Finding an apartment when you have a dog can be challenging, although many apartments accept pets; not all provide ideal environments to house your canine friend.

For you and your pet’s safety, it’s essential that you visit an apartment together, inspect its facilities and ask any necessary questions about whether it really meets the definition of being dog-friendly.

Your visit may start in the apartment office, where it would be fantastic if the staff welcomed your pup – even better if there are treats available and even better still, if staff bring their own dogs into work!

Look for areas around your apartment where your dog can go potty – an ideal dog-friendly apartment should provide poop bag dispensers nearby – then search out water bowls publically located, asking how often they’re cleaned (dirty water bowls can spread diseases).

Walk your pet around the building to check on his comfort level and detect anything bothersome for him. Dogs hear four times better than we humans do and their sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger! Noises or scents you wouldn’t even detect may cause stress for your pups and even be traumatizing!

As you walk around, observe how other residents react to your dog. If you see other residents with canines, ask how they like the apartment complex and facilities.

Search the World
Scout out the world for locations where your dog will enjoy walking with you. This could include restaurants or coffee shops with outdoor dog-friendly seating areas as well as parks or walking trails nearby, or inquire as to if any dog parks exist nearby.

Find nearby veterinarians. While it would be ideal to bring your pup directly to one, it is comforting to know there is help available should an emergency arise.

Apartment Restrictions
Most apartments impose an additional cleaning deposit when tenants bring pets into the complex, and may also levy an annual maintenance fee.