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Sniff Story
Our Story
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:
- Supervise dogs in play, whether it’s playful bouts of wrestling, chases, keep-away or fetch;
- Incorporate training. We are constantly reinforcing and expanding a dog’s working verbal and gestural vocabulary;
- Track the whereabouts of every dog to ensure safety; and
- Use reward-based methods, such as wholesome freeze-dried treats, high-pitched praise and various forms of affection to promote positive behavior. We socialize and work with dogs to modify behavior in a pleasurable, constructive manner.
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.
Credentials
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.
Contact Info
- Jim, Benny, Eleanor, Dan, Sebastian & Sabrina
- (202) 509-6897 or (917) 494-0111
- San Francisco, CA 94110
- [email protected]
Jim
Benny
Eleanor
Dan
Sebastian
Sabrina
Go Ahead, Sing Our Praises.
Jim and Benny are by far the best people I could ask for when it comes to taking care of my dog. They
truly go above and beyond whatever I might have reasonably expected. My dog has a lot of energy and
can require more than his fair share of attention, but it's never been a problem for Jim and Benny.
- Cecchi (Tui's Dad)
I challenge you to find another dog walker who will upload videos of their walks (although calling them walks
is doing it an injustice... they really tend to be more like full expeditions) or will give your dog as much
genuine attention as they get with Sniff. You can't.
It's a really nice surprise to come home and find your dog, who is normally bouncing off the walls, fast
asleep - exhausted from a long day of fun and dreaming about his next adventure with Benny and Jim.
Come On, Join The Chorus!
Jim, Benny and the entire team at Sniff are incredible. Our puppy Olive is now 9 months old and has been part of the Sniff pack
for five months. With their help, she has transformed from an anxious, scared-of-walking-anywhere pup, to a confident and fun-loving
frequenter of dog parks and the great outdoors.
- Steph (Olive's Mum)
Sniff goes above and beyond to make sure your dog is loved and well cared for. Unlike many other dog walkers we've encountered
in San Francisco, they fully engage and interact with their dogs at parks and carefully monitor their safety. They even send you fun
videos of your pup playing and detailed recaps of their adventures. I can't tell you how many times I've seen other walkers just
stand on their phones while their dogs cause mayhem or lay around bored. If your dog is with Sniff, they are guaranteed a great
time. Olive has made so many new doggie friends since joining the pack.
Sniff is also unique in that they work entirely on foot and walk your dog to the park and back home so they get an awesome amount
of exercise. This was especially important to us since Olive has a lot of energy and gets carsick. Sniff also offers boarding services
for members of the pack and we can think of no better place to leave Olive when we're out of town.
We couldn't have imagined a better situation for our pup and would highly recommend Sniff to anyone. The entire team is wonderful
and we're so glad Olive gets the extra love, fun and attention when we're at work.
Thank You. Now We're Blushing.
My husband and I are so grateful to this whole team. Jim, Benny and the rest of their crew (Ben, Dan & Eleanor) have worked with our dog Rocket,
and he LOVES them. We called them for our puppy training. We are first time dog owners and they were very knowledgeable. They gave us a bunch
of tips which really helped us in training our dog Rocket.
- Zerah (Rocket's Mum)
We've boarded Rocket with them, and he thinks he's on vacation every time. Our dog's stomach seems to be on the more sensitive side, but Jim &
Benny are always quick to respond to this situation whenever it happens. They also send you regular updates on how your dog is doing.
We feel at
peace when he's boarded with them because we know our dog is getting the best care. We had to move out of Noe Valley because we're expecting;
but we definitely will still board our dog with them.
We highly recommend Sniff!
They are very flexible, which really helps when you're running late from work, they'll be more than happy to give your dog a late afternoon walk. We
really enjoy the text we get after the dogs park visits. They're so fun to read, and just gives you a highlight of all the things you want to know about
your dog's day out.
