No Shepherds Allowed

DaBearsBride

Im looking at a place that excludes certain breeds and Shepherds are on that list. My dog is a mix breed but I think she looks Shepherd. What do you all think? Do you see other breeds mixed in that are generally acceptable? I googled Shepherd Collie mix and found a picture that looks a little like her but I am no expert.

RedheadBaker

Welcome to the wonderful world of breed discrimination.

Did you adopt her? What does the paperwork say?

DaBearsBride

She was actually a stray 3 month old that wandered up to my house. When we found her she has a BB lodged in her thigh from where someone shot her. Who shoots a 3 month old puppy?

RedheadBaker

What does your vet paperwork say? I'm just asking because they will probably want to see "official" paperwork that lists her mix. Even so, from that photo, yes, she looks like a shepherd.

DaBearsBride

Well im taking hherto get fixed in a week. She didnt have a regular vet and I cant find her vaccination records so I will likely have to get her a rabies shot. When I do take her to the vet, is the vet able to list her as a mix breed or do they have to list her most dominant breed?

duckie1905

Probably the vet will take a look at her and list the two most dominant-apparent breeds.  That doesn't help you because she does look shepherd and, unfortunately, she will probably be discriminated because of that.

We have a lab/shar pei mix but I know there is a bully breed or maybe ridgeback in her and we were never able to find a place that wouldn't give us a hassle even though her paperwork says lab/shar pei.

Can you rent a home from an individual?  We had much more luck going that route.

LadyG

Welcome to breed discrimination. Appearance is actually a really inaccurate way to determine breed but unfortunately it is done all the time.

Yes, at a glance she definitely looks like she has shepherd in her but whether she is 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or whatever is totally impossible to tell by looking at her. And, there are plenty of dogs that have that coloring who have even less or no shepherd in them - black is often a dominant color so it could also come from other breeds. But the fact is, she looks like she is a shepherd, and I'm sure that's what folks will assume whether or not it is fair or right to do so.

Honestly, if you have the ability to pick a different housing option, that is what I would do. Even if they believed she wasn't a shepherd - or accepted that she is an undetermined mix - I'd be worried about future trouble.

It sucks that you are dealing with this.

TarponMonoxide

There could also be a lot of hound in her, too Those look like hound markings to me.:)

DaBearsBride

We have rented houses up until now. We wanted to downgrade to save more money and get our own place and a one bedroom apt. would save us about $350 a month. I might just shave her. She has the UGLIEST salt and pepper undercoat EVER. Then Ill take her to the vet and see if we can find two breeds that look like her ugly shaved self. Lol!

aggiebug

That face and marking is quite characteristic of a shepherd unfortunately. And as much as it stinks I don't recommend trying to circumvent the rules ( as stupid as they are) it will get you in a bind later. They can force you to get rid of the dog or break the lease with penalties later on if they believe she is a shepherd etc

RedheadBaker

DaBearsBride said:

We have rented houses up until now. We wanted to downgrade to save more money and get our own place and a one bedroom apt. would save us about $350 a month. I might just shave her. She has the UGLIEST salt and pepper undercoat EVER. Then Ill take her to the vet and see if we can find two breeds that look like her ugly shaved self. Lol!

Please do not shave her. You should never shaved a double-coated dog. 

Besides, beyond her coat coloring, her face and body are shaped like a shepherd's. You can't hide that by shaving. 

DaBearsBride

RedheadBaker said:

DaBearsBride said:

We have rented houses up until now. We wanted to downgrade to save more money and get our own place and a one bedroom apt. would save us about $350 a month. I might just shave her. She has the UGLIEST salt and pepper undercoat EVER. Then Ill take her to the vet and see if we can find two breeds that look like her ugly shaved self. Lol!

Please do not shave her. You should never shaved a double-coated dog. 

Besides, beyond her coat coloring, her face and body are shaped like a shepherd's. You can't hide that by shaving. 

Out of pure curiosity, why is it bad to shave double coated dogs? I had never heard that before.

Caz1221

DaBearsBride said:

RedheadBaker said:

DaBearsBride said:

We have rented houses up until now. We wanted to downgrade to save more money and get our own place and a one bedroom apt. would save us about $350 a month. I might just shave her. She has the UGLIEST salt and pepper undercoat EVER. Then Ill take her to the vet and see if we can find two breeds that look like her ugly shaved self. Lol!

Please do not shave her. You should never shaved a double-coated dog. 

Besides, beyond her coat coloring, her face and body are shaped like a shepherd's. You can't hide that by shaving. 

Out of pure curiosity, why is it bad to shave double coated dogs? I had never heard that before.

