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I'm a dog owner and renter so I must adhere to a landlord's rules about pets. Usually there are weight limits. I'm currently working with a rental service in order to help me find a place in the location in which I'm moving. The agent said that he always recommends people lie about the weight of their pet because managers and landlords, especially at complexes, aren't going to double check.
I'm not sure that I could lie simply because I have to run a cost-benefit analysis and usually determine that I while can afford the initial pet fees, I wouldn't be able to afford the fines and fees that might be imposed if I were caught.
But I wonder, how common is it for people to lie about dog size on their rental applications? How do they not get caught? Just walk the pet at night so no one sees the size of animal? It's just hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that I could ever get away with saying that my 45 lb dog actually weighs 25-30 lbs.
I don't know how common it is or how often people get away with it, but I do know that my brother lived in a place that limited the weight/size of dog allowed and when he got one that was over the limit he got told to get rid of the dog or move.
Personally I want a good relationship with my landlord so I don't hide the size or number of critters that live with me.
I don't know how common it is or how often people get away with it, but I do know that my brother lived in a place that limited the weight/size of dog allowed and when he got one that was over the limit he got told to get rid of the dog or move.
Personally I want a good relationship with my landlord so I don't hide the size or number of critters that live with me.
I'm with you. Don't lie. You may move in and 45 lbs. doesn't look like 25 lbs. You could be kicked out for breach of contract.
Don't even get me started on how silly that weight limit restriction is on the rental thing. I have two Great Danes (total combined weight 260 lbs.) who are so well behaved they put my sister's singular 25 lb. Cocker Spaniel to shame. It's all about training, not weight, IMO. My 110 lb Dane was attacked by a 6 lb Chihuahua when we were renting our home and I got a $500 vet bill and she now has a permanent notch in her ear from that attack
But back to the topic at hand. I think it's fine to fudge on your dog's weight a little. For example, if you have a Std. Poodle who weighs 60 lbs and the weight limit is 50, just say he weighs 50 because if he's a purebred Poodle, you can get away with claiming 50 and he'll appear 50 as well. But don't say you have 2 pets when you actually have 3, and don't say your Poodle weighs 50 if he's a mix who weighs 100. To the OP, I live in TX as well. When I rented my home, I got a great landlord who has 1500+ homes all over the SW US who rented to me and my two Great Danes with only a $300 total pet deposit. They have no weight restrictions, only four breed restrictions (no Pits, etc). If you want to rent with 1+ large dog(s) and need my former landlord's name, PM me and I'll give you that info.
I suggest that you clean the dogs up sparkling clean and teach them an obedience routine.
I haven't rented a lot but I've rented three times, all three times in a house where dogs weren't allowed, and I had big dogs. All I did was request that the landlord meet the dogs before saying no. A display of their instant obedience and their beautiful manners got me permission to have them in the rental.
When I say "big dogs" I mean BIG dogs. My last rental, I had two German Shepherds and two Scottish Deerhounds. The landlord had the neighbors come to meet the dogs and the landlord and the neighbors all decided they'd be delighted to have the dogs in the house. That was after they saw the beautiful sits, stays, recalls, and how friendly the dogs all were, with their nice manners and very polite greetings.
Landlords are looking to prevent destruction and to prevent bites and liability. If they have a 25 pound limit and your 45 pound dog has perfect manners and a wonderful temperament and you can show how well the dog minds and how well you keep the dog clean and taken care of, you have a good chance of getting an exception for your dog.
The issue for most landlords is not just the behavior of the fog, but also the wear and tear a dog does to a home. The bigger the dog, the greater the potenial for property destruction. For instance, we had friends who had to replace the sub-flooring after one tenet because their animal wasn't housebroken. I don't neccessarily agree with that a big dog is worse than a small dog as I have known more little dogs whose owners tolerate accidents than big dogs, which sense as a miniature lake is a lot harder o ignore than a "a little piddle".
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The issue for most landlords is not just the behavior of the fog, but also the wear and tear a dog does to a home. The bigger the dog, the greater the potenial for property destruction. For instance, we had friends who had to replace the sub-flooring after one tenet because their animal wasn't housebroken. I don't neccessarily agree with that a big dog is worse than a small dog as I have known more little dogs whose owners tolerate accidents than big dogs, which sense as a miniature lake is a lot harder o ignore than a "a little piddle".
Yes, I agree. I had to take care of my father's house (rent it out) and was somewhat cautious about pets even though my father had them and the Spaniels from a neighbor used to come visit him.
We had two corgis and landed in a rental, which was unfortunately carpeted. We had the place steam-cleaned 2x in the year. We know with our remaining corgi, he tends to throw up and a 24 lb. throw-up is a lot easier to clean up than a great dane.
I know in my area, apartment complexes, realtors, and property management companies require one on one visits with the dog, photos for their file and vaccine/health records from a local vet, not mention the breed restrictions. There are some private landlords (those with numerous properties) that require the same, but you can find a small time landlord who doesn't care about the dog at all as long as you pay the pet fee.
Being caught, and the risk of that is high, will result in either you getting rid of your dog or being evicted. Having said that, it really depends on where you're living. If you're living in an apt complex the risk of being caught is the highest. If you rent a home in a residential area, the risk is lower. However, the risk is always there and to me it's not worth it.
I don't think I could outright lie, but a small fudge (say 5 lbs) I could probably live with. We had one dog who was harder to accept because she was nearly 60lbs. She was a great dog though and most places probably would have loved her. We just didn't chance it. I would never opt to get rid of my dog but I would be concerned about more or less getting evicted - I'm guessing it would cost a whole lot more than just a new deposit if you were caught.
The issue for most landlords is not just the behavior of the fog, but also the wear and tear a dog does to a home. The bigger the dog, the greater the potenial for property destruction. For instance, we had friends who had to replace the sub-flooring after one tenet because their animal wasn't housebroken. I don't neccessarily agree with that a big dog is worse than a small dog as I have known more little dogs whose owners tolerate accidents than big dogs, which sense as a miniature lake is a lot harder o ignore than a "a little piddle".
Wrong...
I have large work dogs plus I foster. The little foo foo dogs are a lot more destructive from my experience. They are also more likely to nip or bite than my big skeery 100 pound dogs...
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