Use These Apps to Make Extra Money by Letting Dogs Play in Your Backyard

Americans loves their dogs—all 90 million of them. And dog owners know there’s nothing better than letting your dog off their leash to run around free. For a lot of folks who don’t have a lot of outdoor space, or who live in homes with communal spaces where letting your dog off the leash isn’t allowed, that means bringing their pet to a dog park.

But not all areas have conveniently located dog parks, and visiting those parks comes with some inherent risks—from aggressive dogs and communicable canine diseases, among others. If you own a private outdoor space, that’s an opportunity for you: You can make some pretty decent money renting it out as a private dog park using apps like Sniffspot and Rome.

How to set up your yard as a private dog park

Both apps work similarly: You set up a listing for your fenced outdoor space (with a detailed description of its size; doggie amenities like trees, pools, or agility runs; and human amenities like wifi, parking, and seating). People looking for a place to let their dogs run free browse listings, find yours, and book it, typically by the hour. Renters can essentially consider these spaces as private dog parks, so they won’t have to worry about strange dogs, negligent owners, or unexpected problems.

Sniffspot requires that folks seeking to rent a dog park have a "Sniffpass" subscription, which costs $16 to $96 per month, depending on the level of membership chosen (different levels come with different “booking credits” and discounts). Rome users don’t have to subscribe to book a space.

Both Sniffspot and Rome also offer included insurance to protect hosts against damage or liability issues—Sniffspot covers up to $2 million in liability insurance and up to $5,000 for property damage. Rome Cover offers up to $500,000 of liability protection, as well as legal defense and medical funding.

How much you can make renting out your yard as a dog park

With both Sniffspot and Rome, you get to choose how much to charge, but most hosts charge between $5 and $20 per hour, depending on the size of the space and the amenities it offers. Sniffspot takes about 25% off the top as a fee for using their platform, while Rome takes 15%. Rome pays its hosts weekly, while Sniffspot pays out monthly.

You can make some real money this way—one woman in North Carolina reporting earning an average of $7,100 per month in the first half of 2024. Your earning potential will vary, of course, depending on demand as well as what you can offer the dogs in your area.

How to get started renting out your yard for dogs

If making some extra money by letting adorable dogs run around your backyard sounds terrific, there are some basic best practices you should follow to ensure your space stands out:

• Provide lots of photos. Both apps recommend you post a lot of photos with your listing, so dog owners can see where their doggos will be playing.

• Consider accessibility issues. Folks have to be able to access the area without passing through a private residence. Many people prefer being able to access the space without having to interact with the owner at all, so being able to offer truly private access is a plus.

• Ensure your space is safe. Both Rome and Sniffspot require that your space be fenced-in and secure, but it’s a good idea to consider how effective your fence is. If it’s old or low, replacing or repairing it is a good idea. Also make sure there are no dangerous objects (like poisonous plants or rusting old gardening tools), pesticides, or other hazards that could endanger visiting pups.

• Add some amenities. Spaces range from small backyards to expansive properties of several acres, but whether you’re offering a postage stamp or a farm you should consider the amenities you can add to enhance the value of your listing. Some properties offer hiking trails, dog hammocks, or pools for the dogs, and some consider their human guests as well, providing lounge chairs, fire pits—even barbecues. If you can offer the humans a restroom of some kind, that’s a big bonus.

• Provide for owners' basic needs. The terms of both apps require guests to clean up after their dogs and leave the property as they found it, so providing poop bags, trash receptacles, and hand sanitizer is a plus.