Tracy Johnson’s Roxborough backyard sees dogs appearing at least once every seven days.
Dragging their owners along, the puppies play around for over an hour, relishing the enclosed area they lack at their houses.
These dogs wagging their tails aren’t intruders. Actually, their owners compensate Johnson with $15 for each dog every hour to utilize her yard.
a private dog park
.
I have a fondness for dogs,” Johnson stated. She appreciates that her location serves as a sanctuary for “canines that feel anxious around other dogs or strangers,” which might make their owners hesitant to visit the area’s numerous free dog parks.
dog parks
.
Johnson leases her yard through
an app called Sniffspot
, which
describes itself
As “similar to Airbnb, but designed for off-leash dog areas.”
David Abrams, the founder and CEO, launched the company in the Seattle region back in 2018, and it expanded gradually nationwide. The business saw a surge in popularity during the pandemic period.
more people adopted pets
as well as certain cities such as Washington, D.C.,
temporarily closed their public dog parks
.
The West Coast continues to be Sniffspot’s biggest market, accounting for roughly one-third of the company’s operations, as per Abrams. However, on the East Coast, he noted that the Philadelphia area stands out notably, with approximately 600 hosts providing their external areas.
Our most prominent hosts receive hundreds of visitors each month,” stated Abrams, who currently resides in Massachusetts. “Their schedules are essentially filled for all daytime slots.
Sniffspot listings allow host owners to determine their own fees, typically around $10 per dog per hour, according to Abrams. Spaces equipped with additional features like tennis balls, ball launchers, and refreshments for both pets and people generally come at a premium rate. Additionally, yards exceeding half an acre often attract more guests, he noted.
People enjoy visiting locations where their dogs can truly run around,” Abrams stated. At certain areas, “owners have transformed them into canine Disneylands.
Sniffspot usually claims 25% of a location’s revenue, according to Abrams. The most successful hosts earn more than $3,000 each month, he added.
A resident from North Philadelphia, who chose to stay unnamed to freely discuss their Sniffspot income, mentioned they’ve earned around $10,000 over the course of two years.
Last week, Johnson mentioned that she had earned $734 from leasing her yard on Sniffspot over the past one and a half years.
“It’s petty money,” stated Johnson, who additionally manages a dog-boarding facility and operates a pet services business named
Two Dog People
But it requires minimal effort, except for maintaining a tidy and hazard-free lawn.
It stands out compared to many other side gigs,” Abrams stated. “You simply allow others to utilize your yard.
Abrams mentioned that hosts don’t have to be present at home during visits since guests get detailed information for self-guided entries. He further noted that the setup aims for privacy, ensuring that many guests won’t ever encounter their hosts. Additionally, any resident dogs remain indoors throughout reservation periods.
For prospective Sniffspot visitors, the application can be downloaded at no cost. However, to make reservations, they first have to register for a week-long complimentary trial. This trial provides them with a $10 credit along with reduced rates on certain locations. Following this initial period, customers will need to prepay every month; these fees range from $20 to $120 and are applied towards their bookings.
A laboratory in South Jersey gives Sniffspot a try.
Sully Carlin showed up at the Sniffspot with his nose pointed toward the ground.
The 4-year-old black Labrador mixed breed had his own yard, but when his owners guided him into a neighbor’s gate without anyone around, he felt puzzled.
Yet when he laid eyes on the expansive two-acre lot, he bolted. He tried to smell each individual piece of grass. With great enthusiasm, he ran after tennis balls as fast as possible. Before long, he was breathing heavily, his elongated tongue drooping almost comically from exhaustion. Then, he strolled over to a metallic dish and drank just a bit of water before gazing upward with weary eyes.
It had barely been 20 minutes, yet the humans had booked the area for a full hour, but Sully was eager to leave. By the time he reached his vehicle, he was so tired that he didn’t feel like saying anything.
Thus transpired my recent visit to a South Jersey Sniffspot earlier this week.
Stepping into another person’s property seemed somewhat odd, despite our prior communication (I had informed the host about my role as a reporter). However, once inside, it became clear why it would be appealing, particularly for those without access to enclosed spaces at their own homes—both for themselves and their dogs.
Approximately 90% of Sniffspot guests belong to that category, according to Abrams.
He mentioned that dog trainers lease homeowners’ yards for individual training sessions, whereas animal shelters utilize these spaces as impartial locations where rescued dogs can interact with prospective adopters’ pets. Leaders of neighborhood canine clubs often organize breed-specific gatherings through Sniffspots.
Sniffspots host party animals
And naturally, there are also dog birthday celebrations.
Johnson has organized multiple such gatherings, hosting as many as 12 dogs simultaneously along with their owners. Owners have the option to include a personalized birthday sign during their visit for an additional $5.
When customers rent the birthday sign, I provide them with party hats and noisemakers,” Johnson explained, adding “they also get fun leis and scarves to use for their photos.
Johnson additionally volunteers to step out during gatherings to organize games and races for the birthday puppy and its buddies.
These personalized details draw devoted guests, who more often desire
pamper their dogs,
Abrams mentioned. Not too long ago, dogs typically had outdoor living spaces, he pointed out, however, those times have evolved.
He mentioned, ‘People now let their dogs sleep in their beds,’ adding that individuals are recognizing the necessity of providing better care for their dogs compared to previous times.
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