My mother is my "landlord" and she would have preferred that the dog not be in the house, but as it is a house, and I pay all the bills, expenses & repairs.

I can attest that I have thrown away several throw carpets due to urine from the previous cat and the current dog. I do not allow the dog in any room that has wall-to-wall carpeting.

With all of the precautions that I have taken with Buddy, he has managed to chew the Stairway Banister Balluster, the Wood Knobs on my Kitchen Blinds, and has attempted the cupboards, and I consider myself a responsible owner. He has a crate, he has a tie-out, he gets daily walks, grooming, obedience, et cetera ... but he is a PUPPY.

I have seen the damage done by unsupervised/uncrated pups. In my previous home, the roommate moved in dogs while I was AWAY, and the dogs chewed through the doors and the lineoleum. The security deposit was not enough to cover the damage.

It doesn't take long for a STRONG DOG to do a lot of damage ... and it only takes ONCE. As I said there are exceptions, but typically dog ownership belongs to HOME OWNERS, so when there is damage, the only one that has any financial implications is the home owner.

You're lucky you were able to convince to let you have the dogs, and I'm sure that being a former home owner was part of the process. 'cause then he knows that you know what being a homeowner is all about.

I'm in the process of moving next door, to a smaller home with a larger yard. One of the things here will be putting up a proper dog kennel/exercise pen for the pup. I am excited about getting the fencing and doing the Plant Thing, like Ed shows in his video.

Cheers!

I've been a landlord and am currently a rental-tenant. Careful screening can be done, and I wouldn't dream of discriminating against a breed. The only property damage I've ever incurred was from one of my former-tenants' children. My problems with this tenant, her inability to control her children and the money it cost me to repair my property and evict her is what prompted me to sell my property and give up being a landlord altogether. I would rent to a responsible dog person over somebody like this ANY day. I think if enough information is provided on the dog(s) regardless of breed, and the references check out then I'm happy. For my part as a tenant, I've written a resume on each dog and included references from trainers and vets and former landlords. I have a great relationship with my landlord and neighbors. It can be done.
My dogs haven't damaged anything because they haven't been given the opportunity, and my tenants with dogs were of the same ilk.

Edited by Kristel Smart (07/10/2007 01:33 PM)
Edit reason: Forgot to add

The rental issue is partly why I'm so glad I live in Ontario (despite the BSL)...you can't disallow dogs in rental buildings here unless it's a house and the landlord lives in it). No pet deposits or anything like that.

I sympathize with the renters, because I know that dogs can definitely do a HUGE amount of damage...but I sure am glad I can always find a place to live with my dogs without buying (which is essential, being only 19).

Hey ladies, this is just my opinion, but I think since you both understand it from both views, would'nt it be more fair and less "hypocritical" to just require the tenant to have a renters policy, have a deposit per pet and sign a legal document accepting all liabilities the dog causes? I mean, we are all dog lovers on this forum, and I figured the dog lovers (and dogs) who are looking for a place to live should at least get a chance? I've never rented while I had a pet, but I did rent to a young guy with a dog. I used the methods I said, and it worked out with no problem. JMO

Ditto, Alex

Yeah, it is pretty tough. My dobe is a pup, and I've hid her from my landlord, as my roommate did her cat. Her cat has done far more damage than my dog has ever done, which is a whole 'nother topic in itself.

But I never let my pup roam. And she never had an interest in chewing anything but her toys, and she's a very, very good dog.

I'm not there anymore, I'm living in with my boyfriend while we look for a good place and save up some money for the deposit. I have my pup living with my parents now, but I go to see her and feed her every day, while putting my family through a boot camp on what needs to be done concerning her.

I can't have her with me, too many allergic people in the household, and I can't live with my parents, my mom already filled the empty room with junk.

It gives me some time to build up some things gor my dog's benefit, though. We've started some classes, so I have something to put onto paper, and making a resume sounds like a wonderful idea.

Renters have been iffy on her because she is a doberman, but the first thing I tell them is to meet her. I will bring her to them to meet her, and show them how well she is, and explain to them my routines with her.

She hardly makes much noise, she is housebroken, and she is not given the chance to do anything she isn't supposed to. She is still a puppy, but I think we've made much progress over the months.

I'll just see how well things go when I start looking again at places.

 Quote: alex corral

Hey ladies, this is just my opinion, but I think since you both understand it from both views, would'nt it be more fair and less "hypocritical" to just require the tenant to have a renters policy, have a deposit per pet and sign a legal document accepting all liabilities the dog causes? I mean, we are all dog lovers on this forum, and I figured the dog lovers (and dogs) who are looking for a place to live should at least get a chance? I've never rented while I had a pet, but I did rent to a young guy with a dog. I used the methods I said, and it worked out with no problem. JMO

Yes. I manage some residential real properties and this was how I slowly led the owner into allowing dogs.

A "pet deposit" against damage, a signed hold-harmless for any dog-damage possibilities, references...... and voila.

And a CGC really looks nice on the rental app, too. So does a beautifully trained dog along with the potential renter for the interview/viewing.

 Quote: alex corral

would'nt it be more fair and less "hypocritical" to just require the tenant to have a renters policy, have a deposit per pet and sign a legal document accepting all liabilities the dog causes? I mean, we are all dog lovers on this forum, and I figured the dog lovers (and dogs) who are looking for a place to live should at least get a chance? I've never rented while I had a pet, but I did rent to a young guy with a dog. I used the methods I said, and it worked out with no problem. JMO

I have just this arrangement with my landlord - additional "pet" security deposit was $250 and there was an extra page of the lease designed specifically for pet owners. It has worked just fine for us, and we have kept our dog in such a way as to avoid absolutely any damage to the apartment thus far (big pat on the back for us, and hugs to Oscar-dog, who really is, and always has been, terrific in the house ). There is no BSL here, so that's a plus as well, but I've always felt so lucky that I found a landlord who was so reasonable (he's actually a nasty, nasty man who has only dollar signs in his eyes, and I think his extra deposit and tailored lease could bite an irresponsible pet owner very badly in the rear, but as a pretty stellar tenant, I've had nothing to worry about - and that's the way it should be - as Alex said, at least give people a CHANCE to do things responsibly).

~Natalya

It isn't that simple ... as the owner of the property you have liablity that you cannot sign away.

As for rents and deposits, Different states have different rules, and in states like MAINE you cannot charge Pet Rent or a Pet Deposit. In New Hampshire, you can charge Pet Rent and Pet Deposits.

Anyway, I'm not saying that all tenants nor all pets are bad. I'm saying because of the BAD ones, is why Landlords just have a General NO PETS ruling and why.

I am no longer a landlord and intend to keep it that way.

As for damages that my dog would do, I'd be willing to pay for anything she's done. It would be my fault in any case, and I'd have to pay for that.

I wouldn't be happy, but it would be a lesson learned and a responsibility to take care of.