rot friendly housing?

[mars817]

Hello,

I'm considering adopting an adult rottweiler. I haven't met her yet as she is with a rescue 3.5 hours from here, but I have a tentative date to meet her on saturday and she sounds awesome. I've spent the last month reading as much info as I can find about the breed and making sure I know what I would be getting into (while secretly hoping no one else adopted her). I think that I'm prepared for all the behavior and training and think that will be fun, but I'm worried about the other things:

My main concern is with finding a place to rent with a rottie. I know it is hard to find a place that will allow dogs, but do you guys tend to have more trouble because of the breed? I hope to be able to buy within the next year, but for now must rent and I'd like to move into a house with a yard, but I'm worried no one will accept me if I have a rottie. It wouldn't be the end of the world to stay in my current apartment, but I think it would be nice for her to have a yard so she can play off leash.

If anyone here rents and could let me know if you've had problems with that I'd appreciate your input.

Thanks!

[anni's.mom]

wait a minute! you found the dog, you're going to meet the dog, and you don't yet have a place to live that allows the dog?

i'd have serious doubts about any rescue organization that would place a dog with you until you're already living in stable and CERTAIN housing situation.

[blackholearkansas]

I am with a rescue as well - we do require a letter from the landlord stating they will allow a Rottie. Many, many very good applicants have been denied housing because of the breed - yes, there is a problem. It would be nice for you to have a yard, but if you don't find housing, are you prepared to stay where you are if a Rottie is acceptable there and exercise your new dog extensively? Only a suggestion - but consider a senior if you are unable to find a suitable rental. They don't require quite as much activity and are already settled in - not as many midnight outings as the younger ones! I agree with Anni's mom - you need to be settled in to a new place before considering adoption. If you are looking for a new place, please make sure the landlords understand up front that there is a possibility you could get a ROTTWEILER - not a dog, but a Rottie. Have it put in your lease that the dog is allowed and have Rottweiler specified - or have an addendum letter signed by the property manager. This is one of those things that is closely scrutinized since people have been known to be creative and invent their own letter. Good luck to you.

[brnlow]

My personal experience has been that apt complexes are more interested in size restrictions rather than particular breed restrictions. With that said, I lived in one place where my 75-78 lb rottie and I were evicted for exceeding the 70 lb limit on dogs when I knew of two 80 lb + labs living in the same complex.

[Nico'sMom]

I have been renting since we got Nico and YES it is a problem. It takes alot of patience and luck, depending on where you live. My first landlord had a rotty so all I had to do was pay a horrendously high pet rent each month. My landlord now has never had a dog tenant before and was willing to accept Nico because he is in training. I pay no pet rent or anything (so lucky) It probably helps that his wife loves Nico, haha.
When I was looking to move it was a serious problem. The first thing I would ask is do you take big dogs, and what kinds. Alot of places won't take big dogs or "vicious breeds" (that makes me so mad!!) I have had the most luck renting with private landlords instead of complexes, you can work out a deal with them sometimes.

[joenc66]

I got pretty lucky when i found the apartment i am in now. As it is the only place in the Greensboro area that i found that allows all breeds of dogs. Some that i called would not even allow a Rott to come onto the property to visit someone, that i might know who lives there. I agree with Anni'smom you might what to find a place to live that allows Rotts first before you try to rescue. I rescued Harley 3 weeks ago and they will come out to see where the dog will be and that you are allowed to have that kind of dog at the apartment or house if you rent. They don't what the dog to come back because u can't have one at your place. That would be to hard on the dogs let alone the people who put in the time to find good homes for the dogs.

[mars817]

Sorry I didn't clarify well. I currently live in an apartment that allows all breeds of dogs, but if i get a dog I would like to rent a house with a yard and was wondering if that is a problem. Also, the dog l am looking at is 4 years old and the foster mom says she is mellow. I am prepared to walk her regardless of yard situation (I want a walking/hiking partner), but there are no places for her to be able to be off leash, so I would like to have a fenced yard.

