This list showcases the top dog rescues & shelters in Oregon. These remarkable organizations have been recognized for their unwavering dedication to the well-being of countless dogs. We've compiled this list by gathering heartfelt testimonials from both the Sniffspot community and the wider public, ensuring a comprehensive perspective on these exceptional shelters.
#9 in United States, #1 in Oregon
South Coast Humane Society Believes in the UNDERDOG!! We are a progressive rescue organization that serves not only our community but animals from all over the world. We give the second chance that an animal needs!! We help our community with low cost spay/neuter and medical wellness that would otherwise not be available.
"My husband and I drove 2.5 hours to visit SCHS. Jennifer Alcorn had shown a photo of a Husky/Malamute mix..."
— susan c.
Adoptee
"South Coast Humane, under the Jennifer Alcorn does an incredible job presenting the dogs for adoption. All animals are..."
— fran c.
Adoptee
#22 in United States, #2 in Oregon, #1 in Portland
Portland
After 13 years in Tualatin, We recently re-located to Portland in the John's Landing neighborhood! We always have 50+ adorable pups waiting for homes so please come visit us 7-days a week!
"Oregon Dog Rescue was the exceptional team that introduced us to our first dog. They were patient and understanding when..."
— sarah d.
Adoptee
"I started out volunteer dog walking a while after losing my father, it gave me so much happiness to be..."
— corrie h.
Volunteer / foster, Staff member
#48 in United States, #3 in Oregon, #2 in Portland
Portland
Street Savvy Dog Rescue is a superlative, foster-based dog rescue active in rescuing dogs from underserved areas such as rural Texas, Mexico, CA and the PNW where we are based. Our amazing ALL-VOLUNTEER team cares for dogs in their homes until they are matched to applicants. Started in 2014, we are now entering our 10th year and have surpassed the 3000 saved mark! We are notably THE FIRST non-profit dog rescue in Oregon to resolutely ONLY use force-free training methods and we are dedicated to educating the public all about using force-free training and mental enrichment to help their dogs be happy and psychologically healthy!
"Streetsavy Dog Rescue in Oregon helped me find the perfect dog to rescue . Lots of communication with rescue and..."
— diana s.
Adoptee
"Street Savvy Dog Rescue is remarkable in that it takes dogs from places where dogs are neglected and unwanted. ..."
— julie r.
Volunteer / foster, Supporter
#57 in United States, #4 in Oregon, #1 in Eugene
#5 in pit Bull
Pit Bull
Eugene
We specialize in bully breed, pregnant pups and moms with litters. These pups are 3rd on the euthanasia list and we found that they need help the most. We rescue , rehab and rehome all our dogs so that they have a better chance of getting homes. We dedicate every waking moment to these pups. They run every day at least 2 times a day, they get tons of love from our staff and volunteers. We love what we do.
"A true love for all the dogs they rescue!"
— kimberly s.
Adoptee, Fan
"Mmh takes wonderful care of its rescues and ensures all the dogs go to properly vetted home. They work..."
— elizabeth b.
Adoptee, Supporter, Fan
#63 in United States, #5 in Oregon, #2 in Eugene
Eugene
Greenhill Humane Society has been caring for animals in Lane County since 1944. We operate the only animal shelter within the Eugene/Springfield area. Our programs include animal adoptions; reuniting lost animals with their families; disaster response; crisis care boarding in situations of domestic violence, medical emergencies, and other crisis situations; spay/neuter for free roaming, un-owned community cats; a pet pantry; on-site volunteer opportunities; foster care and humane education. We are a private non-profit and rely on donations for a majority of our budget. The generosity of our local community enables us to provide a high level of care to lost, abandoned, and neglected animals while at the same time helping pet owners in need.
"The people that work & volunteer at Greenhill are amazing! They all care so much for the animals they help...."
— elysia g.
Fan
"Greenhill has quickly become one of my favorite places and by far the best job I have ever had!"
— hannah b.
Staff member
#68 in United States, #6 in Oregon, #3 in Portland
Portland
At Pawsitively Saved we believe that all dogs deserve a safe and nurturing forever home. Providing an environment, coupled with active mental and physical stimulation, leads to a happy, healthy life for your dogs. To meet the physical and recreational needs of your pet, promote healthy exercise and foster essential socialization skills for confident canines. Dogs that are fully socialized and exercised are confident companions We are passionate about what we do and care deeply about the health and well-being of all dogs. This is not a business, this is our lifestyle, and dogs ARE our life. Dogs bring us comfort, joy, and companionship through every phase of our lives, and it's our job to give back to them as much as they give to us.
