westiemum

Didi, thats a great thoughtful post. I hope you have a lot of luck finding a new property with Didi (great name for a dane BTW! ). I'm guessing you won't have too much bother given yours and Did's renting track record. And maybe your current agent can help when the time comes - and yes I'd have you as a tenant any day! I think the thread evolved from me saying the yard was too small to its an unsuitable proposition for an unsavvy/first time owner. Quite frankly, as first time dog owners if they'd asked for a Dane ora more suitable dog for first time owners then that might have been totally different too. Your point about dialogue between landlords and tenants is a good one - however in my case the house is managed through a property manager and the tenants speak very little English. The one time I was there their young teenage daughter had to interpret for me. I've done my best to be welcoming to these people but its not been easy for either me or the property manager given neither of us speak their language. So there's not a lot of hope of dialogue over the dog. So I have to make the best decision I can based on the info I have which is not a lot.

Gem Perse! Bit like not knowing what a doggy door was and then looking to get a dog for experienced owners! Come to think of it, as part of a questionnaire we could put in a picture of a doggy door and ask 'What's that'?

Actually there's a bit in here (bolded) which I missed on first reading. Starkhre would you be willing to share your questionnaire to be adapted to a questionnaire for tenants with dogs/pets? Would that work do you think?

Thanks everyone - brilliant posts. And I think its a good conversation to have as backyards are shrinking, demographics are changing and it seems to me that the ability of landlords to say yes to pets while still protecting their investments through adequate bonds, pet CVs, references and insurance hasn't kept up with community expectations. Here are my takeaways: 1. Its the dog savviness of the tenants rather than yard size which is generally the determining factor - although in close quartered living, proximity of neighbours needs to be considered. 2. Yard size helps with large breeds but is not critical if you have tenants who are dog savvy, will let the dog inside and are diligent in supplying any grooming, exercise and enrichment needs of the dog 3. There are certainly breeds which are suitable for first time dog owners regardless of other factors - and an Akita is probably not one of them 4. If you are an inner city renter with pets, you are probably wise to stay with animals which aren't going to scare the pants off landlords (Not all landlords have the backup of a forum like this or are dog savvy themselves). 5. Its not unreasonable to expect tenants to make reasonable choices about suitability of pets to a rented property and its not unreasonable for a landlord to say 'no' if they consider the pet is not a suitable match to the property. 6. Its a shame that pet bonds are illegal in all states except WA (and even there they seem to me to be pretty inadequate). If landlords could charge a fair and reasonable pet bond then I have no doubt that would open up more rental opportunities to tenants with pets. In thinking this through, the easiest way to do this is to have a two option but all inclusive bond - say 4 weeks without pets and 6 weeks with pets negotiated up front. 7. While I recognise the tenants generally do the right thing (and that's my experience), the issue/risk of trashed rental properties needs dealing with in some way, shape or form outside the bond system. Perse and my thinking is so aligned its scary! (Yes children should need references as well as pets! )

You know Sarah and Andy too well! Its interesting - when I was living there, the tenants next door had been there four or five months and didn't know I had dogs. They said they'd never heard them - not once.

Thanks SG - excellent advice. Will do.

And another "i hate summer weather household' will watch with interest. Yesterday was ridiculously hot here.

The problem is that somtimes the bond doesn't cover the damage done by humans or animals and it leaves the landlord considerable out of pocket. True, in which case your landlords insurance kicks in. Still sucks though. Anyway back to Akitas. With a shortage of pet friendly rentals I think tenants with dogs would most likely be super careful with the place, but suitability is important. I hope you find a great tenant soon, westiemum. Thanks PK - both places rent really easily and are currently tenanted. They are inner city, lovely new spacious properties I'm proud to rent, went through hell to build and was happy to live there myself for a while myself with my westies. Someone earlier in the thread said follow your gut - and my gut is telling me these people are naive first time dog owners who don't understand dog ownership at all, let alone a breed like this. They are busy professional CBD commercial property owners with a child in early high school. They asked me 'what's that' pointing to the doggy door. If they had suggested a breed (small or large) suitable to the property and to first time dog owners then that might have been different. But I think the safest thing is to say no. Perse has seen the house and yard and she says no - and she's a sensible soul.

Guess what I'm going to try tomorrow - Thanks Perse

I don't think anyone is judging the breed. It was mentioned that the owners didn't appear to be dog savvy and that could be a problem. Thats right. I'm not judging the breed. I'm saying these apparently first time owners (of any dog) and the small yard and a large breed who can be high energy may be problematic.

