10 red flags to avoid when renting with pets

With many landlords becoming flexible towards the idea of allowing pets on rental properties, pet owners are finding it easier to find houses for rent for themselves and their pets. Unlike us, however, pets aren’t able to step out or remain outside for hours.

Being home alone can be stressful for dogs, and they can end up chewing everything they can find or pee and poop everywhere, among other things.

So, as a tenant and pet owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your pet is healthy and happy, whether you’re home or not. This will ensure that you’re at peace and your landlord isn’t thinking about ways to withhold your deposit!

Let’s look at 10 things that you must never do when renting with pets.

1. Don’t leave your dog unattended for long

When you move into a new house, it takes time to adapt to a place and living environment. You need a couple of days to settle in, don’t you?

Likewise, your pet’s also new to the home and needs some time to get used to the surroundings. 

So, they may seem a little more aggressive and attempt to damage stuff. This is why you need to be with them for at least a week before leaving your dog alone for an extended period.

2. Don’t delay house training 

House training is critical to the cleanliness of your rental house.

Start the potty training process before moving into your new home. You don’t want to be stuck cleaning up after your dog.

If your dog accidentally does their business somewhere in the rental property, clean it up immediately so that the odor or stain doesn’t linger. If your carpet’s stained, clean it without delay. 

To reduce the risk of staining or damage, consider using piddle pads or indoor grass for dogs and a mat under the litter box for cats.

3. Don’t rely on giving your dog one chew toy

If dogs are left home alone for too long, they become bored and can become destructive. They’ll start chewing on everything they can find, from curtains to shoes to furniture to drywall. Anything that’s destroyed in a rental property comes out of your security deposit.

So, it’s important to keep dogs occupied with a mixture of chew toys. If you have a dog, give him stuffed animals, rawhides, chew toys, and bones or bully sticks to prevent them from focusing on other things like baseboards, carpet, or flooring. If you have a cat, use a scratching post or cat tree to keep him from scratching floors, walls, curtains, or blinds. 

4. Don’t confine your dog for too long            

Pets can feel anxious and uncomfortable if they’re confined to a crate, especially if you’re away from home.

If you have a bigger home, keep them confined to a small room or another area that provides little opportunity to create mischief.

5. Don’t expect your dog to be perfect

If you expect your pet to be of its best 24/7, you may have a problem. Training can help ensure your dog will be well behaved when left alone.

But even the best-trained dogs occasionally get bored or anxious and cause damage. So be prepared to clean up or make repairs if necessary occasionally.

6. Don’t try to sneak your dog into a rental

If, for some reason, your landlord doesn’t like pets and has a set no-pet policy while listing their house for rent, learn to respect it without overstepping your boundaries.

After all, when you signed the lease, you agreed to comply with all the rules and regulations, including the one involving pets.

Don’t risk getting evicted by smuggling your dog into your rental without your landlord’s knowledge. 

7. Don’t skip dog walks 

Walks are an excellent form of exercise for humans and dogs alike. Be sure to include time for daily walks.

Regular walks will keep your dog fitter, happier, and less aggressive. Tired dogs also are less likely to be anxious when left alone. Walks also give your dog opportunities for potty breaks. 

8. Don’t overlook your dog’s health

While we’re sure, you shower your pet with the utmost love and care, remember periodic visits to the vet are crucial for your pet’s overall health.

Be sure to schedule regular checkups and stick to your dog’s vaccination schedule. If your dog has some physical or behavioral problems that require immediate attention, let your vet know and seek their advice. 

9. Don’t let your dog disturb neighbors

While you can’t predict a pet’s behavior, you need to do your best to control them so that they don’t go around peeing into the neighbor’s backyard, barking incessantly, or getting into someone else’s trash.

Dogs are relatively easy to keep in your yard, but cats aren’t. Remember, if your pet’s behavior disturbs your fellow tenants, your stay at a rental property may be short-lived.  

10. Don’t delay training your dog

Training is critical for pets, especially dogs, so they know what kind of behavior to exhibit under specific situations.

Attend training classes or work with a professional trainer at your home. Dogs need to be potty trained, learn to walk on a leash, and follow basic commands like sit and stay.

Ready for renting with pets?

Was that too much information about renting with pets? We hope not!

Suppose you’re among the lucky pet owners who manage to find a perfect rental while owning pets. We’re sure you’d want to stay there as long as possible because you know that it may be challenging to find good pet-friendly places.

So, when your landlord has been kind enough to make allowances for pets, do your part to keep your rental neat and free of destruction. Also, be sure to look after your pet’s wellbeing while training them to coexist safely with your neighbors.

Jane Patrick is a student at the University of California and also a part-time content curator. She enjoys writing about pets, real estate, digital marketing, and evolving lifestyle on diverse platforms. When she isn’t working, she’s experimenting with a new recipe in her kitchen, exploring a new corner, or watching Netflix.

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