Pets need space? Sniffspot offers yards, play spaces for rent

An Airbnb for your four-legged friends? Sniffspot lets pet parents rent private play spaces

TAKE A LOOK. REPORTER: TOSHI AND SOBA ARE CERTAINLY LOVING THIS BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY. BUT THE WEST NEWTON BACKYARD THAT THEY’RE FROLICKING IN ISN’T THEIRS. IT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO ALICIA SILVA. >> I LOVE DOGS. I DON’T HAVE A DOG NOW. REPORTER: ALICIA’S FENCED IN BACKYARD IS KNOWN AS NEWTON OASIS, AND SHE RENTS IT OUT ON AN APP CALLED SNIFFSPOT. >> SOMETIMES THERE ARE FOUR TO FIVE DIFFERENT RENTERS PER DAY. REPORTER: -- >> SNIFFSPOT IS AIRB&B FOR DOG PARKS. REPORTER: DAVID ADAMS FOUNDED SNIFFSPOT FOUR YEARS AGO. IT’S A COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE THAT LETS ANYONE TAKE THEIR BACK YARD OR LAND AND OFFER IT AS A SAFE AND PRIVATE DOG PARK THAT DOG OWNERS CAN RENT BY THE HOUR. THE HOMEOWNER NEVER INTERACTS WITH THE GUESTS, AND THE DOG OWNERS NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ENCOUNTERING UNFAMILIAR DOGS. DAVID SAYS, AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE LAND AND YOU CAN INSURE IT -- CAN INSURE IT IS PRIVATE FOR VISITS, YOU CAN SHARE IT. >> WE’VE GOT BEACHES, WE’VE GOT INDOOR SPACE, WE’VE GOT AGILITY SPACES, WE’VE GOT FORESTS, WE’VE GOT SPACES THAT ARE HUNDREDS OF ACERS THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR DOGS PRIVATELY. >> I’M A PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT THE LAND DOESN’T REALLY BELONG TO ME, NO MATTER HOW MANY TAXES I AM PAYING. I WANT TO SHARE THE GRASS. I WANT TO SHARE MY LAWN. REPORTER: BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAY QUESTION WHETHER A TIGHTLY CONGESTED NEIGHBORHOOD IS AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR A PRIVATE REVOLVING DOG PARK. ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING NEAR SAID PARK. >> SOME LOVE DOGS, AND SOME DON’T. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT GUESTS ARE EXTREMELY COURTEOUS. REPORTER: AS FAR AS WHAT THOSE GUEST ARE SAYING? >> THEY LOVE SNIFFSPOT, BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE THE LOOK OF JOY IN -- JOY ON THEIR DOG’S FACE WHEN THEY’RE ABLE TO RUN FREE. IT’S LITERALLY A LOOK OF JOY THEY DIDN’T KNOW COULD EXIST ON THEIR DOG’S FACE. REPORTER: CURRENTLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 7,000 SNIFFSPOT LOCATIONS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, AS FAR AWAY AS NEW ZEALAND. IF YOU’D LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION, IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE A HOST, OR IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SPOT YOURSELF, WE’LL PUT A LINK FOR IT ON OUR WEBSITE, WCVB.COM. IN WEST NEWTON, I’M DOUG MEEHAN, WCVB NEWSCENTER 5. GOOD GIRL. ED: GOOD GIRL. [LAUGHTER] SHE SAT THERE. AWE.

An Airbnb for your four-legged friends? Sniffspot lets pet parents rent private play spaces

Humans aren’t the only ones renting out their homes on apps like Vrbo and Airbnb.Instead of taking them to public dog parks, some dog owners are opting for a more private experience that is specifically tailored for their four-legged friends. David Adams founded the app Sniffspot four years ago. It’s a community marketplace, that lets anyone take their backyard or land and offer it as a safe and private dog park that dog owners can rent by the hour.“Sniffspot is Airbnb for dog parks,” Adams said. “We’ve got beaches, we’ve got indoor space, we’ve got agility spaces, we’ve got forests, we’ve got spaces that are hundreds of acres that people can go and experience with their dogs privately.” Adams said that as long as you own the land and you can ensure it's private for visits, you can share it. The homeowner never interacts with the guests and the dog owners never have to worry about encountering unfamiliar dogs. Currently, there are more than 7,000 Sniffspot locations throughout the country and the world – as far away as New Zealand. "They love Sniffspot because they can see the look of joy on their dog's face when they’re able to run free," Adams said. "It’s literally a look of joy they didn’t know could exist on their dog's face.” Watch the video above for the full story.

Humans aren’t the only ones renting out their homes on apps like Vrbo and Airbnb.

Instead of taking them to public dog parks, some dog owners are opting for a more private experience that is specifically tailored for their four-legged friends.

David Adams founded the app four years ago. It’s a community marketplace, that lets anyone take their backyard or land and offer it as a safe and private dog park that dog owners can rent by the hour.

“Sniffspot is Airbnb for dog parks,” Adams said. “We’ve got beaches, we’ve got indoor space, we’ve got agility spaces, we’ve got forests, we’ve got spaces that are hundreds of acres that people can go and experience with their dogs privately.”

Adams said that as long as you own the land and you can ensure it's private for visits, you can share it. The homeowner never interacts with the guests and the dog owners never have to worry about encountering unfamiliar dogs.

Currently, there are more than 7,000 Sniffspot locations throughout the country and the world – as far away as New Zealand.

"They love Sniffspot because they can see the look of joy on their dog's face when they’re able to run free," Adams said. "It’s literally a look of joy they didn’t know could exist on their dog's face.”

Watch the video above for the full story.

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An Airbnb for your four-legged friends? Sniffspot lets pet parents rent private play spaces

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