Should there be a dog size limit in your condo?
What leases and bylaws don’t always emphasize about pets
So you’ve talked your condo association board into allowing pets? Congratulations. But now comes the next big discussion: Should there be a size requirement for pets? Apartment building landlords, property managers and condo boards often include a size requirement in leases and bylaws. However, these size requirements too often come from people who don’t particularly know the ways of dog breeds — and how every dog has his or her own individual personality.
I’ve boarded several dogs in my condominium. One was a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard/Beagle mix. Another was a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Pit mix. The third was a Brittney Spaniel. The only people who knew these dogs were here for almost a week were neighbors who happened to see me outside for the occasional potty break or passersby who noticed eyes looking at them in the window. Other than that, all of the dogs were stone-cold quiet. Can they bark? Absolutely. Loudly. And all are somewhere between 50 to 60 pounds. If they run or bark, the whole building would hear them. But they had no desire to do so inside.
ADVERTISEMENT ~ Amazon
As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a percentage for each purchase with my referral links.
Meanwhile a Chihuahua Mix and a Shih Tzu barked or growled every single time someone walked by the lobby door or entrance door. At one point, the Shih Tzu tilted his head back so far I thought it was going to fall right off his body, howling away. If I was trying to sneak dogs in the building, these two would’ve gotten me busted.
Recommended Read: “No dogs allowed? When to bend the condo rules ~ Is your no-pet policy doing more harm than good for condo owners?”
Too often, property managers assume that bigger dogs mean bigger problems. Dog owners know better; it’s all about whether the dog is trained. The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard/Beagle mix and the Chihuahua mix tie as my favorite dogs; but the Chihuahua has “grumpy old man” tendencies, according to his owners. Every blue moon, it showed up when he didn’t feel like walking. The Rhodesian Ridgeback/Pit was a primary example of why people should never do too much assuming about Pit bulls. Out of 80 dogs, she is the most easygoing of them all — until there is prey around. Then all bets are off. (She is so sneaky that she caught a skunk and a bird in mid-air. A house mouse would not stand a chance against a dog as fast as this pit is.)