WWMLD -- dog related

[sugarbear1]

I rent an ADU that is the third story of my house. My leases are 3 months with an option to extend, so I often get young folks who are travel nurses or interns. I allow pets with an additional deposit.

My current tenant has been here two weeks. She is lovely, and has a super cute pup. Her lease is up mid-November. She's doing and is doing an internship for veterinarian school.

Her pup howls and growls all day long. Sometimes low barking. I am now back at work, but I still get home around 4 every day. She is not back until 6:30 (she's gone before I am so I am guessing she's out most work days from 7:30 to 6:30).

I told her about the pup and that he sounded really unhappy. She said, "oh, he has never really been left alone, I'm hoping he gets used to it." She bought him some anxiety meds.

I know nothing about dogs. Is this going to get better? I cannot relax in my own space-- or really even have a conversation. And I'm worried about the dog. This cannot be good for him. I obviously don't want to break her lease, but this is not sustainable.

[krystee]

11 hours is a long time to be alone, especially for a dog that has never been alone! Is the internship at a vet’s office? I wonder if she could bring him and he could stay in the kennel.

[isabel]

Poor pup. That's a really long time. Do you have a yard and would you be open to letting the dog out when you get home? I think I would tell her she needs to have someone come walk the dog or something during the day. That's way too long to be alone and unable to go to the bathroom.

[sugarbear1]

Aug 29, 2024 21:45:46 GMT -5 isabel said:

Poor pup. That's a really long time. Do you have a yard and would you be open to letting the dog out when you get home? I think I would tell her she needs to have someone come walk the dog or something during the day. That's way too long to be alone and unable to go to the bathroom.

My yard isn't fenced but I did tell her that my kids and / or I would be happy to walk him most days. She said she thought that would be worse because he'd be with us and then alone again.

[mala]

Probably won't get better unless she puts in the work for training. If you can I'd record audio so she can see what it's like the entire day. I'm completely judging her for being in animal care and leaving her dog for so long during the day knowing that it's having issues adapting. If there are any clauses in her lease that would allow you to break it I would seriously consider it, might not be worth it if she's gone in November though. I would be worried about what the dog is doing while she's gone, if he's peeing in the unit or destroying things.

[mala]

Aug 29, 2024 22:09:15 GMT -5 sugarbear1 said:

Aug 29, 2024 21:45:46 GMT -5 isabel said:

Poor pup. That's a really long time. Do you have a yard and would you be open to letting the dog out when you get home? I think I would tell her she needs to have someone come walk the dog or something during the day. That's way too long to be alone and unable to go to the bathroom.

My yard isn't fenced but I did tell her that my kids and / or I would be happy to walk him most days. She said she thought that would be worse because he'd be with us and then alone again.

WTF. I don't like this girl and I don't even know her.

[deadwing]

I agree with everything mala said. I'm also side eyeing anxiety meds as the first course of action rather than training, hiring a dog walker, trying doggie daycare... Anxiety meds take weeks to be effective (if they're even appropriate for the issue) and don't address the fact that she's leaving the dog alone for an unreasonable amount of time regularly.

[wanderingback]

I know nothing about dogs but I know in my state it is very hard to evict people so since the lease is up in November I know the eviction process would take longer than that.

You could have an honest conversation with her that the dog is loud and you would prefer her to leave to see if she will leave willingly.

Unless you see the dog getting really abused and need to call animal welfare I wouldn’t get involved in telling her the dog needs training, etc.

Lastly, for the future I personally wouldn’t allow pets. I hope things resolve smoothly!

[wanderingback]

Aug 29, 2024 21:45:46 GMT -5 isabel said:

Poor pup. That's a really long time. Do you have a yard and would you be open to letting the dog out when you get home? I think I would tell her she needs to have someone come walk the dog or something during the day. That's way too long to be alone and unable to go to the bathroom.

I don’t think you can force a tenant to pay for dog walking or dog daycare!