And therein lies the problem. There was no mention of having or wanting pets at the time they applied and I accepted the application. This has come out of the blue today. No they haven't got the dog yet so theres no pet resume and I think they are first time dog owners so doubt there are any references. The dog will not have access to inside while everyone is at work and school (the doggy door is too small) so will be outside in a small yard all day. And I can't protect myself with a pet bond.

The problem is that somtimes the bond doesn't cover the damage done by humans or animals and it leaves the landlord considerable out of pocket. Yes that's correct. I've actually seen damage bills of well over $20k which the bond will nowhere near cover - the poor old landlord gets stuck with it.. And the most damage I've ever seen done to a property was by children, not animals.

Just for interest, I've just found this on a property management site... it appears that pet bonds are not legal anywhere except WA and then only for fumigation. Gee makes it hard for Landlords to say 'yes'. I'd genuinely love to say 'yes' if I can have some protection for my property. Being allowed to have a pet CV/references and a pet bond would change the whole situation for me. And it would seem to be a very simple way of opening up more properties to pets. Shame. Can I charge a pet bond?
ACT,NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC: No! WA: yes, maximum of $260 pertenancy (ie not per pet) and must only be used for fumigation. More can berequested / negotiated in $1200pw+ places.

Thank you minxy, karen and Lhok - was hoping some breed/ big dog people would pop along. I'm a small dog person and my guys are lounge lizards who spent their days at the same property snoring their heads off. There is only a medium size doggie door there as well which a full grown Akita wouldn't fit through - which means s/he's confined to a small back yard all day while owners are at work and the child is at school. I genuinely don't want to be unfair to them, but until today I didn't know we aren't allowed to charge a pet bond in South Australia. And I've just remembered I knocked back an applicant with a kelpie cross for similar reasons back in June. Thanks all - I'll get back to my property manager with a 'no'.

Thanks for popping along Perse - and thanks for that - of course you know said backyard well!

I'm so sorry to hear of Perry's passing - big hugs P's Mum.

Thanks RP - I did think of that. There was no mention on their application of wanting pets or having pets in June, and having met them I suspect this would be their first dog.

Thanks two doggies - if they'd ask for a more suitable dog I might be more inclined - but I must admit not being able to tie them to make good/repairs has changed my thoughts on this. I'm very happy to consider suitable pets in these houses but not large dogs with unsavvy owners who are likely to turn into problems.

Hi All, Just want to check with the DOL brains trust that I'm not being unfair to my tenants in saying 'no' to their request for an Akita... The property is an inner city Adelaide duplex with a small well fenced backyard of just over 123 sqm (roughly 15m x 8 m) and double gates down the side. The fact they are asking for such a big dog with such a small backyard suggests to me that they aren't dog savvy and I think its grossly unfair to the dog to put him/her in such a small backyard. Not to mention if the dog goes stir crazy it'll upset the strata units next door and the tenants in the other side of the duplex. And in SA we are not allowed to ask for pet bonds (go figure). So unless the DOL Brains trust says otherwise I'm going to say 'no'. Thoughts? TIA

Well it's 12 months today since my gorgeous Mac returned to God. It seems like yesterday. I miss you and love you always my little man.

Stuffed toy is right T. Frustrating isn't it? I once got and email which asked why I was asking an adoption fee for a rescue dog who 'will likely have issues'? I wasn't rude and was the ultimate diplomat but boy... did I let them have it!! They got the costs of rescue from A to Z!

Well said Ruffles - sad story but a noble cause and a short life of value.

There's something about this that bothers me - and I can't put my finger on it

Thank you both. Its hard as they get older - so its terrific to find something that really seems to help. I don't know how it works but it certainly does.

Thought an update might be good. Sarah is doing very well but has some residual head tilt, is still circling a bit right and is a bit wobbly - but she can walk straight, the nystagmus has gone and generally she's pretty happy. It seems that she will have some residual vestibular effects until the end of her days. This last week she has had a spinal complaint - the chiro vet thinks it is an exacerbation of an old injury. And I suppose what we might call a 'slipped disc'. After 3 am emergency treatment with opiates last Friday morning she has since had two sessions of acupuncture. And the improvement is miraculous. As part of her second session this morning she's had some acupuncture for her vestibular disease as well as a follow-up session on her back. And again she's now a so much happier dog - moving much much better and less head tilt and circling. The acupuncture vet is so pleased with her he doesn't want to see her again unless she has a flare up with either her vestibular disease or her back. Becoming a real fan of acupuncture!