Breed Restrictions in Your Community: Is There Anything You Can Do?
Above all, your dog is a beloved friend and your constant companion. So how could the sweetheart you snuggle with be on a restriction list in a prospective community or apartment complex?
Of course, breed restrictions can be a real challenge for pet owners to grapple with. He wouldn’t harm a fly, so why is he accountable for other dogs’ bad behavior? It is very frustrating to come up against these restrictions, but there are ways to work around them.
The Most Common Dog Breeds that Experience Breed Restrictions
At this point, there are between 13 to 15 commonly banned dogs from areas like apartments and parks. Each space will have its own policies, but unfortunately these dog breeds and are more likely to be restricted:
- American pit bull terriers
- American bulldogs
- Staffordshire terriers
- Rottweilers
- Akitas
- German shepherds
- Doberman pinschers
- Boxers
- Mastiffs
- Malamutes
- Great Danes
- Cane Corso
- Huskies
- Chow Chows
- Wolf hybrids
If a place doesn’t restrict by specific breed, they might decide eligibility by the weight and age of the dog. Generally, apartments are usually on the small side. It can often come down to the practicality of size. It can be complicated to keep a large dog in a small home, so property managers allow only smaller dog breeds.
Why Are There Apartment Pet Policy Breed Restrictions?
There are a few different reasons that apartment pet policy breed restrictions exist.
- Legislation: There are cities and counties that have legislation banning certain dogs from city and county limits. These restrictions are harder to fight and might take a long, political battle to circumvent.
- Insurance Companies: Oftentimes, insurance companies have a list of requirements a building must follow to keep its coverage. Your application may be denied or you might be charged more to cover higher premiums.
- Landlord or Management Choice: The landlord or management company will sometimes put these restrictions in place. This policy is a little easier for pet owners to deal with.
What to Do if Your Dog is on the Restricted Breed List
Although breed-specific legislation has begun to change, insurance and landlords have not. If your dog isn’t allowed in an apartment building, there are a few strategies you can take.
- Request a pet interview
- Ask to have the landlord meet your pup and see how friendly they are.
- Offer to pay pet rent
- Paying a little higher rent each month or a non-refundable deposit might convince them to let the pet stay.
- Provide references
- Ask your vet, groomer, petsitter, and past landlords to write a letter of recommendation for your dog.
- Renter’s insurance
- Make sure your renter’s insurance has a policy that covers pets. Your insurer should also have a liability policy of $300,000 that lists your landlord as an insured member.
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