"Mastiffs are an aggressive breed" rant.

[Brookie]

So, my family and I are getting ready to move and be completely out of the military. We are looking for a rental, as we want to be able to take our time purchasing our first home (especially since we're both so picky about what we want). The area that we are looking into and about 50-75 miles around has many rental homes/apartments that allow large dogs, but they ALL say "no aggressive breeds", which apparently includes Mastiffs! Seriously!? I have had SO many more run ins and issues with the little tiny breeds that they DO allow than I EVER have with ANY large breed dog, yet the stereotypes remain. This is just a rant and not really looking for any answers, but holy cow am I frustrated! Not to mention, 2 of the 10 places I spoke to said that Mastiffs are Bulldogs! Please, PLEASE let people become more educated, so all of these uneducated breed bans can stop! ray:

 

[cj-sharpy]

Mastiffs are bull dogs? That's news to me. And neither are aggressive. A bull dog would give a EM a run for its money in a falling asleep and being softy competition.

Often here (in UK) landlords will say "no dogs" but if you can get signed statement from neighbors or previous landlords stating that your dog is no bother and that no damage has been done they will reconsider.
Any landlord that says "no mastiffs" might have just ticked a box and Id say it's always worth asking if they would be willing to actually meet you and your dog and make a choice based in the individual rather than the breed prejudice.


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[cj-sharpy]

Just to clarify I'm thinking of a British bull dog.


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[Brookie]

I agree! I think on their end, it's a lack of knowledge that made them say they're a Bulldog, which like you said, also isn't aggressive. That's a really good idea. I'll have to try and figure out who isn't corporately ran, because I know those who are kind of have their hands tied in what they can accomplish. He definitely has never destroyed a home before and every neighbor and landlord i've had with him has always said how wonderful and gentle he is. Thank you for your input!

 

[DeeWill]

Most of the time it is the insurance company of the landlord that dictates which breeds are "aggressive" and which are not. Mastiff's are singled out because of their size, not generally their aggression level. If you did happen to get bit by one, it would be costly and potentially deadly.
If it isn't an insurance issue, before we owned I would always pre-offer a sizeable deposit to allow my dog, and provide proof of insurance. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. References are also a good idea. I love dogs; have always had them, but would rent to a non-pet owner 100X over a pet owner.

 

[TWW]

Next time inform the Mastiff traces back a few thousand years before a bulldog.

But yes it is the massive size of a mastiff and it rating as the highest psi bite a 556, not it's aggression nature which land it on the "do not rent t list".

Mastiff though 99.9% of the time not aggressive can do so much damage it causes the "what if factor".

 

[cj-sharpy]

Sell your dog to them as a free seurity asset, after a recent spate of break ins my neighbors asked me to leave my TV on and my doors unlocked as mine would be the first and LAST house brken in to if they targeted our street hahaha.
50" TV tempts them in and 50KG pup makes sure they don't get out again.

I dont think my neighbours know that if they broke in armed with food they would be fine

 

[irina]

Definitely offer a deposit and ask to meet with you and the dog. My friend rented a place that said small dogs only after they met their flat coat retriever and realized how nice and gentle he was.

 

[Bob Felts]

Keep in mind that many insurers will not insure, or penalize the insured if they have Mastffs. Insurance companies are not known for their even handed treatment of facts. My homeowners insurance specifically does not mention the breed, and there was no problem for me. However, this may be an issue for a landlord with his insurer.

 

[fila4me]

We also recommend to our pit bull owners to get their dogs into obedience and then on to cgc-canine good citizenship. This goes far if it is just a landlord balking. My in laws have lots of rentals and a lot if insurance companies have clauses for size, usually 100+, and the "what ifs" not aggression.

 

[angelbears]

Actually, there are aggressive Mastiff breeds.

Having been on both sides of the fence, I can understand both sides. I'll be honest with you the nicer the rental, the least likely I was going to rent to someone with dogs. So, if you find you are having problems finding a rental you might look for one that is not top of the line. For example, if I had just put in new carpet and painted. I was going to try to rent to someone that didn't have kids or pets. If I had a rental that was clean and in nice condition but I didn't have to put in new carpet and paint, I was more likely to consider a pet or kids.

