What is a Cohabit Dig?

A Cohabit Dig is a personally verified stay. A member of the Cohabit review pack stayed overnight, walked the fence line, mapped the neighborhood triggers, and filed a full report. The FenceScore was assessed in person and the breed policy was confirmed directly with the host.

What does Host Confirmed mean on a Cohabit listing?

Host Confirmed means the host completed the Cohabit verification questionnaire. Breed policy, pet fees, fence type, and pet amenities are confirmed directly from the host. The FenceScore is based on what they reported. Cohabit has not visited the property in person.

What does On Our Radar mean on a Cohabit listing?

On Our Radar listings have been researched by Cohabit — the listing data and public reviews have been reviewed and the stay appears to meet Cohabit's baseline criteria. The host has not been contacted yet and the FenceScore is estimated from listing photos and descriptions.

What is a FenceScore?

A FenceScore is Cohabit's 1–5 rating of a property's fence security. A 5/5 means a fully secured continuous perimeter with solid materials and secure gate hardware — safe for off-leash use. A 1/5 means minimal or decorative fencing that should be treated as unfenced. Every verified Cohabit listing includes a FenceScore so dog travelers know what to expect before they book.

What is the Cohabit HEA Fund?

The Happily Ever After (HEA) Fund is Cohabit's giving program. Cohabit sets aside $5 from every booking to cover adoption fees for harder-to-place dogs — reactive dogs, discriminated breeds, and long-term shelter residents. Partner rescues nominate dogs and Cohabit covers the adoption fee directly. The adopting family pays nothing at pickup.

Meet the Review Pack

Ginger is highly strung but well medicated, just like her mother. She's passionate about the good life and protecting the world from leaf blowers and men in hats.

Kira and Peppermint are pittie sisters so full of joy they've occasionally wagged their tails clean off. Devoted protectors of the world from rogue squirrels and suspicious sounds.

Behind the pack

Katherine and Terumi are the humans behind Cohabit. Two dog moms who got tired of leaving their pups behind and decided to do something about it. Our mission is more inclusive and accessible pet travel.

Review Types

A member of the Cohabit review pack stayed here overnight, walked the fence line, mapped the neighborhood triggers, and filed a full report. The FenceScore was assessed in person. The breed policy was confirmed directly. Everything you're reading is what we found when we got there — not what the listing says, not what the host told us.
The host completed the Cohabit verification questionnaire and we've reviewed their answers for completeness. Breed policy, pet fees, fence type, and pet amenities are confirmed — directly from the person who owns and manages the property. The FenceScore is based on what they reported, which we note on the listing. We haven't been on-site, but we've spoken to the person who has.
We found this stay, reviewed the listing data and public reviews, and believe it meets Cohabit's baseline criteria. The pet policy, fees, and any listed amenities are drawn from the VRBO listing. We haven't contacted the host. FenceScore is estimated from listing photos and descriptions and flagged as an estimate. This stay is on our verification queue — we'll be reaching out to the host. Cohabit has created the first filter for fenced rentals across the US.

FenceScores™

You shouldn’t have to search for hours and then still wonder whether that “fenced yard” will actually work for your dog.

5/5 Fully Secured — let them off leash with confidence

Continuous perimeter, solid material (privacy fence, stone, or quality wood), gates with secure hardware, no meaningful gaps at ground level. Verified by firsthand inspection. The kind of yard you can sit on the porch with a glass of wine while your dog figures out whether the fence is real.

4/5 Strong Fence — supervise but relax

Solid perimeter with minor caveats — one gate that should be double-checked, a section of shorter fencing, or a small gap that a large dog wouldn't fit through but a determined small dog might. Appropriate for most dogs off-leash with intermittent supervision. Not recommended for expert escape artists.

3/5 Functional fence — know your dog

Fenced perimeter, but with features that require owner judgment — partial height, wire fencing that could be tested, sightlines that may trigger fence-running, or areas where a motivated dog could push through. Good for calm or low-escape-risk dogs; know your dog before you let them off-leash.

2/5 Partial fence — long line or leash recommended

Some fencing on the property, but not a fully enclosed perimeter. Works for leashed exercise, long-line play, or dogs who genuinely don't test boundaries. Not appropriate for off-leash use with reactive dogs, high-prey-drive dogs, or any dog who has ever successfully escaped a fence.

1/5 Minimal or decorative fencing — leashed only

Fencing exists but doesn't meaningfully contain a dog — decorative, very low, or covering a small area only. Treat as unfenced for planning purposes. May still be a great stay for dogs who are fully reliable off-leash or for owners who are comfortable with leashed outdoor time only.

Every booking helps a dog find their happily ever after.

Cohabit was founded to support dogs who need a little extra help navigating the world (reactive dogs, discriminated breeds, and other special considerations). These types of dogs are also often the longest-term shelter residents — dogs who've been waiting months or years to find the right match (just like Ginger).

Cohabit sets aside $5 from every booking for The Happily Ever After (HEA) Fund. The HEA Fund will cover adoptions fees for harder-to-place dogs in partnership with rescue organizations. Partner rescues nominate dogs and Cohabit covers the adoption fee directly. The family pays nothing at pickup.