Renting with Large Dogs

We’ve been homeowners for years so when a new job opportunity popped up, we were faced with renting a home again. But wait, we have a Rottweiler and Bull Terrier. No one will rent to us, right? Oh, it was not easy, but we found the perfect home and I learned a ton!

Check Out Rental Websites

When looking for rental property, I scoured rental websites. My favorites were Zillow and HotPads, both of which have filters that drill down pet-approved rentals while zeroing in on specific mapped locations. Check daily. You never know what will pop up, and pet-friendly rental property goes fast!

Consider Renting a Home

Many renters share their homes with dogs, and with the soft housing market, it seems many property managers are opening their doors to pets. Using property rental websites, you can view a listed home’s buying, selling and rental history, which is interesting. It seems many rental homes were listed for sale at one time, then after a few months on the market, they were removed and listed for rent. Plus, who wouldn’t want a backyard, right?

Stay Away From Large Property Management Companies

Personally, I found large property management companies discriminating against specific breeds of dogs, such as Rottweilers and Bull Terriers, so I quickly crossed them off my list. One of the frustrating parts of searching for rental homes is about half of rental listings were managed by these folks. And we all know it’s not the breed; it’s the owners of the dog. (OK, I’m off my soapbox. Grr.)

Create Doggie Resumes

When searching for rental property, I stumbled upon this darling idea. Pet-friendly landlords want to know about your dogs so this quick attachment gives them a pretty good idea of your dogs. Take this moment to brag about your dog’s accomplishments, such as graduating puppy and basic manners classes. Once completed, save as a PDF file and forward to landlord before viewing a property. Add a color photo, keep it short and address your landlord’s concerns:

• Is your dog up-to-date on vaccinations?
• Does your dog bark excessively?
• Will you confine your dog to his crate when left alone?
• Is your dog potty trained?
• Is your dog friendly around people? (Have they bitten or tried to bite someone?)
• References (Vet, dog trainer, dog savvy friends, etc.).

Good luck and have patience. The right house will come around!

You may also like: My Dog is a Messy Eater