Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- Confidence
- Answers to any questions your landlord might have for you regarding your role as a responsible dog owner
- A good attitude
Step1
Be prepared.
Your landlord will most likely cite problems the animal will present. I suggest going down the list of things you'd be worried about if you were leasing your property to someone else who you don't know at all. Keep in mind that the two biggest reasons landlords forbid pets (particularly dogs and cats) are: damage to the property by the animal and how the animal will affect others living in the same residence(s) and nearby. Explain how you will make sure your animal will not damage the property (e.g., training, keeping the animal stimulated, restricting it to only certain areas of the residence, picking up after its accidents, etc.) or affect others (e.g., you will have the dog leashed at all times it is not in your residence, you will train it to the best of your ability so it will not bark, you will not let it keep barking if it starts to bark, you will keep your animal and your residence clean so you can't tell you live with a dog, etc.).
Step2
Provide information.
Offer to provide references as to your ability to be a good and responsible pet owner. Do you volunteer at an animal shelter? Ask if someone there would be willing to vouch for you. Tell your landlord what vet you would use and give them the vet's information. Let them know how you anticipate you will take care of the dog. Will you take it for daily/twice daily walks to ensure it gets enough exercise and thus will not be constantly running around the residence, possibly damaging the residence or annoying others in the same building? Say how you will house train it if it is not already housetrained (I suggest the crate method during this time, as it minimizes damage). What will happen if you go away for the weekend or on vacation? Where will the dog stay or who will come over to take care of it? The kind of information you want to provide is information to show that you are a responsible dog owner in terms of your care of the dog and in terms of respecting others around you who do not choose to have a dog.
Step3
Suggest a written agreement.
To show how serious you are about being responsible, see if your landlord will let you submit a signed agreement with terms regarding the ownership of your pet on their property. Information to include in this written agreement would be items you already discussed in steps 1 and 2, as well as what would happen should you not follow the agreement. You should both sign and date this typed agreement and perhaps see if you could have it signed by a neutral third party. You should both have copies of this signed agreement so you can reference it at any time.
Step4
Last words.
If you have been able to convince your landlord to let you have a dog, congratulations! Please be a responsible pet owner and hold up your end of the agreement.
If you were unsuccessful, that's to be understood. If you really want a dog, consider it your motivation to either save up to buy your own place where you will be the boss of your property or look for a place that does allow dogs. I know it's disappointing, but if you really want a dog, you'll find a way to have one.
In terms of my personal opinion, I really hope you spay (for females) or neuter (for males) your dog(s). We have a huge overpopulation problem in this country. If you're looking for a puppy, there are often many available at shelters.
Remember, please don't breed or buy while shelter animals die.
Novice 
Comments
bmi57 said
on 11/27/2007 Loved your article, thanks.