When Grace started out as a host with Sniffspot, she gave herself one month to feel it out and see if it might be a fit for her and her husband. “I watched this video about Sniffspot and thought our property here would be a good thing for it,” she said, of the fully fenced nine acre space she shares with her husband. While she was excited at the prospect of hosting dogs on their land, her husband took some convincing to give it a try. “As soon as he came home, I said, ‘hey, look, this is as good as our property, and it’s just sitting there doing nothing.’ I asked him if we could try it for one month and if he didn’t like it then fine, I'll close it because we have that option.”
As it turned out, it didn’t take nearly a full month to see if their hosting venture might be a success. In fact, it didn’t even take an entire day. “I went live and after a few hours I got the first booking and that got me all excited. That's how it started.” Today, their space, listed only as a hike up the mini forest, is earning the couple regular, extra income with little work involved, and has hundreds of five star reviews from happy guests who’ve brought their dogs to roam around the hidden gem.
Years ago when Grace’s husband showed her the plot of land now reserved for hosting guests, she fell in love with it right away. “It's so peaceful up there, it's not busy,” she said, comparing it to the city she used to call home. “You can really walk around and this is really nice.” Although they both had ideas for the space, utilizing the vast area was a process, and for years they used the woods to host family and friends for camping trips and casual gatherings. “He introduced me to camping, and I have a big family, so he created a campground for us, and every year my family and I would get together in the summer and camp,” she said. Despite enjoying the peace and serenity the property had to offer, Grace couldn’t help but feel like more could be done to share the space with others who also appreciate quiet time away from it all. “We were the only ones enjoying it,” she said.
As timing would have it, Grace saw an ad for Sniffspot not too long after adding dogs of her own to her life. Knowing how much she enjoys her own time in the woods with her four-legged friends, opening up the land for other dogs and dog owners to explore just felt like the right thing. “They were talking about dogs and I have a dog now and I watched this video and it just clicked,” she recalled. “I thought, why not share it. It's just sitting there idle, and at least there's extra income in it.”
Interested in hosting?
Learn more here about how your land can help dogs and you can earn up to $1,000 per month!
Sniffspot is a source of supplemental income for Grace and her husband, and not their only endeavor in the world of short term rentals and hosting. Also actively renting her space to campers on Hipcamp, Grace does her best to manage both pursuits, which she says is made easier thanks to the nature of hosting with Sniffspot. She credits the flexibility in booking, a lack of cleaning up, and the general user-friendliness of the site and the overall natural independence that comes with taking your dog for a walk in the woods with this ability.
Additionally, Grace’s success as a hosting was made so thanks to the beautiful forest around her, and listening to what does and doesn't work for her guests based on their reviews. “I just got lucky because of the way the property is set up,” she said. “I didn't have sanitizer before, but now I put a little sanitizer out. We also added another outhouse, so now there's one down below and one at the top. And we’re always repairing fencing and taking up the clutter, like dead trees.”
Some of the money she’s earned from hosting goes into keeping the space as visitor friendly as possible, in addition to adding to her family’s savings. “When it was raining here so hard every day the parking lot got really wet and muddy, so you have to spend money on putting gravel down,” she said. “But my husband always says ‘you have to spend money to make money’.”
For Grace, what makes hosting so simple is due in no small part to the fact that her guest’s satisfaction is her satisfaction. For those visiting her space, the personal touches start when they arrive, and continue after they leave. “When they're new I read their message and see if the dog is reactive or not. Then I welcome them and show them their welcome sign, which they love, and I show them where to go and tell them a little bit about the place,” she said. “I send everyone off with a little goodie bag too, with Milkbones for the dogs, and a little candy or some treat for their people too. And they love that.”
While her visitors, two-legged and four-legged alike, walk away exercising, content, and with a sense of being appreciated, the same happiness applies to her with each visit. “It's fulfilling work, because I look out the window and I see the parents of the dogs and the dogs going in and they’re not smiling, and then once they come back they're all excited and happy,” she said. “And that makes me happy too, to see everybody happy. That, and you know you would trust them. There's something about these people that have dogs, they're nice people.”
With things on a steady incline, Grace hopes to continue to provide exceptional service to those in search of a quiet space to enjoy a few hours with their best friends. “I'm just gonna go with the flow,” she said. “I could only improve so much, so I'll just see if people keep feeling our spot, try to include as many amenities that I can provide, to keep being friendly,” which is advice she offers to anyone else considering hosting a space of their own and earning money with every visit.
Interested in hosting?
Learn more here about how your land can help dogs and you can earn up to $1,000 per month!
Discover the Jack Russell Terrier, a breed celebrated for its intelligent and affectionate nature. Recognized as a small dog, Jack Russell Terriers have their origins in England, where they were initially bred for fox hunting and vermin control starting in the 19th century.
Discover the Dalmatian, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, trainable, and loyal nature. Recognized as a medium-sized dog, Dalmatians have their origins in Croatia, where they were initially bred for coaching (running along carriages), guarding, and hunting starting in the 16th century.
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44.5 percent of all American households share life with a canine companion. Pet professionals like dog trainers, veterinarians, and veterinary behaviorists are more important than ever as our modern society becomes increasingly difficult for four-legged friends to navigate—dog reactivity, anxiety, and general stress from lack of proper enrichment are on the rise in domestic dogs.
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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!
* 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.
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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.
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Discover the Australian Shepherd, a breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were originally bred in the United States for herding beginning in the 1950s.