[ssmjlm]

That poor dog. I would let her know that while pets are welcome, they can’t be disruptive and she needs to make accommodations for him to not be alone for 11 hours.

And she’s in vet training? Wow.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Aug 30, 2024 6:27:13 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I know nothing about dogs but I know in my state it is very hard to evict people so since the lease is up in November I know the eviction process would take longer than that.

You could have an honest conversation with her that the dog is loud and you would prefer her to leave to see if she will leave willingly.

Unless you see the dog getting really abused and need to call animal welfare I wouldn’t get involved in telling her the dog needs training, etc.

Lastly, for the future I personally wouldn’t allow pets. I hope things resolve smoothly!

These were a lot of my thoughts.  I also feel like there are a lot of unknowns...is the dog making noise because it hears you getting home so it hears someone and thinks they will respond to its noises?  Or is it doing that all day?  Is it crated the whole time?  How old is the dog and how long has she had it that it has never been left alone before?  

Like another poster said, I'm kinda shocked she went right to medicating the dog than to trying to find other solutions.  But the fact is, the situation sucks and isn't working for you, so I would do like a pp said and record so she hears just how bad it sounds, tell her how unhappy it makes you, and ask her to try to find a solution, but be resigned to the fact that if she isn't able to come up with something (and if you aren't willing to do something, like let the dog into your space, which I DO NOT believe you should do unless you 100% wanted to do), you might be stuck in this sucky situation through the length of her lease.  

[sadlebred]

I agree something needs to be done for the dog...but I can also tell you that hiring a dog walker, doggie daycare, etc. are probably out. Vet students are usually as broke/broker than med students. She should take the OP up on her offer to have the kids walk the dog.

I'd also consider not renting to anyone that has pets if they are a bother.

[cjcouple]

I cant comment on qhat to do but I can share my experience. I live in a 4 unit side by side condo and my neighbor has a small pup that howls/cries for long stretches when she is gone. She has to work 3 days a week in the office but she only leaves the pup for about 4-5 hours on those days. It has not improved since she started in the spring.

I wish I could take her to sit or lay with my pup but I have an elder cat (14y) I can't disrupt. he already injured my dog when we got him (swiped and caught his eye) so I can't risk it.

[TR]

Just here to add to the chorus of "that's too long to be leaving the dog on a regular basis, I'd wonder if he's crated (meaning no water for 11 hours???) or going to the bathroom inside, I don't think meds are going to help in this situation, and also that you're probably stuck unless you talk to her and she willingly moves out." I'm sorry, that's a really hard situation.

[tacokick]

Is it possible someone is letting the dog out during the middle of the day already? It seems weird for a person training to be a vet to think leaving a dog alone for that long every day is reasonable. Maybe she doesn’t want you guys letting the dog out because you are her landlord and is making an excuse?

ETA not that it changes the whining! But might explain her response. I think hearing a dog is the chance you take renting to dog owners or living in any sort of attached housing.

[followyourarrow]

That's way too long to leave a dog, especially with no training. I'm judging medicating for this. I'm horrified this girl is in vet school. I don't see this situation improving. I'd have a chat with her and tell her that she needs to fix the problem, but I don't think I'd offer suggestions, she needs to figure it out.

[livinitup]

I would have to let her agree to let me take the dog out at 4 pm when I get home and stay with me/us until 6:30 pm until she gets home.

That may sound crazy but there is no way in hell I could let a howling, lonely dog stay cooped up within ear shot for 2 hours and not loose my mind.

Unless there is some significant behavior issue when he’s with me, he would be with me.

[Deleted]

If you don’t have something in your lease already, I’d ask your lawyer or whoever drew up the lease agreement to see if you can put something in there that if animals become a nuisance to other occupants, the renter will have X amount of time to solve the issue before the lease is terminated. My guess is this might be unenforceable in some states, so a lawyer’s advice would be key here.

I feel bad for that dog! 11 hours is way too long to be left alone without being taken outside.

