Outside Dog

[LisaVenn7]

Hi may seem like a bit of a strange question but one of my friends is renting her home and recently got approval to keep a dog but on the condition that it is outside ONLY. Ideally she would prefer to be allowed to keep in indoors when she is home and outdoors when she isn't but the landlord will not budge. There is a pergoled undercovered area which is free from drafts and well sheltered and she plans on buying a kennel to keep the bed raised so that it will not get wet etc. She would really like a miniture daschund and the backyard is quite large and she is home most of the day apart from shopping, paying bill etc as her partner works while she looks after her 4 year old son. She recently rang a breeder who went through the usual questions but when she reached the inside or outside dog and she explained that she wasn't allowed to keep inside they proceeded to tell her that they would not sell her a puppy if it was not allowed indoors. Is this common? I own a golden and she is allowed both in and out so I have never had this problem before myself and am a bit taken a back that she was refused even though she has done her research and has done everything responsibly.

[Skitch]

I think most breeders hear the term 'outside dog' and assume that the dog will be left outside and will have reduced interaction.. which in some cases is true, but not all!

However.. I dont think a daschund is an appropriate breed to be kept 100% outside. That's just my opinion though!

[Sandra777]

It would depend very much on the breed and no I don't think a Mini Dachshund is an outside dog (even if it is just a temporary state, how does the breeder know this?)

When we first came to Australia we rented a house where the dogs weren't allowed inside, and they didn't come in (neighbours were too close to cheat )

They adapted but they were adults and it was only temporary (6 months).

I wouldn't sell a Stafford puppy to someone who was going to keep it as an outside dog.

It's all very well to say she's home all day, but how much of that time will actually be spent outside in close contact with the puppy?

Hard I know, but understandable.

[persephone]

Renting does have drawbacks I remember renting with adult dogs... luckily they had their own references!! ;) We did have a place where no dogs were indoors...BUT we talked the landlord into ..beds in the laundry ..and dogs allowed into the small sunroom area off the kitchen - so we could sit there and let them feel part of the household still

remembering that this will probably be a puppy ... being outside all the time will ideally mean your friend spending several hours outside with the puppy each day- just to get the puppy's training/socialising started .

have they had a dog /puppy before?

[shelby-001]

We have two amstaffs and they are outside only however we are outside people. My OH works an equal time roster and on his days off he is in the shed for 10-12 hours so they happily lie around watching him. When they want a play he obliges.

When he's home they get walked for 45ish minutes in the morning followed by a 10-15 minute training session and a big play. Then they get breakfast. The rest of the day is there's until I get home and it's another training session, play then tea.

When he's not I do the morning routine and then repeat about 1ish minus the meal, they get a pig ear or buffalo whizzer or something before I come to work. A few of the days he's away I drop them at my mum n dads on my way to work in the arve, which is a 4.5 hour shift. They get spoilt then come home and we do the normal night time routine.

There beds are situated in the corner if our patio which has the sliding glass doors to the lounge on one side and the sliding windows to the dining room on the other. The kitchen dining lounge patio fill a square taking a quadrant each if that makes sense so they are very much still 'with' us.

At our bed time they get cuddles then off we go. Our sliding door though also opens on to the patio and they have blankies there if they wish to be that close bug they prefer there beds.

So I know fir a breeder it can be hard to believe but it can be done and we are proof.

Now not everyone will think this is an ideal situation but you ask most people that know us and they'll tell you our dogs are treated better than their kids. We have none obviously.

Guess after all that my point is, can a breeder really know what attention a dog will get based on it being inside or out. I know of inside dogs that get fed and that's it. They use a doggie door for in and out, no walks no training no playing a belly rub at night is about it. BUT I also know outside dogs that only get fed otherwise left to their own devices no walks no play etc.

So hard to know really.

[fuzzy82]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

[shelby-001]

I guess I should note that that's with TWO dogs not one so not sure how 'lonely' one may get. We have Two for that very reason.

[persephone]

there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

ermm... the agreement/lease????

[shelby-001]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

As a landlord with tenants that have a dog that's allowed outside only comments like that make me VERY cranky. You have been given leeway to have them in the first place. Why abuse the trust?

