Sniff San Francisco is a locally owned dog walking, training and boarding company. Our approach to dog care is refreshingly different and is predicated on a simple precept of engagement. We engage not only the dogs under our care but also their moms and dads, our clients. We take a long-term view of our relationship with each client and think of it as a partnership.
Our engagement begins when we text you to let you know that we are arriving on foot to walk your dog to the park. We each pick up 4 to 5 dogs and arrive at the park at the same time. Our person-to-dog ratio is 1:5, not 1:8 like most dog walkers in San Francisco. At the park, we have multiple sets of eyes and ears which is what enables us to:
We framed Sniff around a core value of providing superior, responsible dog care. Everyday, we strive to provide a clean, safe and fun environment for beloved canines to develop into well-socialized members of your family. We empower dogs and their owners to grow and thrive. Hopefully, you’ll feel our approach and thoughtfulness reflect a paradigm shift that fundamentally transforms the very soul of dog care.
We were voted two years in a row as the Best Dog Walking Service in San Francisco by Thumbtack and have been rated number one on Yelp for three years. We are fully licensed and insured. We underwent extensive training at Four Legged Fitness and are Red Cross-trained in first-aid and CPR. We are insured by Pet Sitters Associates and bonded by HCC Insurance Holdings. And as members of ProDog, an association of professional dog walkers in San Francisco, we advocate every dog’s rights. Check out our Yelp page to learn more about what our clients have to say.
We put a lot of thought and consideration into how we engage dogs and their owners. Dogs are individuals just like people and have unique likes, dislikes and needs. Whether you would like your dog to lose weight, become socialized to a stressor or break out of his or her shell, we’re listening. We create solutions and constantly review and edit how we work to improve the way we operate. We:
Offer a true dog-walking service. We leverage the unproductive time spent in vehicles. Dogs burn off pent-up energy and are more likely to play and socialize with others. They stay trim and are socialized to environmental stressors, such as skateboards. Plus dogs relieve themselves when nature calls.
Invest time to learn about a dog’s temperament. We ask clients the questions that help us understand their dogs as they do. This lets us establish bonds more quickly and keep dogs safe.
We treat dogs as individuals. We ensure that dogs have an outlet for stimulation and healthy fun. Working as a cohesive team, we have more bandwidth to focus on the individual needs of dogs without sacrificing a dog’s opportunity to socialize and learn. Whether a casual stroll, a park outing requiring moderate exercise or a strenuous, athletic outing, different routines allow us to maximize your dog’s potential.
Compose detailed notes, letting clients know when we arrive and return. The summaries, in narrative, cover a wide range of subjects, such as how we are received, a dog’s comfort level, plays styles, sociability, behavior, obedience, meals or medication (if applicable), and potty.
Record every park excursion using a 1080p, HD wide-angle action camera. Videos are crisp so clients are able to see the world through their dogs’ eyes, go where their dogs go and watch them play.
Do our best to reduce our carbon pawprint. We walk which keeps our air clean; source ecologically sustainable products that are recycled, compostable, or renewable; and properly dispose of waste, leaving parks cleaner than when we arrive. We also contribute to local green initiatives, such as Green Alleys (http://www.greenalleys.org).
Invest in free consultations. We meet our clients on a regular basis to help with issues that they may be experiencing with their dog. We want dogs to thrive and if we can help clients resolve issues, then we ultimately improve the time we spend with their dog.
Having adopted both our girls Jasper and Mooloo, animal rescue & welfare has always had a special place in Sniff's heart. We volunteer time and donate money to local animal rescues. Some of our outreach efforts include a fundraising drive on behalf of the Butte Humane Society to help animals affected by the Camp Fire, raising over $56,000 in the process. We also made a Clean Air Pledge, where we donate our net proceeds for each day that the Bay Area is blanketed in unhealthy air, as a contribution towards various wildfire disaster relief funds.
We offer multiple weekday group excursions. We operate on foot, which means we don't use vehicles to pick dogs up. Instead we pick up dogs one after another and walk them to a park. Dogs get more exercise and are primed to play once we arrive at the park.
At the park, we engage and supervise all the dogs in off-leash games, such as fetch, tug-of-war, chase and playful wrestling. We routinely work with dogs to reinforce and expand their repertoire of commands to keep them safe. For new dogs, we provide additional obedience training as a matter of course, until such time that they are fully reliable.
We cater to puppies who wish to join our park excursion group but who do not yet have requisite protection of vaccinations. We go to safe outdoor spaces for brief jaunts. We replenish water and food, administer medication as directed, and clean up any mistakes along the way. We’ll help build a puppy’s recall and other commands to keep them safe. This is a wonderful way to introduce and socialize a puppy to the city.
Nuestra casa es su casa. Dogs that are in our park excursion program are welcome to stay with us for boarding or daycare. They receive our full attention and have free range of our home plus supervised access to our garden. We take dogs on up to two park excursions each day, and take them out for walks to potty. At nighttime, we go out for moonlight walks and have them earn snacks when we return.
Our home has ample room to romp either with our own two girls Jasper and Mooloo who are always willing to play or with an array of toys which we make available. The dogs sleep tight on comfortable, plush bedding. For long-term stays, we provide complimentary shampoos so that dogs return smelling clean and fresh.
Being away from your dog isn't easy so we send lots of texts updating you on their stay with us and share photos and videos.
We’d love to hear from you! You’re welcome to leave us a message below or contact us by phone or email if you’d like to enquire or book a service.
Cheers,
Jim & Benny
(202) 509-6897 or (917) 494-0111 | [email protected]
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