I've also had tenants that have talked me into accepting a pet. They suggested that I could pop in anytime, unannounced and inspect the property. You can also offer to put up a larger pet deposit with the terms being that portions of it is returned to you during your leasing agreement. For example, at 3 months, after inspection, a quarter of the pet deposit be returned, same at 6 months. However, at least in Texas, don't expect a return of all your pet deposit. It is usually written in most rental agreements that a portion is non-refundable.

Hopefully, you won't have any problems finding a house but if you do there are ways to work with a landlord.

 

[twood71]

Sorry Mastiff's are agressive!

When it comes to snuggle time, they want snuggles dang it! when they want your sock, they want it dang it!

when they want to lay down in front of the tv, they want to dang it!

when they don't wanna get out of the way so you can change channels with your remote, they don't wanna get out of the way dang it!

lol, Mastiff love!!!!

 

[fila4me]

Actually, there are aggressive Mastiff breeds.

Having been on both sides of the fence, I can understand both sides. I'll be honest with you the nicer the rental, the least likely I was going to rent to someone with dogs. So, if you find you are having problems finding a rental you might look for one that is not top of the line. For example, if I had just put in new carpet and painted. I was going to try to rent to someone that didn't have kids or pets. If I had a rental that was clean and in nice condition but I didn't have to put in new carpet and paint, I was more likely to consider a pet or kids.

I've also had tenants that have talked me into accepting a pet. They suggested that I could pop in anytime, unannounced and inspect the property. You can also offer to put up a larger pet deposit with the terms being that portions of it is returned to you during your leasing agreement. For example, at 3 months, after inspection, a quarter of the pet deposit be returned, same at 6 months. However, at least in Texas, don't expect a return of all your pet deposit. It is usually written in most rental agreements that a portion is non-refundable.

Hopefully, you won't have any problems finding a house but if you do there are ways to work with a landlord.

my in laws prefer to rent to those without pets or kids. I know they would never rent to me!!! Thank god I gave them grandkids so I have a little rank.
I would be terrified if I had to move and try to find somewhere to rent. By size alone no one would rent then add in Filas time to sleep in the jeep!

 

[Beta Man]

You think that is bad, this is from my local laws:

(a)**** All pit bull dogs and canary dogs (Perro de PresaCanario) are deemed to be dangerous animals even in the absence of a hearing by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee.

(b)**** As used in this section, “pit bull dog†means any Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog, any dog of mixed breed which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of such breeds, any dog commonly known as a pit bull, pit bull dog or pit bull terrier; or a combination of any of these breeds.
*
(c)**** As used in this section “canary dogs†or “Perro de PresaCanario Dogs†also include any dog of mixed breed which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of such breed.



Basically anything that "looks" like these dogs is deemed dangerous. I have to provide my dog's papers to prove my Dogo Argentino is in no way part-Pitt-bull


Ridiculous!!!

 

[cj-sharpy]

I've spoke to my landlady about Max (she actually encouraged me to go get him to keep me company and didn't ask any extra security deposit) and she said that she'd always said no animals. Then she realized that having Max means I'm more settled, responsible and less likely or able to find somewhere else and just up sticks as go leaving her with no rent payments. So she is more than happy for us to live here.
She's even seen the stairs that Max is eating his way through and when I appologised and explained Id fix them if we ever leave she said not to worry about it, dogs will be dogs. (She's not seen the windowsill/chew toy yet).

I guess I lucked out with my landlady. Hopefully more like her out there.

Oh ps she's only ever met him once and that was when he was a bad dog and he wanted to kill her. So she's really gone above and beyond to accept him in my word alone.


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[DennasMom]

We were denied a reservation at an RV campground last month due to having an "aggressive breed" (as deemed by their insurance company, all "mastiffs" were listed, along with some other crazy breeds... I think standard poodles were on there, too??).

The campground host suggested that if our dog was registered as a service animal, she could come - as those are not allowed to be banned from anywhere, insurance or no.

I'm just not comfortable abusing the service animal registrations.
...and really, what "service" could I register her for?? Sleep Therapist??

 

[TWW]

I've met some damned mean standard poodles. Not Joking.

We were denied a reservation at an RV campground last month due to having an "aggressive breed" (as deemed by their insurance company, all "mastiffs" were listed, along with some other crazy breeds... I think standard poodles were on there, too??).

The campground host suggested that if our dog was registered as a service animal, she could come - as those are not allowed to be banned from anywhere, insurance or no.

I'm just not comfortable abusing the service animal registrations.
...and really, what "service" could I register her for?? Sleep Therapist??