If we had carpets that were close to needing replacement maybe I would have said yes to inside but they're not and if they move out in 6 months I dint want to advertise my house with a 'please don't apply if allergic to dogs' coz they've lived in it. There's a much bigger picture.

[cowanbree]

Depends on the breed and breeder. Outside dog to me is an automatic no. My breed is a house dog and I would never consider anything else

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

My thoughts are definitely not. I know from talking to a Dachsy expert that they are definitely not OK to be kept outside as a way of life.

Why doesn't she just wait until the end of the lease and move, it's all about finding the place that suits you in this case. You have to be able to live how you want to live. If she wants a dog to have inside then she finds somewhere else.

I've moved 3 times in one year when I was renting, sometimes these things just happen.

[xKALIx]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

As a landlord with tenants that have a dog that's allowed outside only comments like that make me VERY cranky. You have been given leeway to have them in the first place. Why abuse the trust?

If we had carpets that were close to needing replacement maybe I would have said yes to inside but they're not and if they move out in 6 months I dint want to advertise my house with a 'please don't apply if allergic to dogs' coz they've lived in it. There's a much bigger picture.

I don't see any problem with them letting the dog in the house when they are home as long as they make sure there's no damage.

That 'allergic to dogs' stuff is a crock, floors are steam cleaned when the tenant leaves as per the rental agreement and the house is cleaned. We moved in to our place with new carpet and haven't treated it like it's glass but we know that if it's damaged in any way other than normal wear that we'd need to replace it when we left.

It comes down to picking tenants that will respect your property. We have flighted birds, dogs and wear shoes inside but when we leave this house will look as it was when we moved in.

[WreckitWhippet]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

Until they are busted for having the dog inside and if the landlord isn't happy about being lied to, they may cease to rent to someone with a pet.

No harm done, except the loss of another pet friendly rental

[WreckitWhippet]

I would not sell any of my SBT's to someone that was going to keep the dog outdoors only. There are plenty of loving homes available that can have the dog indoors and many breeders won't settle for second best for the pups they breed.

[Sydoo]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

Until they are busted for having the dog inside and if the landlord isn't happy about being lied to, they may cease to rent to someone with a pet.

No harm done, except the loss of another pet friendly rental

If I wasn't willing to allow animals inside, I would be a no-pets landlord for that exact reason. I know too many people who agree to conditions with no intention of following them.

We have actually had some trouble finding a local agent who will go along with our pet-friendly approach. Most tried to talk us out of it; one said ok then advertised as no pets.

I can't comment on how breeders will treat her, but if I was the OP and wanted an indoorsy breed I would wait until I lived in more suitable accommodation (and actively seek it if getting a dog was a priority).

Edited November 30, 2010 by Sydoo

[cavNrott]

It must be very difficult to find a pet friendly rental house. My son had an agent advertise his 3BR pet friendly house for rental last weekend. The house is close to the city and has recently been nicely renovated. It was open for inspection for 1/2 an hour but so many people came through it went on for more than an hour.

The agent said a lot of applications were submitted and they've leased it to a couple with a large dog, after doing the background checks. This couple said they've been looking for almost a year but owners/agents were refusing them because of the big dog.

My son took his Rottie for a walk while the inspection was on and came back to find the house with people still wandering around the house. He met the couple who've been approved by the agent, they were still at the house when he returned so they had a chat about the benefits of dog ownership. He's happy the agent chose these people and they're over the moon to be able to rent a clean, escape proof dog friendly house to rent.

Evidently some people were offering a higher rental. Son was happy with the advertised rental and didn't accept any higher offers but it shows how difficult it is for people with big dogs.

edited because I can't spell.

Edited November 30, 2010 by cavNrott

[shelby-001]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

As a landlord with tenants that have a dog that's allowed outside only comments like that make me VERY cranky. You have been given leeway to have them in the first place. Why abuse the trust?

If we had carpets that were close to needing replacement maybe I would have said yes to inside but they're not and if they move out in 6 months I dint want to advertise my house with a 'please don't apply if allergic to dogs' coz they've lived in it. There's a much bigger picture.

I don't see any problem with them letting the dog in the house when they are home as long as they make sure there's no damage.

