On Facebook, there is a fairly large group dedicated to dog-friendly spots throughout New Hampshire. The group also serves as an information hub for both locals and visitors, oftentimes where people will post questions regarding dog walkers, groomers, etc. I saw a post earlier this week from someone looking for a safe and private place to walk their dog that wasn't a public dog park, as their dog wouldn't do well in that type of setting. I scrolled the comments and over and over I kept seeing mention of something called Sniffspot. I'd never heard of this before, so I did some Googling, and what I found intrigued me.

Sniffspot is almost like Airbnb, but instead of renting out your house, you're renting out your yard for dogs to play in. Users of the app are pet owners who are willing to pay for safe and private spaces to play with and exercise their dogs. Hosts are allowed to set the days and times their yard is available, and the hourly rate for renting out their yard as well. For people with dogs who live in places without a yard of their own, this is such a game-changer. Even more so for people with dogs who don't do well in public dog parks, or live in places without dog-designated public places like a dog park. 

More and more homeowners are finding creative ways to make extra money using their own properties. Many people put secondary dwellings on their properties to rent out as short-term or long-term rentals, while some rent out their homes seasonally while they live elsewhere, or even just rent out a room periodically. The idea of renting out a yard may have sounded a little unusual a few years ago, but in today's world, it's another unique idea that fills a need that many people have.

I have a big parcel of land and a very small house. I've often thought about how much I would love to build a larger house and rent my current one out in some capacity, but that financially feels out of reach for this time in my life. A Sniffspot, though? I could definitely make that happen, and I would feel really happy about helping other people and dogs along the way.

Paige O. Roberts has a degree in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Henniker Review, Sidereal Magazine, Rejection Letters, and Cypress. She has been nominated for a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize. She lives in northern New Hampshire, where she owns and operates a pet boutique called Tailswag.