"I adopted Blue at the beginning of 2022. I had been looking for a small to medium size dog but..."
— lauren d.
Adoptee
"We adopted 2 boys from Pawsativley saved after the tragic loss of our dachshund. We were met with so much..."
— rachel g.
Adoptee
#72 in United States, #7 in Oregon, #1 in Salem
Salem
We are a 100% foster based, volunteer run, all breed rescue. Our mission is to provide a stepping stone to the most at-risk pups via a strong foster based network and training support to our fosters, adopters, and community. While we can't adopt ourselves out of our current crisis, we can provide a pawsitive impact to those pups in our care and bridge the training gap in our community. We are a science based, force free rescue, founded by certified dog trainers, with a mission to educate our community on dog behavior and canine learning. We regularly team up with certified trainers and behaviorists, vets, and vet behaviorists to ensure every canine in our care is set up for success.
"4 all muttKind is a force free rescue founded by dog trainers - they fully commit to ethical training and..."
— anna b.
Staff member
"Having worked with three different rescues in our time fostering, I can say that 4AllMuttkind has gone above and beyond..."
— lev s.
Volunteer / foster
#79 in United States, #8 in Oregon, #4 in Portland
#1 in jack Russell
Jack Russell
Portland
Jack Russell Rescue OWII was inaugurated in 2006 to help Jack Russell terriers in need of new homes. We have placed over 900 dogs in new terrier-appropriate homes since our inception. We function as a regional Jack Russell terrier rescue for the Pacific Northwest states and have our own 501(c)3 status EIN# 26-4080201.
"JRROWI does an incredible job rescuing dogs and not just JRT dogs. Kyra is so incredibly knowledgeable and a great..."
— sera j.
Supporter
"They take such good care of the animals that come in to the rescue, and they are so successful at..."
— laine n.
Adoptee
#88 in United States, #9 in Oregon, #3 in Eugene
Eugene
Our love for all animals, big and small, runs deep. Our rescue efforts began while healing from the sadness of losing our 13-year-old Golden Retriever, Ruby. The healing began with a phone call from a friend nearly 1,000 miles away: Can you help us? It was that desperate plea that opened our eyes to a problem that isn't going away anytime soon. Pet overpopulation, animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment affect all of us and the communities we live in. Through our transports, we are able to save these animals from being euthanized in high kill shelters by carrying them to the safety of our rescue network. Dog Rescue is all about teamwork. Each life saved represents countless hours of collaboration between volunteers and rescue organizations. Currently, our network spans the I-5 Corridor, from the Mexican to Canadian borders. Here, these various agencies provide the training, medical care, and fostering to help find a happy, healthy, and loving home for the dogs to live in for the rest of their lives. As of April 2024, over 11,800 dogs (and many cats) have been transported. In addition to transport, we work with several pet food suppliers to secure donated food for animals in our community. Donated food, supplies, and treats are distributed to food banks, shelters, rescue agencies, churches, veterans and the homeless. In the sweet spirit of Ruby, we wake up every day with the hope of giving these animals a new leash on life.
"We love A New Leash on Life, they help our rescue (Luvable Dog Rescue) with pet food from their pet..."
— kristi m.
Fan
"A New Leash on Life is constantly on the move rescuing dogs from high kill shelters on the I-5 corridor..."
— lauren l.
Supporter, Fan
#90 in United States, #10 in Oregon, #5 in Portland
Portland
"They do so much for rescue dogs"
— jan m.
Fan
"Best animal care advocates. Number one!"
— jann k.
Supporter
#95 in United States, #11 in Oregon
SoHumane provides quality care for dogs and cats while working to make a difference in the pet overpopulation problem. Annually, SoHumane serves approximately 1,600 companion animals. In 2022 we successfully adopted out 1,275 animals, and saved 427 animals from euthanasia at other shelters through our Saving Train program.
"During the beginning of COVID my PTSD service dog was due for her yearly and vaccinations. Our local Vetanarian,..."
— mark s.
Supporter, Fan
"I just want to Thank You for my wonderful doggie Peanut!!! She was adopted by us about 2 years ago...."
— mother k.
Adoptee
#97 in United States, #12 in Oregon, #1 in Bend
Bend
The values we share at Street Dog Hero inspire the interactions we have with everyone*. We are committed to bettering the communities, people, and animals we serve. Each of us contributes to this effort in our own way, bringing passion to what we do best and committing to align with the following values. Act with integrity, empathy, and compassion Seek to understand those we serve Minimize suffering Provide appropriate transparency Safety first, in all its forms *four-legged and two-legged
"The incredible rescue that saved our two Mexico street dogs!"
— sharon t.
