1.6 Acre Private Fenced Field (Jacksonville, FL)

Since July 2022, Sarah has welcomed more than 7,440 dogs to her fully fenced 1.6-acre field in Oakleaf, complete with a sprinkler play feature, a photo-op wooden bridge, a just-for-fun fire hydrant, and enough big tires, tunnels, and weave poles to keep any dog busy. With a 4.99 rating across more than 1,800 reviews, her advice to new hosts is refreshingly practical: read the FAQs, and check out other spots’ amenities before you set your price.

Read Sarah’s story →

More Host Spotlights are on the way. Every one of them started the same way: an ordinary piece of land and a host willing to give it a try.

Ready to Become a Host?

You don't need acreage, a business background, or a yard full of expensive equipment. If your outdoor space is private and free of hazards, you already have what most hosts started with. Fenced yards of any size can qualify, and unfenced spaces can too as long as they're at least half an acre and set back from busy roads.

Why host with Sniffspot:

• Easy passive income. Earn up to $3,000 a month. Your land does the work, you don't have to be there or supervise.
• Help dogs. The modern world isn't really built for dogs. A safe, private space to run is a bigger deal to owners than you'd think, especially for reactive or easily overwhelmed dogs.
• One booking at a time. You control your calendar, and in most cases you won't need to meet guests in person.
• Share your land your way. Whether it's a full acreage property or a small fenced-in yard, there's a guest looking for exactly that.

Safety is built in. Sniffspot provides $1M Host Protection Insurance for U.S. hosts (international hosts are covered under a separate guarantee) and up to $5,000 in damage protection for eligible damage under our Damage Protection Guarantee. Guests self-certify their dog's vaccination status and provide proof if requested. Read more about host protection insurance.

🌲 Have dog-ready land? Start hosting for free →

Want to talk to other hosts before you decide? Join the Sniffspot Community on Facebook. It's open to hosts and guests alike. (If you do decide to host, Our Host Community group is for you!)

FAQs About Hosting

Before you sign up to become a host with Sniffspot, here are some of our most asked questions.

🐾 Ready to see if your yard qualifies? Start hosting for free →

Keep Exploring

• The Best Side Hustles for Dog Lovers
• Is Your Pup a Good Fit for the Dog Park?
• How to Socialize a Dog
• Are My Dogs Playing or Fighting?
• Best Cities in the USA for Active Dogs

Want to be featured in a future Host Spotlight? Keep your space sharp, your guests happy, and stay active on Sniffspot, and you might be next.