55Great spot to run your dogs! Our two Weimaraner's absolutely loved it! The property is fully fenced in, bordering the neighbors back yards on all sides. The owners are very nice and welcoming! They mentioned that some of the neighbors have dogs as well, but we did not have any issues! Definitely going to visit again! Lauma R.
Lauma R.
November 2023
Great spot to run your dogs! Our two Weimaraner's absolutely loved it! The property is fully fenced in, bordering the neighbors back yards on all sides. The owners are very nice and welcoming! They mentioned that some of the neighbors have dogs as well, but we did not have any issues! Definitely going to visit again!
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55Great Spot! Easy to get to, a TON of room to get in sprints, sniff around, and play fetch. We loved our free treats! My dogs loved their time there, and we will be back.Dayna P.
Dayna P.
November 2023
Great Spot! Easy to get to, a TON of room to get in sprints, sniff around, and play fetch. We loved our free treats! My dogs loved their time there, and we will be back.
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55Highly recommend this sniff spot if your dog likes to run and explore. Fence was secure and there was lots of room to run! The host was awesome and had toys and towels waiting for us! Can’t wait to come back and explore in the summer!!Tiffanee R.
Tiffanee R.
November 2023
Highly recommend this sniff spot if your dog likes to run and explore. Fence was secure and there was lots of room to run! The host was awesome and had toys and towels waiting for us! Can’t wait to come back and explore in the summer!!
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55We love this Sniffspot. We feel totally safe and secure there, and my dog really enjoys all the trees and sniffing around the brush pile. The owners are sweet and leave toys, treats, and extra waste bags. The parking is great too.Marnie S.
Marnie S.
December 2023
We love this Sniffspot. We feel totally safe and secure there, and my dog really enjoys all the trees and sniffing around the brush pile. The owners are sweet and leave toys, treats, and extra waste bags. The parking is great too.
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55Had an absolutely wonderful time! Such a large, well secured space. I appreciate the complimentary treats and the area being clearly labeled. Very easy to access, and may be our new favorite space to visit! Wonderful place to bring your pup.Danielle B.
Danielle B.
December 2023
Had an absolutely wonderful time! Such a large, well secured space. I appreciate the complimentary treats and the area being clearly labeled. Very easy to access, and may be our new favorite space to visit! Wonderful place to bring your pup.
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55Wonderful as always!! I will say this time we had a bit of an issue with burrs, but they were all small and easy to remove. Just a warning, as we haven’t had this issue before at this spot!Arden P.
Arden P.
December 2023
Wonderful as always!! I will say this time we had a bit of an issue with burrs, but they were all small and easy to remove. Just a warning, as we haven’t had this issue before at this spot!
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55This is a nice large woodsy lot in the middle of Des Moines. The dogs loved all the wood piles, places to sniff, and all the space to run. Great place to spend quality off-leash time with your dogs!Sheila W.
Sheila W.
December 2023
This is a nice large woodsy lot in the middle of Des Moines. The dogs loved all the wood piles, places to sniff, and all the space to run. Great place to spend quality off-leash time with your dogs!
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55We had a great time at this spot! My boy always has his nose to the ground sniffing and this place had so much space for him to run and smell all the smells. He did drop his favorite ball down a hole/burrow of some sort (100% the dog’s fault) and I couldn’t get it out, but the owner of the spot had a little station set up that had other toys he could play with which was great! It’s woodsy which is fun, and I didn’t find any burrs on him anywhere afterwards, so people with longer coated dogs shouldn’t have to worry about that. We drove about 20 minutes to this spot and we’ll definitely be back!Keely H.
Keely H.
December 2023
We had a great time at this spot! My boy always has his nose to the ground sniffing and this place had so much space for him to run and smell all the smells. He did drop his favorite ball down a hole/burrow of some sort (100% the dog’s fault) and I couldn’t get it out, but the owner of the spot had a little station set up that had other toys he could play with which was great! It’s woodsy which is fun, and I didn’t find any burrs on him anywhere afterwards, so people with longer coated dogs shouldn’t have to worry about that. We drove about 20 minutes to this spot and we’ll definitely be back!
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55Really nice space - lots of room to roam, plenty of interesting things to sniff! We will definitely be coming back! Like it says in the listing, there are other dogs right across the fence, so definitely be aware of that.Claire R.
Claire R.
January 2024
Really nice space - lots of room to roam, plenty of interesting things to sniff! We will definitely be coming back! Like it says in the listing, there are other dogs right across the fence, so definitely be aware of that.
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55This is a quiet wooded area which includes sitting area, dog treats and waste container. My dog enjoyed the opportunity to run and sniff. The neighbor's Akita briefly barked and then went inside the house. Conveniently located off I-235.Catherine H.
Catherine H.
January 2024
This is a quiet wooded area which includes sitting area, dog treats and waste container. My dog enjoyed the opportunity to run and sniff. The neighbor's Akita briefly barked and then went inside the house. Conveniently located off I-235.
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55Our first outing here was fantastic and we came home with a tuckered out German Shepherd! Clean, safe, spacious and very guest friendly! Thank you so much!Michele D.
Michele D.
February 2024
Our first outing here was fantastic and we came home with a tuckered out German Shepherd! Clean, safe, spacious and very guest friendly! Thank you so much!
Pawsitively Spacious Woodland | Just off I-235 | Sniffspot
55This was our second outing here! Kai, our German Shepherd, had a fantastic time again!! Clean, fun and very hospitable!Michele D.
Michele D.
February 2024
This was our second outing here! Kai, our German Shepherd, had a fantastic time again!! Clean, fun and very hospitable!
How do Des Moines's private small dog parks 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 Des Moines small dog parks
Are small 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 are 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 park users so you can find the perfect place for you and your dog. 93% of reviews on Sniffspot visits are 5 stars.
How can I find small dog parks in Des Moines?
There are 29 small dog parks in the Des Moines area. The most popular small dog park is . You can browse all of our small dog parks here.
How do I know if a small dog park works for my dog?
Start by applying basic filters, such as fencing and distractions, to find a dog park that works for your furry friends. If your dog doesn't respond to owner commands, you can visit one of our enclosed dog park areas. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you can visit one of our small dog park sites where there are no dogs audible or visible nearby. You can see any park amenities provided, including a park bench, water for dogs or water features such as kiddie pool or water hose. If your dog loves water, you can go to a park with water features, but if they don't love water, you can avoid them. We also recommend reading reviews to check for park maintenance issues and reaching out to the host with any questions. And lastly, of course, check park hours. Many of our parks are open from dawn until dusk.
What are the requirements to bring my dog to a Sniffspot park?
We require that all dogs have basic vaccinations or equivalent titers. We do not allow dogs with a bite history. We require that owners sign our waiver and agree to follow our safety rules. We also require that pet owners follow safety protocols around water features.
Will there be other dogs at the Sniffspot park at the same time as me?
Sniffspot only allows one booking at a time and any host dogs are required to be kept away from the spot during visits. We also enforce 30 min time buffers between bookings.
If you are planning an amazing small dog park party, each Sniffspot park has their own rules regarding special events. Many parks allow doggie birthday parties, training, water parties and other event types. Event organizers need to be responsible for their guests and event organizers should coordinate with the host regarding their fun party. Make sure the park has amenities you need for your party, such as a park with lots of picnic tables with park benches.
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