[JD102175]

Does the rescue/shelter you are getting the dog from know of any Large breed friendly renters? If this is not a Rottweiler specific rescue then maybe you could find one in your area and ask them if they know of any Rott friendly rentals. Otherwise , you'll just have to start looking at rental ads and calling to see if they allow large breed dogs. A local kennel club, or Rottweiler Club, might also be worth finding and calling to see if they know of any rentals that would suit your needs.

Jaime

[rottnelmo]

I rent and have always rented. Yes, it is a pain in the butt to find somewhere that allows rotts.

Originally Posted by Nico'sMom

I have had the most luck renting with private landlords instead of complexes, you can work out a deal with them sometimes.

Same here, MOST complexes here will not allow rotts or big dogs in general. I called on place and he said they had a 20lb weight limit. I just laughed and said that his HEAD weighs that!

Originally Posted by blackholearkansas

Have it put in your lease that the dog is allowed and have Rottweiler specified - or have an addendum letter signed by the property manager.

I just moved and I INSISTED that they put ON the LEASE AND the pet Addendum that 1 Neutered Male Rottweiler be allowed as my pet. That way they can NEVER come back to me and say "we allow dogs, but not rotts"...too bad, you have it on my lease that I can have a ROTT!

I am currently in the process of making tenants (I hate them and they are VERY bad tenants at one of my bosses properties) get rid of their pit bulls, they fought dirty with me and I am fighting back. Plus, the insurance coverage that we just changed too does not allow them. So make SURE that it states ROTTWEILER, not just dog. Because if they would have made sure it said PIT BULL on their lease, I would not have a leg (or cloven hoof, as they have told me) to stand on. So, dont piss off your landlords, is the moral of my story!!

[HerculesMomma]

Originally Posted by mars817

I am prepared to walk her regardless of yard situation (I want a walking/hiking partner), but there are no places for her to be able to be off leash, so I would like to have a fenced yard.

Having a fenced yard is overrated in my opinion. Once I got my yard fenced in, I thought Hercules would want to be out there all the time - running and being jolly etc. Nope, not at all true. He wants to be where I am, so it totally does not get utilized for exercise/stretching his legs. So if you're prepared to walk/hike with your dog on a regular basis, I would say that would far out way a fenced in yard.

[mars817]

Thanks for the replies. I never would have thought of it being implicitly stated in the lease, but that is a great idea. I have 2 cats and the leases are always vague like with landlord approval, but I guess they could always come back saying they never approved (though reciepts for pet deposits should work maybe).

I wish I could get housing referrals from the rescue but they are 3.5 hours from here and there isn't a rott club or anything like that here. I tried the rescue here for help finding a place that allows cats when I moved here and they were not helpful with that so I doubt they would know anyother rott friendly places.

The dog does nursing home therapy visits right now so I think she is good with strangers, so maybe I could convince prospect landlords with her charm:) I haven't even met her yet so I really don't know if I'll like her she likes me, etc, but I just want to make sure I'm totally prepared should it be love at first sight;)

I've heard that most dogs just lounge around a fenced yard, but for some reason a lot of rescues say they won't adopt to you if you don't have one.

[tilerspop]

I have found, from reading here and personal experience that the rottie stigma is less here in the western US than it is in the east or on the west coast.

Yes you are better of renting from private owners rather than corporate owners. Do not discount smaller complexes, many are owned by private individuals, and they are more flexible.

YES, specifically state in you lease or pet agreement that the animal you will have for a pet is a rott. There is currently another thread running here about someone who may need to get rid of their rott because of a dispute about the dog being a rott.

A backyard is not always a requisite for a big dog. I have found that large dogs that live in apartments usually get more exercise that ones who live in houses with yards. The owner is forced by the situation to regularly walk the dog.

Just a thought, might it not be better to stay where you are where you know your prospective new best freind is allowed. Also, apartments are generally less expensive than houses, allowing you to save money to buy faster.

Good luck with your prospective adoption.