Sniffing gardens for dogs: how they work and what they cost

A sniffing garden is a fully fenced, private space, indoors or outdoors, that you book for a fixed time slot, exclusively for you and your dog. No other dogs or people are present: your dog can sniff, feel, listen and explore at its own pace, completely undisturbed. It’s not about training, it’s about relaxation and sensory stimulation. GoPuppy now lists dozens of sniffing gardens on its overview page, ranging from a tiny 70 m² garden to a one-hectare meadow, below, we explain how they work and highlight a few in detail.

What exactly is a sniffing garden?

The name says it all: sniffing takes centre stage. A dog uses its nose to read the world, detection dogs are trained to find people under rubble, sniff out drugs and hazardous substances, and even recognise certain diseases, like some cancers, by scent. Every dog has that ability, including yours; a sniffing garden simply gives it the space to use it, without rushing and without other dogs to distract it.

Mental stimulation matters at least as much to a dog as physical exercise. Behavioural literature lists a lack of it as one of the recognised causes of stress in dogs, alongside too little exercise and loneliness. A focused sniffing session is, in that sense, a real form of mental effort, so it’s not unusual for a dog to be noticeably calmer after a visit to a sniffing garden than after an ordinary walk, though this varies a great deal from dog to dog.

The difference with a regular off-leash field is privacy: you rent the garden exclusively for your booked slot. No surprises, no other dogs suddenly showing up, no social pressure, which is exactly why a sniffing garden works for some dogs where a public off-leash area doesn’t.

How does a visit work?

Booking and time slot. You book a slot in advance, usually half an hour to an hour, and pay per session. Prices vary quite a bit in practice: at Snuffeltuin De Zandkant in Heeswijk-Dinther you pay €15 for 45 minutes of unsupervised sniffing, while a supervised 30-minute session at Snuffel Experience K9 Training in Beusichem costs €27.50. Busy gardens like Snuffelweide Pootsitief in Nijkerk (10,000 m²) also offer multi-visit passes, there you pay €19.05 per single session, or €90.50 for five sessions. As long as you’ve booked, the garden is just for you and your dog, or shared with friends’ dogs if that’s how you book it.

What you’ll find there. Sniffing gardens are set up to stimulate the senses: herbs to smell, different surfaces (wood chips, sand, grass, gemstones) to feel underfoot, tree stumps and digging spots to explore, and sometimes a pond. Snuffeltuin Ziva’s Place in Olen, for instance, has edible berry bushes and a separately fenced swimming pond on 1500 m², while Dogs Own Choice in Hoogkarspel was deliberately designed to be wheelchair-accessible.

Duration. A visit usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Your dog decides for itself when it’s had enough, you’ll often notice this through behaviour like heading for the exit or settling down to lie quietly.

Where can you find a sniffing garden?

The concept is well established in the Netherlands (with thirty-plus gardens spread across almost every province, from Groningen to Limburg) while it’s still in its early days in Belgium: GoPuppy currently lists three, all three in Flanders. If you live in Wallonia or Brussels, there’s a good chance you’ll need to travel to a Flemish or Dutch garden for now, or settle for a regular off-leash area nearby.

In Belgium:

• Snuffeltuin Dogs Oasis in Hoeilaart (Flemish Brabant), 600 m², by appointment for €10.
• Snuffeltuin Ziva’s Place in Olen (Antwerp), 1500 m², with a swimming pond.
• Dogs & Dreams in Voortkapel (Antwerp), 340 m², unsupervised or guided.

A selection from the Netherlands, where the range is much denser: Snuffeltuin Indigo Hondenwelzijn in Bladel (North Brabant, 600 m²), Snuffelweide Pootsitief in Nijkerk (Gelderland, 10,000 m², one of the largest), and Dogs Own Choice in Hoogkarspel (North Holland). Check the full list for a garden near you, Drenthe, Friesland, Overijssel, Limburg and Zeeland now have several too.

Which dogs is it suitable for?

• Dogs that keep bouncing off the walls after every walk, or that react strongly to other dogs along the way.
• Anxious or insecure dogs, and dogs recovering from an injury (limited physical exertion, but still mental stimulation). More on this in helping an anxious or insecure dog.
• According to some garden owners’ experience, puppies build confidence there too, if your puppy isn’t fully vaccinated yet, check with your vet first whether a shared space is already advisable. See also bringing a puppy home.

How do you choose a sniffing garden?

Not every garden is the same, and that’s worth factoring into your choice:

• Indoors or outdoors. Some gardens are a covered space of just 70 to 150 m² (handy in the rain, usable year-round); others are an open meadow of several thousand square metres with woodland, water and varied terrain.
• Unsupervised or guided. At most gardens you go in with your dog on your own; some, like Snuffel Experience K9 Training, offer a guided session where a trainer keeps an eye on things, that usually costs more, but it’s useful if you can’t quite read your dog yet.
• Size and stimulation level. A small, quiet garden is often better for an anxious or overstimulated dog; a large garden with plenty of variety (water, changes in elevation, herbs) challenges an active nose more.
• Price and subscription options. Budget €10 to €40 per visit; regulars can often get a better deal with a multi-visit pass at many gardens.

Safety

Fences are usually 1.10 to 1.60 metres high; a dog with a strong prey drive or an anxious dog may need something taller. Rules vary from garden to garden. Check with them before you book.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a visit cost? Usually between €10 and €40 per session, depending on duration, supervision and location.

How long does a visit usually last? 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes with a multi-visit pass for regulars.

Suitable for puppies not yet fully vaccinated? Check with your vet first.

Can my dog roam off-leash? Yes, the garden is exclusive and fenced; you remain responsible.

What’s the difference with an off-leash area? A sniffing garden is booked exclusively and often smaller; an off-leash area is public and free. See off-leash areas and leash rules.