--99.128.xxx.xxx

Screen the owner. Pit bull is probably more qualified than the owner by the time it's all said and done. --50.107.xxx.xxx

--70.178.x.xx

What does your insurance carrier say about this, need photo vet records for my agent to give the new rate which the prospective tenant now pays with me as an interested party, most times it is cost prohibitive for the tenant to carry a 2500 payment... --76.188.xxx.xx

Well, the dog will be protective of the home and the owner and you are a stranger. I would not do this at the home. Can you have the person meet you on the sidewalk with the dog in front of the next home down? All dogs will bark when someone comes to the door. If the owner says "sit" or "down" and the dog sits or lies down out on the sidewalk I would say that's a pretty normal dog. The problem with even a "normal" pit bull is if it bites, they tend not to let go. Owners have to have a pry bar to open their jaws. That fat face is all muscle with a grip of 300 lbs. My cousin, an older small woman, was walking to her friend's house two doors down and the next door woman's puppy pitbull grabbed her hand playfully and would not let go. The owner had to pry the dog's jaws open. Now she was somehow not hurt but I advised her if the skin was broken, to get a tetanus shot and make sure the dog had a rabies shot. If not I told her to call the police so the health department could have the dog picked up and quarantined and she could get rabies shots. I have not heard from her for a week so I don't know the outcome. I think meeting a dog on a sidewalk should bring about a couple of barks and the owner says sit and it does. Don't reach your hand out to it. A young boy had his nose taken off this week at one of the beaches. The pitbull dog's owner said the boy could pet the dog when he asked. You can google pitbull NJ beach boy nose and should find the whole story. --173.61.xxx.xx

Those things say it all for me. No pit bulls. --108.4.xxx.xx

Next. --184.53.x.xxx

Thank you for all your replies. Yall quite scare me about the pit bull. hmm... --99.128.xxx.xxx

The only drawback is insurance. A lot of insurance companies will have a list of breeds they ban. Pits are on that list guaranteed. If they see that dog on your property, they could cancel the policy. Additionally if something happened involving the dog, they may not cover you. Definitely check with your agent. --68.102.xxx.xx

Your Insurance company will likely cancel you. Then you will be forced into the state insurance pool. Last time that happened to me the premium was about $6000.00 per year. Ask the applicant if they are willing to pay that? People who don’t own their own homes should not get pit bulls, that is why the shelters are full of them. Your applicant is a animal lover with poor decision making skills. If you do decide to even entertain this idea of renting to him, meet the dog at its home- that is it’s true personality. If you meet my dogs at Petco they will be your best friend. If you show up at my house unannounced you better be able to outrun them or climb a tree. --71.10.xxx.xxx

There is a reason insurance companies don't allow them, which is the same reason I don't allow them. The owner is only one component of the equation. The breed (behavioral and physical traits that they have been bred for, which is to be fighting dogs) is the other. Even the nicest dog can have a bad day, or be teased by the neighborhood kid. Then it's 40 stitches from the pit bull instead of one from Lassie. --99.0.xx.xxx

Who lives in the other units? You could be putting other tenants at risk. If the dog attacks one of them, especially small children, you could lose everything. --100.6.xx.xx

Doogie, my point is that any dog will go nuts when someone comes in their home, so that would not say anything about the dog's normal personality. One of the most dangerous dogs I have seen is a Rottweiler and the next one is surprisingly, Bernese Mountain Dog. They look like a huge furry Rottweiler. I have seen their behavior at the local vet in the waiting room and they are aggressive. Don't go near one with a small dog because they want to attack it. --173.61.xxx.xx

Ask to see a current rabies vaccination certificate and a spay/ neuter certificate. Do not allow an un-neutered dog or an unspayed female. --98.146.xxx.xxx

I suggest that you be prepared for that. --98.146.xxx.xxx

When you do the home inspection, be sure to check the yard and gardens for dog damage and dog poop. --98.146.xxx.xxx

Some towns ban pits. Some insurance companies will not insure you with a pit. The #1 thing you wrote that set alarms off for me was 'SHY'!!! A shy dog, put in an uncomfortable condition ( say a small child running up to it) is UNPREDICTABLE at best! This would be a HARD PASS for me. --162.253.xx.xxx

How is the dog both “very shy and friendly” at the same time? Sounds like a nice way of saying the dog is loyal and affectionate to the owner, but fearful and territorial around strangers. With that type of dog you need to worry about fear aggression, and with a Pit Bull I would really worry! Do yourself a favor and reject now, before you or someone else in the building gets bit, and hope as Oregon Woodsmoke said they don’t come back and say it’s an ESA. --72.224.xxx.xxx

