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 Portsmouth, Virginia
Theresa K.
August 2022
Fully fenced in yard. Consider bringing bug spray. Quiet area. All together an enjoyable experience!
ELIZABETH B.
August 2022
My dogs had a blast!!! It was a little too hot so they got worn out pretty quick.. definitely will be back…
Allishia S.
July 2022
Huge, clean yard with plenty of room for the pups to enjoy themselves. Host is also super friendly and communicative. Will definitely be booking again 🙂
Jessica R.
February 2023
This spot was spacious and well kept. Fence was about 3 ft tall, but not an issue for my dog despite being a huge guy. Host brought out a bowl of water for us during our visit and we provided our own toys. While there we ran, and did a little bit of lure training and scent work for both physical and mental exercise of my big boy. Overall great location.
Alison C.
August 2023
Dogs had an amazing time. Yard is perfect. House was easy to find. Backyard was easy to access. I will be scheduling more visits. Thank you!
Maggie C.
August 2023
Great spot for my girl to run around and let out energy! Kearsten is a great host, communicative and kind! Huge yard, partly shaded which is so nice this summer with this heat.
Allison D.
August 2023
Kearsten was very communicative and friendly! She provided frisbees and toys which was great because we forgot to bring some and a big water bowl for the dogs.
Ashwini K.
July 2023
Kearsten is a great host and has very obedient dogs. We let the dogs play with our puppy and it was great. Lots of space, water stations, and toys. We will be returning soon :-)
Laura O.
July 2023
This place was great! So much room and plenty of shade. Did not hear any dogs around, which helped my reactive dogs. Definitely recommend.
Anna K.
July 2023
Such a wonderful spot to visit again and again. Really appreciated seeing the many mosquito dunks the host had placed in several places 👍
Sarah M.
June 2023
This was our first time using Sniff Spot, and it was a great first experience. Such a fun space!
Kathryn S.
June 2023
Kearsten’s homestead is a respite from the clamor of urban life and an ideal spot for my almost 5 y-o Aussie, my 3.5 y-o GSD mix, and me, for that matter! Area is extremely clean, has both shaded and sunny spots and plenty of all-out running room that is grassy and well-manicured. Even the view at the back fence made me feel like I was somewhere worth jumping it to explore…BUT I didn’t 😬.
We did not observe any people or wildlife, though I imagine rabbits and squirrels frequent the yard at times. My GSD mix has a rough past so encountering random, unknown canines presents issues, and we did not see or hear any.
Unless something prevents it, we’ll be back!!
sofia r.
June 2023
Loved it! This was our first time using the app and it was great! Having a reactive dog is scary sometimes because you have to wary of a lot. We did hear dogs barking but we were able to work past barking if he didn’t see them which made this place a 10/10 especially for training and getting my boy desensitized to barking.
Madeline R.
July 2022
This was our first time using this app and we are so glad we did! Kearsten's yard is so beautiful and we even forgot we were in Norfolk for a bit. Very peaceful place for our dogs to get outside.
Erica W.
July 2022
Great location! My crazy hyper dog is tired within 10 minutes of playing. He loves the huge fenced in yard, there's plenty of room to play and sniff around. Would definitely recommend, 10/10!
Ivy S.
July 2022
Beautiful back yard ! I loved this space and will be back . My dogs had so much fun stretching their legs and running . The back area with the pattern kinda mowed was their favorite and they used it like a race Track. 10/10 recommended .
Emma C.
July 2022
This is a great spot in an area where a big open space is hard to find! Fully fence with no worries about getting out. There were tons of fun toys and a play set that we could practice agility with. Pupper loved sniffing all the cool plants!
Michelle A.
July 2022
The yard is huge! It was so nice to have it to ourselves for our dog, Beau. The only thing I’d say is to bring bug repellant. Other than that, we had a great time with our dog here!
Theresa K.
June 2022
This place was so great!! What a beautiful serene back yard with so much room for our dog to run around! He was finally able to just let loose and run like wild! I’d also like to mention that the location felt secluded and private which we very much appreciated with a reactive dog. There was plenty of room for parking on the street.
All together we had an amazing time and would love to come back!
Latoya B.
May 2022
The yard was spacious for my three dogs. Water, toys, and a sitting area was provided. Kearston responded with a reasonable time.
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. 0% of reviews on Sniffspot visits in the Portsmouth 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 94 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.
What is the best dog beach near Portsmouth?
The best Sniffspot dog beach near Portsmouth is Oceanfront Fenced Private Backyard. At Sniffspot beaches dogs can generally be off leash.
Does Portsmouth have any fully fenced dog parks?
Sniffspot has 94 fully fenced dog parks in or near Portsmouth. Browse all fully enclosed options.
Where are good dog hiking trails near Portsmouth?
The Portsmouth area has 2 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 Paws Moyock 18 acre dog park.
Are there dog agility courses for rent in Portsmouth?
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