German Shepherd in colorado springs (apartments, for rent, insurance) - (CO) - City-Data Forum

meganch · 09-23-2008, 05:17 PM

I am going to be moving to Colorado Springs in a few months and I just got a beautiful baby German Shepherd. I am having the biggest problem trying to find apartment buildings that don't have a breed restriction. does anyone know which ones would allow my puppy?

ryanek9freak · 09-23-2008, 06:54 PM

No clue, usually they have a 30 lb restriction on dogs around here. Your best bet would be to lie. Seriously.

SaxLuva · 09-24-2008, 07:53 AM

Unfortunately I believe you are going to have a difficult time with any large breed. As much as I hate to say this, because I'm prior military and now work for the Army, so many families have come thru here with the military and damaged or destroyed owners properties, they just stopped allowing it. At least in neighborhoods you wouldn't actualy need the Shephard for protection. You'll probably even have to really hunt to find a house to rent that will allow a large dog. I wish you luck.

COflower · 09-24-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

No clue, usually they have a 30 lb restriction on dogs around here. Your best bet would be to lie. Seriously.

< snicker >

My insurance agent "told" me to lie on the application because I had a chow/shepard/lab mix. The chow and shepard part would have made my renter's insurance go up dramatically. So we put lab mix on the application.

I am not saying to the OP to lie but maybe you need to fudge that a bit.

That's odd you can't find a place that accepts dogs. We are a pretty friendly dog city but I will tell you from my own experience, Shepards are big barkers as I have two of them in the 'hood and the owners (they are two separate households and one is flippin' cop - the son of the cops dog lives next door and father shepard was a k-9 dog....grumble) but yeah, they are known for being barkers and my neighbors leave their dogs out at weird hours and it's non-stop barking. Yeah, I will never call on the cop's dog again, I had the city on my butt about my lawn...never again.

I have a labrador and while he barks, I bring him inside as I don't want to tick off my neighbors. I don't blame the breed so much as I blame the owner. it gives dog owners a bad rap and I have to move next year...

I wish you luck. In the meantime, please teach your dog to be a good "citizen".

SaxLuva · 09-24-2008, 10:51 AM

I guess lying about your dog is ok as long as nothing happens. Chances are nothing will happen, but what do you do when Murphy's law happens. I think it's a little irresponsible to recommend lying. I'm assuming that the reason you want an apartment is because you can't afford to buy a house? Shephards don't usually do very well in apartments, especially when the puppy becomes an adult. If you can't afford a dog, that includes housing it, then what are you going to do if you're faced with a law suit for lying on an application which resulted in some sort of incident involving the dog? Be a responsible owner and if you can't give the dog a good home without fear of getting caught at something, do the right thing and find the dog a suitable home. I know that sounds harsh, but if you truly love the dog, then you should do what's best for him/her. You said it was a puppy and puppies adapt easily. Just my opinion.

lizmyer · 09-24-2008, 02:02 PM

There are some really good websites that can track down which apartments will allow larger dogs. Just give it a Google and you'll have a plethora of options. I think the Humane Society is the biggest site.

My apartment has a 80 pound restriction (Woodland Hills) Some houses for rent don't have a restriction. I would try Rusinak Reality about a house. They seem to be the biggest guys with the most options. Then you can have a yard for about the same as you would an apartment, and no neighbors (well, neighbors on the other side of a thin wall) to worry about. Lots of room for puppy to run and play and become a well-adjusted non-barker!

ryanek9freak · 09-24-2008, 03:31 PM

I never got the whole size restriction thing. A dog is a dog big or small.

rock_lobster! · 09-25-2008, 05:01 AM

Another option, if erm, fibbing won't do it, is to offer the landlord an additional deposit because of the dog. I did that when renting a house (I have two German Shepherds

), and the landlord was quite happy with that.

That can be kind of tough right when you're moving (expenses and such) but I wasn't willing to get caught out if the landlord came by and saw my dogs. Owning bigger dogs is a bigger expense.

So that might be an option.

luv2dv · 09-25-2008, 11:21 AM

rayne, the size of a dog matters greatly, I have had all kinds, small as 5 pds, one as large as 120 pds, pure bred and mutts. Small dogs under 20-30 usually, are more controllable as far as damage they do and messes they make. Not to mention thier bark is usually worse than thier bite. Big dogs well, the bite can be severe, and the damage is usually costly....just a FYI.

SaxLuva · 09-25-2008, 01:55 PM

Dare I get into this conversation? Small dogs are the source of more bites, both minor and substantial ones than big dogs. Common sense tells you a bigger bite radius causes a more severe bite. However, the number of large dog bites, including severe ones is substantially less than from small dogs. It is just that the media does not get the spotlight story when reporting that a Pomeranian bit the **** out of a mail carrier’s ankle or a Cocker Spaniel tore a chunk out of someone's arm. Only the big dogs with abhorrent owners get the spotlight. Bottom line, it comes down to being a responsible pet owner, for all sizes, breeds, and species of pets. Don't blame the pet, blame the owner.