Can you help explain why your community has weight and breed restrictions on dogs?

I’m curious this morning and wanted to hear everyone’s input - can you help explain why your community has weight and breed restrictions on dogs?

The majority of the time the reasoning has nothing to do with owner/operator preference but has everything to do with insurance coverages on the property. In our case we allow large and small dogs and cats but breed restrictions are in place due to what our insurances would or would not cover should there be a incident on property. Service ESA animals are the exception

same with us. and for the record, i have a tenant with a restricted breed as an ESA and never have had an issue (pitbull)..although i do wonder why someone could choose that breed for emotional support, but nonetheless, it's an awesome dog and never once has been aggressive or anything.

I have a friend who has been in pitbull rescue for a long time. All her family's pits were exceptionally loving. They have two non-pits now and while they are awesome dogs, they aren't nearly as able to read the room in terms of emotions as those sweet old ladies they had.

Sarah Snyder exactly!! Of my best friends has been fostering pits for a while. And I have never ever felt uncomfortable. On the flipside my sisters hound dog is a complete nightmare LOL

We don’t do breed or size, we use temperament, we’ve had mean little dogs and super nice pit bulls.

We don't. It's makes everybody's lives a lot better!

Echoing what others have said, when I worked elsewhere that had breed/weight restrictions, it was always based on insurance.

Breed restrictions due to insurance requirements on property

As well as trampolines! Insurance policy’s usually ask if you have one!

This is super enlightening. I wonder if people who advocate for the removal of breed restrictions know that the people they need to be petitioning are really the insurance companies.

Yes, but this can also be mitigated with the pet fees. It's not that it's impossible to find insurance, it's that it costs more. Now that I'm somewhere with no restrictions, we have a huge advantage because all those pet owners don't have many other options.

to piggy back on what Sara said pet owners of breed or weight restricted dogs are almost always willing to pay higher pet fees and rent because they’re grateful to find somewhere that accepts them!

I would definitely pay extra. It wouldn't be ideal and I'd moan about it to friends and family at first, but I would still pay them.

We have an organization in Orlando, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, that is working on a huge project to try to change industry standards for breed and weight restrictions to be more inclusive - that’s actually what inspired my post this morning! They are aware of the insurance issue and are working to see if there is a possibility of speaking with the insurance companies. Heather Papoulis

It's all about what the insurer will insure.

Goldoller Real Estate Investments we don't have weight restrictions and we restrict about 7 breeds, for liability purposes and to meet city ordinances. Me, being the pet lover that I am, hate that we have to restrict certain breeds but I get it.

HUD no longer allows those restrictions-be careful

Can you point me to some documentation of that? I would love to see it. I'd really like to do away with breed restrictions because we lose out on pet income when residents just get an ESA letter for their restricted breed.

You could try Harry Kelly at Nixon Peabody - Washington DC. He helped us on a HUD investigation regarding this issue. You can't restrict breeds either- many years ago HUD decided it was OK to have a dog that was 25 lbs or smaller- a national trainer said "hold on folks-it won't take long for HUD to hange that rule". Sure enough - HUD did, and to my knowledge it wasn't widly advertised.

we explain than any dogs over 70lbs need a yard and a house, dogs that are over that deserve room to play.

How's your response to that been? In my experience, big dogs are more likely to be lazy, although age seems to have a much bigger impact on energy level than even size does.

I just explain to them that due to the size of our apartments and the history of aggression larger dogs have towards other people, they unfortunately are not allowed.

But that's a completely different explanation. Nobody pushes back against that?

Small dogs, because they are harder to house train, cause more pet urine damage than the large breeds so I actually prefer the larger dogs.

I'm also very perplexed by this one. Great Danes, for example, are some of the very largest dogs and also the very laziest. They have been sited as some of the best apartment dogs. Also, if the resident regularly walks the dog, why does the dog need a yard? What is the history of aggression in all dogs heavier than 70lbs? People really don't push back against this? I feel like if they haven't the right (or wrong for you all) person just hasn't heard the reasoning.

We love all our furry friends! No breed or weight restrictions over here.

My big furrybaby is too lazy when at home to be a bother lol

I am curious about 1 thing. I understand most properties restrict due to insurance. But how many properties have actually been held liable for a dog bite? Why would the property be responsible and not the pet owner? Has anyone actually had that happen? And if a large dog that isn't a restricted breed bites a person, then what? We accept all breeds and sizes at my property and have for several years with no issues!

it more has to do with costs of insurance premiums or even approvals for insurance. Same with homeowners insurance. Some insurance companies will deny coverage for specific breeds. Some will deny you simply because you have a dog (happened to us when shopping for homeowners ins), Some will approve coverages regardless of breed but at a much higher premium that many owners aren’t willing to pay. Some owners simply don’t want the “potential risk” of liability associated to the “bad breeds”... which on a personal level I think chihuahuas are more aggressive

No weight restrictions but breed restrictions

Inertia and Gravity. Simple mathematical calculations would prove a 50 pound plus large dog jumping on an elderly person could have grave conscientious. If the corner health food provider(medical provider) states its OK on the verification, for an emotional support 50 pound plus large dog than the provider can be responsible for the behavior of the dog and the tenant. Reasonable consideration. 50 pound plus dogs do not belong in tiny apartments with no one to walk them more than once a week. Oh the indignity of having to pee on a people diaper next to the toilet. Ask the Dog: Fido, do you want to live in a man cave being constantly asked not to scratch, no squirrel chasing and long periods of isolation. Really a no brainer no large breed dogs in apartments.

Pitbulls are some of the sweetest, most affectionate, loyal, and intuitive dogs around.

INSURANCE! The Insurance companies and your liability vs coverage.

Large breeds actually do quite well in small spaces. Energy level plays a much bigger role in space needs of a dog than size. High energy dogs need either more space or more exercise. Big dogs usually need a good walk everyday and then they're content lying on the floor or couch the rest of the time.