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
No other dogs during your visits
Only you and your dogs are allowed to enter a spot during the time you've booked it
Reactive dogs welcome
Many of the spots we list are designed with sensitive dogs in mind
Monthly memberships
Many of our dog parks have the option to access member-only benefits with a fixed monthly price
What people say about dog parks around Charlottesville, Virginia
Amanda L.
April 2023
My dog had a great time! Felt like being really out in nature even though it's right here in town!
Marlene H.
March 2023
My niece’s dogs and my dog had a great time! It was a clean space and the host provided clean water for the dogs and bug spray, hand sanitizer, and water for the humans :) I will definitely be booking again.
Brooke L.
March 2023
Super fun spot, lots of room for my dog to run around! (Even though he mostly wanted to smell everything)
Brittany M.
March 2023
The host met us upon arrival. The space was as advertised. Lots of places for our dog to sniff around. There were poop bags, a small garbage can, water for pup, and the host provided some water, mosquito spray and hand sanitizer for the humans. I think both my dog and toddler had a great time at this sniff spot!
Jen X.
February 2023
This is great! Poop bags, fresh drinking water - and lots of space to run around in. It was very clean & a great location/parking available.
Julia D.
May 2023
My dog and I have been coming to this property for a couple months now and my dog loves it!! He gets super excited in the car when he realizes we are driving here. It’s perfect for any kind of dog!
Lori D.
May 2023
What a perfect place to enjoy a beautiful evening with my dogs. Fenced in, no outside the fence distractions, lots of places for the dogs to explore and enough room to get a good run in. My pooches are so content after this adventure. Thank you, Loren.
Rachel L.
March 2023
Great sized yard with very safe fencing. Plus a lot of shade for humans and dogs! We loved our time playing!!
Kristen E.
December 2022
Fence and access were great. Lawn was spacious with landscaping that let us play hide and seek games with the dogs. Some stuffy toys around, which the pups enjoyed. The resident dogs did discover us and barked from the top floor of the house. Once our dogs got over the initial surprise of that, it was fine since they couldn’t see them (a very vocal pooch (husky mix?) who was really quite funny was the main culprit). Enjoyed our time and will book if we visit town with the pooches again.
Juhi D.
December 2022
Great big backyard, the fence is very high and totally secure. My dog is dog reactive so It’s very hard to find a place for him to run freely. He had a great time getting to play here :)
Madeline R.
November 2022
Such a great spot! My reactive pitbull was so happy to run around and i was comfortable knowing she was safely inside the gate. I watched her try and fail to find a way out! There were some audible dogs and other animals to be aware of if your dog reacts to that, but nothing visible.
Emily O.
November 2022
Fence was very secure (my dog has a history of jumping 4ft fences) and the 6ft fences were great. Very nice seating area for you to hang out and watch your dogs. I will absolutely come back.
Julia D.
October 2022
The yard was absolutely amazing! My dog had a great time running around in a quiet yard. It’s perfect for any type of dog.
Mara B.
October 2022
Absolutely a great place to bring your dog if any size, energy level, and/or reactivity! This was our first sniff spot experience and we will definitely be going back! Plenty of room for my dog/reactive german shepherd to run around, be chased, and burn off some energy! We didn’t hear or see the owners dogs at all and the neighborhood was quiet and peaceful. The yard was extremely secure with latching gates and tall privacy fence. There were toys laid out and ready to go for my dog. Poop bags and trash bin were also provided in an east location. Plenty of places to sit and hang out for the humans as well. An overall great experience. Highly recommend especially if your dog is dog reactive.
Taylor M.
September 2022
My dog had SO much fun running around this huge yard. I was meticulous in our selection of our first Sniffspot because my dog is a hound and will try to escape an enclosure if she catches a scent. She scouted every corner of the yard for a way out, but thankfully found none. The yard is incredibly secure. I live in an apartment complex and there aren’t many areas where she can safely run around off leash, so I’m excited to have found this perfect spot. We’ll certainly be back!
Valerie L.
September 2022
Amazing back yard the owner is so nice and accommodating.
The back yard had water and toys ready and it was huge perfect for my husky to run and play fetch.
Lauren N.
September 2022
This was a great yard for our new puppy and two greyhounds to play in. The greyhounds are a bit older and pretty lazy but they all got to zooming around Loren’s yard. We were there after a storm so it was a bit breezy and the wind blew the gate at the top of the stairs down a couple times, but we just used the plastic chairs to keep the dogs from going up on the deck.
Christine H.
September 2022
Great spot, lots to explore and sniff. My dog was interested in trying to get on the deck but there were gates to block it. Fence was secure even for my small dog.
Leigh A.
August 2022
Great fenced in yard! Very well kept. Worked perfectly for off leash training for our pup! We will be back. Thanks!!
Monica A.
May 2023
Beautiful farm with securely fenced 20+ acre pasture for the dogs to play. My dogs and I really enjoyed it and will be back. The host, Michele, was super friendly and helpful and easy to communicate with for booking questions.
What other types of private dog parks are available?
Dog water parks
Many hosts have added water features like pools and/or are nearby lakes or rivers.
It is important for dogs to have off leash exercise to sniff and run. But the free and open nature of public dog parks has drawbacks. There could be aggressive dogs, disease transmission and cleanliness issues. For this reason, many dog behaviorists discourage visiting public dog parks and recommend Sniffspot's private dog parks. Sniffspot private dog parks only allow one guest to book at a time and are not open to the public, which solves many of these issues.
Are dog parks safe?
While public dog parks have a number of safety issues, such as aggressive dogs, disease transmission and general cleanliness, Sniffspot dog parks much safer than public dog parks. With Sniffspot all bookings are private for just you and dogs you bring with you and we require all dogs to be vaccinated (or have equivalent titers). All Sniffspot locations are vetted and reviewed by guests so you can find the perfect place for you and your dog. 96% of reviews on Sniffspot visits in the Charlottesville area are 5 stars.
How do I know if a dog park works for my dog?
You can filter Sniffspot dog parks by fencing and distractions. If your dog doesn't have good recall, you can visit one of our 21 fully fenced dog parks in the area. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you can visit one of our 8 off leash areas where there are no dogs audible or visible nearby. You can also filter locations to avoid other domestic animals and people. We also recommend reading reviews and reaching out to the host with any questions.
Does Charlottesville have any fully fenced dog parks?
Sniffspot has 21 fully fenced dog parks in or near Charlottesville. Browse all fully enclosed options.
Where are good dog hiking trails near Charlottesville?
The Charlottesville area has 9 Sniffspot locations with private trails for you and your dog to walk or hike. Dogs can generally be off leash on Sniffspot trails. The most popular trail is Harmony Harvest’s Private Dog Park In Weyers Cave.
Are there dog agility courses for rent in Charlottesville?
Sniffspot has dog parks with agility equipment and/or dog obstacles in or near Charlottesville. The most popular agility option is Stoney Brook Farm.
Where in Charlottesville can I find a pool for dog swimming?