Adoptee
"Street Dog Hero is one of the most well-known charities in Central Oregon. Over 5 years, they have helped place..."
— cory c.
Adoptee, Staff member
#98 in United States, #13 in Oregon, #6 in Portland
Portland
Our mission is to rescue shelter dogs with medical needs, provide them with life-saving veterinary care, and aid them on the path to their forever homes.
"Stumptown takes the utmost care of all of their pets, providing many of them a second chance at life they..."
— morgan b.
Volunteer / foster
"Everyone I know who’s adopted from here has been very happy. When i’m ready for my next family member, I..."
— delaney h.
Fan
#98 in United States, #13 in Oregon, #4 in Eugene
Eugene
Finding Homes, Opening Hearts, and Educating Minds to strengthen and improve the lives of animals and people
"SafeHaven is amazing!"
— paige l.
Supporter
"I have had excellent service finding my forever pets here. The place is very clean and welcoming."
— edelyn s.
Adoptee
#98 in United States, #13 in Oregon, #2 in Salem
#4 in golden Retriever
Golden Retriever
Salem
Golden Bond Rescue is a volunteer run, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of retrievers. Our mission is to find caring, adoptive homes for retrievers and retriever mixes in need and to educate the public to prevent the homeless retrievers of the future. Retrievers in need of new homes come from a variety of circumstances. Some come to us due to compelling family situations such as death, divorce, family illness, relocation or economic hardship. Others are released to rescue because of behavior problems due to lack of exercise and poor understanding of the needs of the breed. Since our beginnings in 1991, we have successfully placed over 3,500 dogs with new loving families. We would like to remind anyone interested in adopting a retriever that there is no source (including breeders, kennels, humane societies, rescue organizations) for a guaranteed perfect or pre-trained dog. Like many rescue organizations, we offer the benefits of being able to provide dogs who are already spayed or neutered, who have had a sound fundamental health examination, and whose temperament is fairly well known (since they have all lived with our foster families). Some of our dogs have not had a loving family in the past, but many have. Some may have behavioral problems, but many do not. And some need special medical care, just as most any dog will eventually. Many of our dogs need some level of training. All of our dogs need significant amounts of time, attention, patience, and love to adjust to their forever homes. Golden Bond Rescue is a resource for people who would like to give retrievers or retriever mixes a second chance in life. Golden Bond Rescue identifies a "retriever" as any breed that falls under the American Kennel Club's (AKC) retriever classification: golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Chesapeake Bay retriever, curly-coated retriever, flat-coated retriever, and Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever. For more information about each of these breeds, please use this link RETRIEVERS.
"Thank you for our sweet Simba!"
— kathy g.
Adoptee
"I proudly support Golden Bond Rescue. This amazing organization rescues retrievers and retriever mixes, many on the brink of being..."
— d. b.
Supporter
#99 in United States, #14 in Oregon, #3 in Salem
Salem
COMPASSION for animals and the humans who care for them. We believe in respecting the dignity of all living beings and aim to create a positive, kind, empathetic, and inclusive environment. COMMITMENT to a humane quality of care using science-based welfare standards to consider and address the needs of animals as individuals. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT by providing education, resources, and support through our programs that aim to foster thoughtful engagement and participation. TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY through clear and open communication that aims to build and sustain our community's trust.
"Love them"
— mallory b.
Volunteer / foster
#99 in United States, #14 in Oregon, #3 in Salem
Salem
Oregon Pet Project, DBA ARK Pet Rescue is an animal rescue organization located in Newberg, Oregon. Our focus is helping cats and dogs in at-risk situations in our community and beyond. We strongly believe in creating a community environment for animals and people to come to and rest.
"ARK was willing to take a wonderful cat that was found in our neighborhood when we could but find his..."
— janice s.
Supporter
#99 in United States, #14 in Oregon, #7 in Portland
Portland
FAMILY DOGS NEW LIFE IS A NO KILL DOG SHELTER DEVOTED TO RESCUING NEEDY DOGS OF ALL BREEDS, AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. We believe that all dogs deserve a second chance at a new life. It's not about being perfect, it's about being perfect for one another.
"Family Dogs New Life gave me my soul dog - Franklin. They provide so many dogs with a new opportunity..."
— irene t.
Adoptee, Supporter
#99 in United States, #14 in Oregon
Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue is a small rescue in the Hermiston area of Oregon. Our focus is primarily sick, injured, and stray animals from our community and surrounding areas. If you have found or seen a hurt or lost animal please contact us on our Facebook page Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue and send us a message. We are a 501(c)(3) rescue and we house our animals through a foster based program. We have some really amazing people helping us by fostering the animals we save and ensuring they get the love and care they deserve! We are extremely grateful for them, and we are always in need of more fosters so we can save more animals in need.