As for your current situation, I’d approach her again that the dog noise is too much, and it’s time to try another solution. I’d reiterate your offer to walk the dog a few times during the day to see if that might help.

[dexteroni]

Poor pup. He needs activity and companionship. As the landlord I think you have final say - things cannot continue as they are, so if she doesn’t have another solution, you need to try walking the dog. Maybe he can hang out with your family until she gets home on some days, but only if that’s something you want to do.

The optimal solution IMO would be for the dog to go to work with her. My vet practice’s employees bring their dogs regularly. I love seeing them behind the counter when I go in. If that’s not an option, then dog day care a couple days a week would be another solution. He would have companionship and activity, and then be nicely tired out on his days off.

And I have to say, the actions of this future vet are kind of concerning. The dog went from never being left alone to being alone for far too long, and it didn’t occur to her that he might need help adjusting until you said something? Yikes.

[icedcoffee]

Have you been into the unit to verify the dog hasn't destroyed it?

I'm also concerned she's a future vet and that was her response. Yikes!

I'd suggest she bring the dog to work with her. If that isn't possible I'd offer again for the kids/me to take them out (just cause I love dogs so if this isn't something you want to do for 3 months then don't offer). If she doesn't go with one of those I'd insist she find other plans for her dog.

[wanderingback]

Aug 30, 2024 8:08:25 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I would have to let her agree to let me take the dog out at 4 pm when I get home and stay with me/us until 6:30 pm until she gets home.

That may sound crazy but there is no way in hell I could let a howling, lonely dog stay cooped up within ear shot for 2 hours and not loose my mind.

Unless there is some significant behavior issue when he’s with me, he would be with me.

That’s nice and all but you would really make no plans for the next several months after work so you could watch someone else’s dog for free every single day? That does not sound like a reasonable or sustainable solution.

[ECB]

I think I would say to her what you said the end - this isn't good for the dog and it's not sustainable. She's a temporary renter - I don't know how concerned I'd be about her liking me, so to speak. I mean- I wouldn't go in guns blazing, but I'd have a direct conversation. A dog being alone for 11 hours isn't o.k. on any level.

And if she's going to be a vet, she should fricking know this!! And if she claims that - "well, I'm training to be a vet and I know animals", I'd reply "Great- then you should know that leaving a dog along for 11 hours isn't o.k.".

[circa1978]

I am with the "appalled this person is going to be a vet crowd." It is inhumane and her lack of concern about its comfort - and yours - is very odd.

[livinitup]

Aug 30, 2024 8:33:36 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Aug 30, 2024 8:08:25 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I would have to let her agree to let me take the dog out at 4 pm when I get home and stay with me/us until 6:30 pm until she gets home.

That may sound crazy but there is no way in hell I could let a howling, lonely dog stay cooped up within ear shot for 2 hours and not loose my mind.

Unless there is some significant behavior issue when he’s with me, he would be with me.

That’s nice and all but you would really make no plans for the next several months after work so you could watch someone else’s dog for free every single day? That does not sound like a reasonable or sustainable solution.

Fair question. The dog owner and I would have to discuss expectations and what’s reasonable. Plans come up and I would make them and do them. (But knowing me, I’d probably work around the damn dog’s schedule and enlist my H to pitch in, DD, too) While I cannot make her pay for proper dog care service or evict in a timely manner, I would have to insist that I have permission to help the dog while I hear him in clear distress. And stay with me until she gets home.

ETA: My teenage DD has a dog walking business. So, my perspective is that resources are available but may be hard to secure within 2 weeks of moving in. I would have to help a dog that I hear in distress day-in, day-out for hours a day. But my help would be under the expectation that she find suitable and regular care for the dog for at least part of the 11 hours he is alone and howling (doggy day care 1-2x/week, dog walkers, etc.) If she didn’t I’d be posting here and you guys would tell me how stupid I am to rent to dog owners (and I’d agree).