Another obvious test is to listen to any obnoxious barking when you walk toward or near the guy’s place. If the guy does move into your place, his neighbors/your other tenants should not have to hear the dog bark furiously if they are outside of their own units. Best of luck and please share what happens. --207.55.xxx.xxx

80% of childhood dog bites are from pitbulls, rottweilers and German shepherds. Pitbull attacks, due to 3000 lbs of clamping force are always the worst. As a business decision, it is not worth the risk to me. I know there are exceptions but why would I want to take that risk? If you want to gamble, go to vegas. --174.237.xxx.xxx

I would request to meet the dog. If after spending some time with the dog, you should have a pretty good understanding of it's temperament. You could also request to meet him at current home. That way you can check for damages, back yard issues, etc., Heck, my dad would say go talk to the neighbors and see what they say too. --72.24.xxx.xx

Ask yourself this: what sort of person would voluntarily choose a pit bull? Knowing how difficult it is to rent an apartment, knowing how that their animal may well severely injure a neighbor, may well kill a neighbor pet......IMHO, the choice in pet tells me that this person wants to live a violent life. A thug life. As a property manager, why approve this? Are you able to collect double rate rent? --67.43.xxx.xxx

Judge Judy always has pit bull bite cases and they are all friendly, shy and good with the children. The owner is always positive their dog would not bite and they are so sure of their facts---but it happens Last month a 9 year old girl in Detroit was mauled and killed by 3 pit bulls and the owner will go to prison for life. --68.32.xxx.xxx

I would not screen a pit bull, I would just reject it, like my insurance company does. They don't ask to meet the pit bull before deciding not to cover it. I think there is something wrong with someone who is not a home owner yet chooses to get a pit bull knowing the obstacles in renting. --108.56.xxx.xx

The guy is only 26 years old. Probably doesn't know how difficult it is to get an apartment that could accept a pitbull. I also don't understand "why pitbull". There are hundreds of breed out there. sigh... --99.128.xxx.xxx

Just make sure it doesn’t stay with the sister for a couple weeks then end up in your building. --174.192.x.xxx

I wouldn't give him the option. That pit bull may be moving in once he thinks he's in the clear. Then he'll say it's just "visiting". How are you going to monitor? There are other prospects; I would just keep searching. One less thing to worry about. It's tempting to just get it rented so don't have to worry about it anymore, but think of it as a time investment in the long term. Making your life easier later. The fact that he chose a pit bull may be an indicator of other negative things that he chooses to do. Why take the risk? --99.0.xx.xxx

Pit Bull? Hell no. --70.92.xx.xx

Thank you again for all your replies. It really helps me detaching from this prospect even though he has all the goodies (credit score, stable job, cooperative etc) with him. --99.128.xxx.xxx

Pit Bulls have been banned from airlines and other places. The reason for that is liability. Under no circumstances will I have a pitbull living in any of my buildings. --64.121.xxx.xxx

Thanks GKARL --107.77.xxx.xxx

demon-seed it won't surface when you are liable. that tenant will get some other type of bitey dog. have you noticed that the dog renters rarely have labradors or golden retrievers? exclude the tenant. you have been warned --76.176.xxx.xxx

Chicago LL, I think your making a very wise decision “detaching” from this tenant and his Pit. --72.93.xxx.xx

Then I add them to my "do not rent" list as next time they call the pit will be a "lab mix". --137.119.xxx.xx

When it comes down to it.... It’s a $16,000 dog. --216.227.xx.xx

pitbull owners are full of **it...their game is an old one. let them put some other landlord at risk for a maiming or worse --76.176.xxx.xxx

We have a policy in our rentals : NO ANIMALS! Whatsoever. --24.253.xxx.xx

Comments... --76.115.xx.xxx

It states on all my material leases, flyers, ads, etc. states this. That means we do not any kind of Animals. --24.253.xxx.xx

How to handle Pitt Bulls. It states in my rental criteria no pit bulls. I allow pets under 20lbs. It's not worth the aggravation and additional costs. --76.242.xx.xx

One of my dogs is half pit bull and loves people. Not so nice to other dogs. Three of our tenants have pit bulls and they are all friendly to me and other dogs. The advice given on how to select a dog is excellent, and it should be done on a case by case basis. I don't care if the dog is a poodle or Maltese, if it aggressive, I will not rent to the human. --75.83.xx.xxx

It is true that most renters with dogs have badly behaved dogs, just as most renters have badly behaving children. We try to screen both out, just like we screen for deadbeats. YMMV. --24.105.xxx.xx

Tnx. Dave --76.115.xx.xxx

Tnx. Dave --76.115.xx.xxx

any landlord allowing a pit bull is nuts. y'all go ahead and pretend they are a reflection of the owner...you're stepping on your own you know what --76.176.xxx.xxx