"Fuzz Ball is a wonderful, caring rescue that helps all kinds of homeless animals. I adopted my sweet Chihuahua/Jack..."
— suzanne s.
Adoptee, Fan
#99 in United States, #14 in Oregon
We provide high quality care for all dogs during their stay at the Hukari Animal Shelter. We provide adoption support services for Gorge dogs needing a permanent home which in turn reduces euthanasia and we are a resource for local dog owners. Adopt A Dog Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization. We work closely with the Hood River County Animal Control and Sheriff's Office to provide every dog housed at the Hukari Animal Shelter high quality care during his or her stay. Since our inception in mid 2007, Hood River Adopt A Dog (HRAAD) has cared for thousands of canine shelter guests at an average of 275 per year. For those we have not been able to find homes for we have found alternative placements for rehabilitation and eventual adoption.
"Thirteen years ago, we welcomed our first dog into our family, thanks to Hood River Adopt-a-Dog. He was an energetic..."
— michaela k.
Adoptee
The values we share at Street Dog Hero inspire the interactions we have with everyone*. We are committed to bettering the communities, people, and animals we serve. Each of us contributes to this effort in our own way, bringing passion to what we do best and committing to align with the following values. Act with integrity, empathy, and compassion Seek to understand those we serve Minimize suffering Provide appropriate transparency Safety first, in all its forms *four-legged and two-legged
There is a huge need in our community to help with animal overpopulation and medical needs. We saw this need growing and decided to help. After 8 years of rescue, foster and helping out these animals we knew we could do much more with your help.
Great Pyrs & Paws Rescue is a 501c3 organization with a network of volunteers across the United States. We rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome unwanted, displaced, and neglected Great Pyrenees along with other Livestock Guardian dogs in need throughout Texas and the Pacific Northwest. By placing them in caring and nurturing foster homes we are able to successfully adopt them to loving homes throughout the Western United States. Our mission is to engage community members to promote better treatment of these dogs and reduce euthanasia numbers through adoptions, education, and other resources. Great Pyrs & Paws Rescue is a partner with National Great Pyrenees Rescue (www.nationalpyr.org) and we strive to collaborate with other community members. Our vision is to be at the forefront of generating awareness concerning the mistreatment and over-population of Livestock Guardian Breeds, specifically in Texas. Our rescue focuses on finding forever homes for the Pyrs and other livestock guardian dogs in Texas and in the Pacific Northwestern states, by placing them with fosters in Texas, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and adopting them to loving families. We partner with multiple transport companies to safely get our Pyrs to their destinations. We also welcome and support other transport arrangements, such as air travel, if the adopters prefer.
We specialize in bully breed, pregnant pups and moms with litters. These pups are 3rd on the euthanasia list and we found that they need help the most. We rescue , rehab and rehome all our dogs so that they have a better chance of getting homes. We dedicate every waking moment to these pups. They run every day at least 2 times a day, they get tons of love from our staff and volunteers. We love what we do.
Greenhill Humane Society has been caring for animals in Lane County since 1944. We operate the only animal shelter within the Eugene/Springfield area. Our programs include animal adoptions; reuniting lost animals with their families; disaster response; crisis care boarding in situations of domestic violence, medical emergencies, and other crisis situations; spay/neuter for free roaming, un-owned community cats; a pet pantry; on-site volunteer opportunities; foster care and humane education. We are a private non-profit and rely on donations for a majority of our budget. The generosity of our local community enables us to provide a high level of care to lost, abandoned, and neglected animals while at the same time helping pet owners in need.
Our love for all animals, big and small, runs deep. Our rescue efforts began while healing from the sadness of losing our 13-year-old Golden Retriever, Ruby. The healing began with a phone call from a friend nearly 1,000 miles away: Can you help us? It was that desperate plea that opened our eyes to a problem that isn't going away anytime soon. Pet overpopulation, animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment affect all of us and the communities we live in. Through our transports, we are able to save these animals from being euthanized in high kill shelters by carrying them to the safety of our rescue network. Dog Rescue is all about teamwork. Each life saved represents countless hours of collaboration between volunteers and rescue organizations. Currently, our network spans the I-5 Corridor, from the Mexican to Canadian borders. Here, these various agencies provide the training, medical care, and fostering to help find a happy, healthy, and loving home for the dogs to live in for the rest of their lives. As of April 2024, over 11,800 dogs (and many cats) have been transported. In addition to transport, we work with several pet food suppliers to secure donated food for animals in our community. Donated food, supplies, and treats are distributed to food banks, shelters, rescue agencies, churches, veterans and the homeless. In the sweet spirit of Ruby, we wake up every day with the hope of giving these animals a new leash on life.