[wildrice]

I am guessing he will eventually get used to it, but the poor pup. I wonder if she is crating him? My sister had a similar issue with her dog after she rescued him - she was crating him and he would freak out and bark/howl the whole time she was gone. Once she stopped crating him, he stopped. It turns out the crate was the main issue - he probably hadn't been crated before she adopted him so suddenly being in a crate without having been properly trained for it was scary. That said, as a landlord I probably wouldn't want a dog loose for 11 hours a day without a break - unless it is a very well trained and older dog, that sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

I don't know what you can actually enforce now but I would definitely build something into your lease in the future about pet noise so you have some recourse if this happens again. As a responsible dog owner that had a heck of a time finding places to rent when I was younger, I love that you allow pets and hope you can make it work for you so that you don't have to stop allowing it!

It's also possible that she's young and inexperienced with dogs. I got my first dog at 22 and cringe thinking of some of the mistakes I made with her, but I just didn't know any better as a first time dog owner. She may just not realize this isn't working, so I'm glad you're talking with her and hope you can find a solution!

[raleighnc]

We've had several dogs with separation anxiety, and they will/would howl as soon as they were left or crated. But we did behavioral modification, anxiety meds, and environmental modifications (extra walks, mental stimulation, classical music, etc.). It sucked and was expensive (we had to see a vet behaviorist at the vet school for the most severe case) and inconvenient, but it's what you have to do. She will face this problem everywhere she lives with shared walls (and with much stricter landlords), so I would definitely tell her that she needs to come up with a solution. But 11 hours is too long for any dog, crated or not.

[wanderingback]

Aug 30, 2024 8:48:55 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Aug 30, 2024 8:33:36 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

That’s nice and all but you would really make no plans for the next several months after work so you could watch someone else’s dog for free every single day? That does not sound like a reasonable or sustainable solution.

Fair question. The dog owner and I would have to discuss expectations and what’s reasonable. Plans come up and I would make them and do them. (But knowing me, I’d probably work around the damn dog’s schedule and enlist my H to pitch in, DD, too) While I cannot make her pay for proper dog care service or evict in a timely manner, I would have to insist that I have permission to help the dog while I hear him in clear distress. And stay with me until she gets home.

ETA: My teenage DD has a dog walking business. So, my perspective is that resources are available but may be hard to secure within 2 weeks of moving in. I would have to help a dog that I hear in distress day-in, day-out for hours a day. But my help would be under the expectation that she find suitable and regular care for the dog for at least part of the 11 hours he is alone and howling (doggy day care 1-2x/week, dog walkers, etc.) If she didn’t I’d be posting here and you guys would tell me how stupid I am to rent to dog owners (and I’d agree).

I understand. But you can’t force a tenant to do something unless it’s in the lease. OP already said the tenant didn’t want her to walk the dog. You can’t just go kidnap the person’s dog.

I think it’s totally fine and reasonable for OP to continue to discuss the problem with the tenant but you can’t force them to hire a dog walker, trainer or force them to take the dog anywhere or have any other care taker. If nothing changes she can ask her to leave or start the eviction process which doesn’t seem worth the time since it’s a short term lease and the eviction process often takes months itself (at least in my city).

[sugarbear1]

Aug 30, 2024 8:08:25 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I would have to let her agree to let me take the dog out at 4 pm when I get home and stay with me/us until 6:30 pm until she gets home.

That may sound crazy but there is no way in hell I could let a howling, lonely dog stay cooped up within ear shot for 2 hours and not loose my mind.

Unless there is some significant behavior issue when he’s with me, he would be with me.

I have a skittish cat so the dog cannot be in my living space.

ETA: The dog is not crated. I can hear him running around all afternoon until she is home. I will say, I get home from work usually around four. She left half an hour ago and he is not making any noise right now. So maybe it is worse in the afternoon?

[meanie]

IDK what you can do for THIS situation, but I would definitely recommend adding a clause in future contracts regarding noise - animal or otherwise.

Poor pup

[deadwing]

If it's worse in the afternoon, it makes me think the dog is desperate to go out to relieve himself...