My Reactive Dog is Living Her Best Life Thanks to This Cool App
By: Lizz CaputoAnxious dog? Sniffspot is a life-saver for sensitive city pets everywhere.
For those of us with anxious or reactive dogs, finding a safe, controlled space for them to play and zoom freely can be a challenge. As a reactive dog owner myself, I used to struggle with limited outdoor options in Chicago for my fearful American Bully.
Picnics at the public park? Hard pass. Too many folks, dogs, and general chaos for my anxious girl.
But then I discovered Sniffspot - an app connecting owners with hosts offering their residential backyards and spaces for pet rental.
What is Sniffspot?
Sniffspot was founded in 2018 as a platform enabling hosts to list their private yards, gardens, and outdoor spaces for dog owners to rent by the hour. Founders David and Rebecca both have reactive/selective dogs of their own, and found themselves struggling to find spaces to exercise their pups safely.
Sniffspot enables dog parents to browse local listings on the app and book timeslots that work for their schedule. Think Airbnb but for pet parents!
As you can imagine, Sniffspot blew up during the Covid pandemic, particularly when public spaces were being abandoned for safer, private ones, and pet parents without any outdoor spots of their own were desperately hunting for places to bring their dogs.
Sniffspot provides a unique alternative to crowded public parks. Spaces are entirely private just for your pet, allowing reactive dogs to play without unpredictable distractions. Genius, right? The app is available in over 1,000 cities nationwide.
Benefits for reactive dogs
As the owner of a reactive pup myself, I've found Sniffspot offers several advantages:
No randoms allowed - No strangers or unknown dogs, just your pet, which is much less stressful.
Residential locations - Quieter and calmer for anxious dogs than busy parks.
Customizable spaces - Hosts specify amenities so you can find the perfect fit that your pup will jive with.
Filter by pet size - find spaces suited for your Frenchie or Great Dane's exercise needs.
Training practice - Great for working on training away from home distractions.
Off-leash play - Gives cooped-up city pups room to run freely and burn energy.
Urban convenience - Provides yard space if you lack outdoor access
Using Sniffspot
Booking a Sniffspot rental for your reactive pup is easy:
Download the Sniffspot app on your smartphone.
Browse listings in your area and filter by options like space size.
Pick a yard that fits your needs and check availability.
Book an available timeslot that works for you.
Follow the check-in instructions provided by the host.
Have your dog enjoy their private yard!
With reasonable rates and abundant listings, Sniffspot is a go-to resource for dog owners in seeking safe, controlled play spaces. It provides much-needed relief for urban pets lacking outdoor access. I highly recommend checking out Sniffspot to give your anxious dog their own yard right in the city!
Lizz Caputo is the Manager of Content Strategy at Figo, animal enthusiast, and owner of a rescued senior American Bully. Her hobbies include checking out new restaurants in her area, boxing, and petting dogs of all shapes and sizes.