At first, we were a little worried that a 2hr walk won't be enough for our high energy puppy to last the entire day, but we were
wrong. He would be tired enough until the end of the day when we get home.
We're Lucky To Have You All In Our Lives!
We ran into Jim and Benny by chance one day at our regular dog park and had a nice chat. When our regular boarder
couldn't take our doggie one weekend, we found Sniff and we haven't looked back. They now walk our guy during the
week and always look after him when we go away.
Jim and Benny truly go above and beyond, and do so with a level of professionalism that I have never from other
seen dog walkers/boarders. They are always available to lend a hand when something comes up,
whether it's an extra walk, a sleepover when plans go awry, an extra night when flights are delayed,
etc. They are great communicators. We always know when they're with him and how things went,
and the videos are amazing. They also wash his paws after every walk -- who does that???
Our little guy has been experiencing a bit of anxiety recently and they have worked with him,
and with us, on trying to resolve it. We feel so lucky to have found Sniff!
- Anna (Blue's Mum)
Thanks For Your Kind Words!
We Adore Tobymeisterfunnerhaver!!
Jim and Benny are amazing at what they do, and our dogs are in great hands
with them. We initially hired them to help train our skittish rescue pooch (and
probably us) to be comfortable and calm around other dogs. They transformed
him almost instantly, and he's become one of the most social dogs around.
- Bryan (Toby's Dad)
With that accomplished we couldn't imagine him not getting to keep playing with his
Sniff friends; from their updates and posts we see how much fun our lab has
on his daily walks and park/hiking excursions.
Highly recommended on all fronts!
Group Hug, Anyone?
Jim, Benny, Dan, Ben, and the rest of the Sniff crew are AMAZING! They are so
incredibly responsive, reliable, trustworthy, and kind. As first time puppy owners,
my husband and I leaned on them so much when we first got our dog, Ozzy, and
still look to them for advice!
They were so great at getting Ozzy accustomed to the city (and all the noises
and smells that come with it), learning commands, and socializing. He now knows
how to be gentle with the smaller guys but can hold his own wrestling with all the
big dogs too. Sniff is so hands on with training and play. Whenever Ozzy is with
Sniff, whether for daily pack walks or boarding, we know he's in good hands and
will be looked after with lots of love and care. Couldn't recommend Sniff more highly.
- Meghan (Ozzy's Mum)
We're Speechless.
These guys are true professionals, with a big heart. Key difference is they genuinely care about your dog. Our dog Courtney got
into our dog foodstorage and over ate a few months back. Jim & Benny helped take her to the vet on their own time during the
weekday with no charge, because they genuinely cared about her safety. Thankfully it turned out to be no problem, and she just
had to poop it all out over next few days.
On top of that emotional commitment to your dog, you get top notch professionalism. Daily text of when they pick / drop off,
daily text report of what they did, regular video uploads, no additional fees/mark up ever, even when they sometimes end up
taking our dog for a longer session.
Highly, highly recommended.
- Mike (Courtney's Dad)
Approach
Thoughtful Approach
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:
Walking, No Driving
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.
Upfront Investment
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.
Customized Excursions
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.
Thoughtful Communications
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.
Stunning Videos
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.
Carbon Zero
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).
Free Consultations
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.
Giving Back
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.
Services
* For dogs enrolled in our group excursions
or puppy head start programs only
- We frequent the following neighborhoods and dog parks. Can’t find your neighborhood? Sniff is on a relentless quest to show every dog in SF a great time!! Call us, we might be able to accommodate your location.
- Alamo Square / Castro / Duboce Triangle / Haight-Ashbury / Hayes Valley / Mission / Noe Valley / NOPA:
Alamo Square Park, Bernal Heights Dog Park, Dolores Park, Duboce Park, Golden Gate Park, Jefferson Square Park & Upper Douglass Dog Park.
Group
Excursions
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.
Puppy
Head Start
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.
Daycare &
Boarding
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.
Contact
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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