If there’s one thing Janice knows and understands well, it’s the needs of dogs and their owners, and how to meet those needs. No stranger to the petcare game, Janice, a dog trainer herself, has been running a successful dog boarding and training facility just 30 minutes north of Seattle since 2001. When business slowed down a bit during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Janice looked into additional ways to bring in more income by using what she already had available to her.
“People had told me about Sniffspot in 2019 and said I should rent out one of my places,” she said. “I have five acres and don’t use all of it all the time, so I thought: side money. At first I dismissed it because of the time management involved, business was doing OK so I didn’t want to add more to my plate. Then I looked into it more last year because I was desperate for money.” Fortunately for her, and for countless dog owners in the area, Janice’s choice to add Sniffspot rentals to her existing business proved lucrative, bringing in high margin income with little associated expense.
Janice now hosts Emerald Field, a fully fenced in acre of land that’s attached to her boarding facility. With the world just starting to open back up again and people antsy to get out of town, Janice finds herself busier than ever. Fortunately, her work as a host with Sniffspot didn’t require any additional investment in her space, and takes up a relatively small amount of her time. “I didn’t make any improvements for Sniffspot, I just offered what I had,” she said. “I had already built a pretty secure fence for the boarding business because I can't have people’s dogs run loose. That seems to be very important to some people.”
Janice’s spot has grown organically since she opened it. She attributes her success to location. “It's not too far from civilization, I'm fairly close to the freeway and not too far out of Seattle city limit,” she explained. “I didn’t have any signage up at first, but I do wish I did. I was thinking about it and then Sniffspot mailed me a sign, so I don't need to add anything, I just used that one.”
First time visitors are asked to stop and chat for a quick check in with simple instructions for how to find and enjoy the space. “I just ask them to stop the first time, and I think that's pretty common for people to chat with the host the first time they come out,” she said. “I basically just tell them how to get there and to look for the sign at the entrance of the driveway.” After that, repeat visitors are welcome to just show up during the time that they have booked, allowing her guests to enjoy privacy while she can focus on her own business without needing to be involved with the spot visitors.
Interested in hosting?
Learn more here about how your land can help dogs and you can earn up to $1,000 per month!
When Janice started on Sniffspot her first priority remained her boarding business. One thing she does to ensure that she handles her business properly is by asking for a bit of notice before visitors arrive to allow for ample time to open gates and set up a safe visit. “I use it for the business, and now that we're so busy I just need more notice,” she said. Compared to running her boarding business, however, hosting with Sniffspot has been a seamless addition, and not much additional work. “Sniffspot is a lot less work, it’s much easier. I just need to make sure it's kind of sort of clean and that people have access, that's really all I do,” she added. “I have two fields that I use on this property for boarding dogs, so I let people use it after 3:00 PM. And there are quite a few things that I need for the business that also works for Sniffspot, like pick up bags, and water access. That takes a lot of construction to build but I didn't add it for this – I need to have water access myself so that's already there, like the fencing. So really the only thing I need is to know when people are coming.”
Janice originally measured her businesses by how much revenue they contribute. By that measure she always prioritized her kennel, because it brought in more revenue. However, recently she has begun to realize that Sniffspot is much higher margin than the kennel, so maybe Sniffspot is actually more profitable. “I have to pay a lot of employees to do the boarding, but I don't have to pay a lot of employees to do Sniffspot,” she said. “I could do a lot of it myself, so I actually need to re-evaluate that part.”
In the meantime, Janice will keep doing what she loves and does best by offering her services to dogs and their guardians, even enjoying some crossover in clientele, and making for even more additional income. “Some of my Sniffspot guests have now become customers,” she said. With the world starting to get back to normal and her boarding and training business booming, hosting allows her to dedicate the time she needs to her existing endeavor, while still earning additional income without the hassle of making too many changes to her day to day routine.
Interested in hosting?
Learn more here about how your land can help dogs and you can earn up to $1,000 per month!
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
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.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
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.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.