That 'allergic to dogs' stuff is a crock, floors are steam cleaned when the tenant leaves as per the rental agreement and the house is cleaned. We moved in to our place with new carpet and haven't treated it like it's glass but we know that if it's damaged in any way other than normal wear that we'd need to replace it when we left.

It comes down to picking tenants that will respect your property. We have flighted birds, dogs and wear shoes inside but when we leave this house will look as it was when we moved in.

Clearly you haven't dealt with a severe allergy, a few hairs get missed somewhere and there's trouble.

It sounds like you are every landlord's dream tenant. Unfortunately the vast majority aren't like you. They do the bare minimum they think required to get a bond back and that's it.

It's by far a safer option to put limitations on the 'use' of the house as deemed allowable in a tenancy agreement. This of course includes animals inside and out.

What made me more cranky than the dog actually being inside, is that the poster was implying it should be done deceibtfully, that gets anyones back up immediately I would think, at least it does mine. I can't stand dishonesty and it doesn't breed a good relationship.

[Starkehre]

Firstly, I must say that I do not advocate or recommend tenants doing the wrong thing... however, I am a landlord and I know that my tenant has dogs that she allows into my house and locks them inside when she is at work, without my permission. She does not know that I know this and I prefer to keep it this way. She always insists her small white fluffies live outside, but the agents and I know otherwise.

When she first moved in, I told the agent that I would be open to considering certain pets inside the house, but the agent advised that I did not let the tenant know this, and that the tenant would probably do as she pleased anyway. The thing is that by law they actually can.

Now, as a landlord you are (at least in vic) not able to do anything about it anyway. Tenants are unable to be evicted from the premises and you cannot insist they rehome their dogs. The law is set up on the side of the tenant. Does this annoy the hell out of me? Absolutely. These little dogs poke their heads through my beautiful 50mm timber slat blinds in what was my old bedroom in the first home I built for myself to live in. But there is not a damned thing I can do about it.

So, I keep it to myself for now.

The tenant is a great tenant in every other way and I know she will not find it easy to move and she will know she is on a good thing. so we just stay "mum" about it. She keeps the house tidy and looks after the place as if it were her own. There is a bit of a doggie smell inside, but that's fine. It can be cleaned later on if/when she moves.

So, I guess what I am saying is that if the owner of the puppy can live with herself by doing ethically the wrong thing, lying about it and letting down the landlord by letting the dog inside the house, then nothing will happen to her or the dog provided she remains a good tenant in every other way.

Edited November 30, 2010 by dyzney

[shelby-001]

I'm not sure where the OP is from but the laws are clearly different in Vic to QLD.

She could end up evicted and put on Tika (sp) which is a database of bad tenants making it very difficult to get a rental for the next 5 years. From memory that's how long the record stays present for.

Edit; spelling

Edited November 30, 2010 by shelby-001

[xKALIx]

Unless the landlord is planning on doing surprise inspections (which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed) there is nothing stopping her from letting the dog inside in the evenings.

As a landlord with tenants that have a dog that's allowed outside only comments like that make me VERY cranky. You have been given leeway to have them in the first place. Why abuse the trust?

If we had carpets that were close to needing replacement maybe I would have said yes to inside but they're not and if they move out in 6 months I dint want to advertise my house with a 'please don't apply if allergic to dogs' coz they've lived in it. There's a much bigger picture.

I don't see any problem with them letting the dog in the house when they are home as long as they make sure there's no damage.

That 'allergic to dogs' stuff is a crock, floors are steam cleaned when the tenant leaves as per the rental agreement and the house is cleaned. We moved in to our place with new carpet and haven't treated it like it's glass but we know that if it's damaged in any way other than normal wear that we'd need to replace it when we left.

It comes down to picking tenants that will respect your property. We have flighted birds, dogs and wear shoes inside but when we leave this house will look as it was when we moved in.

Clearly you haven't dealt with a severe allergy, a few hairs get missed somewhere and there's trouble.

Could you give me an idea of the percentage of the population that do have such a severe allergy that even a few hairs would cause a major health problem?

Seems to me that if that were the case, the new tenant would be upfront about the allergy, ask the question, and do their own cleaning before moving in.