After 13 years in Tualatin, We recently re-located to Portland in the John's Landing neighborhood! We always have 50+ adorable pups waiting for homes so please come visit us 7-days a week!
Street Savvy Dog Rescue is a superlative, foster-based dog rescue active in rescuing dogs from underserved areas such as rural Texas, Mexico, CA and the PNW where we are based. Our amazing ALL-VOLUNTEER team cares for dogs in their homes until they are matched to applicants. Started in 2014, we are now entering our 10th year and have surpassed the 3000 saved mark! We are notably THE FIRST non-profit dog rescue in Oregon to resolutely ONLY use force-free training methods and we are dedicated to educating the public all about using force-free training and mental enrichment to help their dogs be happy and psychologically healthy!
At Pawsitively Saved we believe that all dogs deserve a safe and nurturing forever home. Providing an environment, coupled with active mental and physical stimulation, leads to a happy, healthy life for your dogs. To meet the physical and recreational needs of your pet, promote healthy exercise and foster essential socialization skills for confident canines. Dogs that are fully socialized and exercised are confident companions We are passionate about what we do and care deeply about the health and well-being of all dogs. This is not a business, this is our lifestyle, and dogs ARE our life. Dogs bring us comfort, joy, and companionship through every phase of our lives, and it's our job to give back to them as much as they give to us.
We are a 100% foster based, volunteer run, all breed rescue. Our mission is to provide a stepping stone to the most at-risk pups via a strong foster based network and training support to our fosters, adopters, and community. While we can't adopt ourselves out of our current crisis, we can provide a pawsitive impact to those pups in our care and bridge the training gap in our community. We are a science based, force free rescue, founded by certified dog trainers, with a mission to educate our community on dog behavior and canine learning. We regularly team up with certified trainers and behaviorists, vets, and vet behaviorists to ensure every canine in our care is set up for success.
Golden Bond Rescue is a volunteer run, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of retrievers. Our mission is to find caring, adoptive homes for retrievers and retriever mixes in need and to educate the public to prevent the homeless retrievers of the future. Retrievers in need of new homes come from a variety of circumstances. Some come to us due to compelling family situations such as death, divorce, family illness, relocation or economic hardship. Others are released to rescue because of behavior problems due to lack of exercise and poor understanding of the needs of the breed. Since our beginnings in 1991, we have successfully placed over 3,500 dogs with new loving families. We would like to remind anyone interested in adopting a retriever that there is no source (including breeders, kennels, humane societies, rescue organizations) for a guaranteed perfect or pre-trained dog. Like many rescue organizations, we offer the benefits of being able to provide dogs who are already spayed or neutered, who have had a sound fundamental health examination, and whose temperament is fairly well known (since they have all lived with our foster families). Some of our dogs have not had a loving family in the past, but many have. Some may have behavioral problems, but many do not. And some need special medical care, just as most any dog will eventually. Many of our dogs need some level of training. All of our dogs need significant amounts of time, attention, patience, and love to adjust to their forever homes. Golden Bond Rescue is a resource for people who would like to give retrievers or retriever mixes a second chance in life. Golden Bond Rescue identifies a "retriever" as any breed that falls under the American Kennel Club's (AKC) retriever classification: golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Chesapeake Bay retriever, curly-coated retriever, flat-coated retriever, and Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever. For more information about each of these breeds, please use this link RETRIEVERS.
COMPASSION for animals and the humans who care for them. We believe in respecting the dignity of all living beings and aim to create a positive, kind, empathetic, and inclusive environment. COMMITMENT to a humane quality of care using science-based welfare standards to consider and address the needs of animals as individuals. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT by providing education, resources, and support through our programs that aim to foster thoughtful engagement and participation. TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY through clear and open communication that aims to build and sustain our community's trust.
Welcome to the 2024 Oregon Sniffspot Top Dog Rescue & Shelter List, highlighting the top rescues and shelters in Oregon chosen by the Sniffspot community and the public.
Sponsored by Sniffspot, the largest global network of private dog parks, each park offers secure, private bookings on private land, including fenced, water, indoor, and beach parks. As a hub for rescue dogs, our sponsorship underscores our dedication to supporting shelters and rescues. Explore Oregon dog parks on Sniffspot's platform.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3ce4k7faiinxmm15ax19k/Adoption-Pol-Proc.pdf?rlkey=fb5gcigknv64gfxauf8qpcpgl&dl=0
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.