This article explains it pretty well: http://www.examiner.com/article/why-you-shouldn-t-shave-your-double-coated-dog

bpphoto785

duckie1905 said:

Probably the vet will take a look at her and list the two most dominant-apparent breeds.  That doesn't help you because she does look shepherd and, unfortunately, she will probably be discriminated because of that.

We have a lab/shar pei mix but I know there is a bully breed or maybe ridgeback in her and we were never able to find a place that wouldn't give us a hassle even though her paperwork says lab/shar pei.

Can you rent a home from an individual?  We had much more luck going that route.

This is what our vet did. Boomer is listed as a Husky mix even though he's at least 1/2 Australian Shepard, he looks more like a Husky so he'll be easier to identify, if he ever got lost. 

Breed discrimination sucks! I would just keep looking for a renter who will be more lenient about dog breeds. 

firekitty13

Sad to say but many. many. many places say the don't what some breeds.  Now I think it is stupid (and a few other choice words) however you have to work within the system.  If you really really like the housing place but they won't let your breed in then I would talk to them about why they don't allow it. Is it a weight issue? are they scared of that type of dog? uneducated about what breeds are 'dangerous'?  Many times if you go in and talk to the landlord/manager and figure out why they don't allow some dogs you can provide them with well educated and thoughtful articles that may get them to change their minds. Of course it helps if your dog is friendly and very well trained.
If they won't change their minds then you will have to find another place. many times a complex just down the street has completely different requirements or if it is a city wide ban then you may just have to move outside the city limits.

duckie1905

firekitty13 said:

Sad to say but many. many. many places say the don't what some breeds.  Now I think it is stupid (and a few other choice words) however you have to work within the system.  If you really really like the housing place but they won't let your breed in then I would talk to them about why they don't allow it. Is it a weight issue? are they scared of that type of dog? uneducated about what breeds are 'dangerous'?  Many times if you go in and talk to the landlord/manager and figure out why they don't allow some dogs you can provide them with well educated and thoughtful articles that may get them to change their minds. Of course it helps if your dog is friendly and very well trained.
If they won't change their minds then you will have to find another place. many times a complex just down the street has completely different requirements or if it is a city wide ban then you may just have to move outside the city limits.

In our area, typically a rental agency or property manager does not have the option of changing their minds about a dog, even if the restriction is obviously ridiculous and your dog is so sweet he drools sugar.  It is a liability issue and the breed restrictions are passed down from their insurance company.

I suspect a lot of complexes are also bound by these same restrictions.  Mostly, I suggest not wasting your time with complexes that have breed restrictions because there is probably little or nothing you'd ever be able to do.

DaBearsBride

Ok, just left the vet. Had to get her rabies updated. Vet said that although she is colored like a shepherd her stature and coat are more closely resembling a lab hound mix, possibly other breeds. He listed her as 'mixed' on the paperwork and said if the apartment had questions then they could talk to him.

duckie1905

I truly hope you had more luck than us.  One look at my sweet Elly and they tore up our paperwork, despite our vet's breed assessment.

DaBearsBride

duckie1905 said:

I truly hope you had more luck than us.  One look at my sweet Elly and they tore up our paperwork, despite our vet's breed assessment.

Thats horrible! You would think that is illegal. Who are they to judge the breed of your dog? Ill find out if the same is said to me come Feb. 1 I guess

formerlyGDaisy09

Unfortunately the landlord has the right to determine what pets are and aren't allowed to live in the building they own. We own a dalmatian, but in discussing the possibility of turning our starter home into a rental when we move out, we would put a no-dog clause in our lease...just saying it's easy to understand a landlords perspective if you take a look at any of the dog shaming websites you could understand why they'd be worried. 

That said have you thought about getting one of those dog-DNA tests done to find out what her genetics say? I know someone whose mixed breed chihuahua-looking dog came back with the 3 most dominant breeds of Dalmatian, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Shorthaired Dachshund...so you never know.

RedheadBaker

Gdaisy09 said:

Unfortunately the landlord has the right to determine what pets are and aren't allowed to live in the building they own. We own a dalmatian, but in discussing the possibility of turning our starter home into a rental when we move out, we would put a no-dog clause in our lease...just saying it's easy to understand a landlords perspective if you take a look at any of the dog shaming websites you could understand why they'd be worried. 

That said have you thought about getting one of those dog-DNA tests done to find out what her genetics say? I know someone whose mixed breed chihuahua-looking dog came back with the 3 most dominant breeds of Dalmatian, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Shorthaired Dachshund...so you never know.

A) Landlords aren't banning particular breeds because of the potential for damage (landlords who ban ALL pets, yeah, that's usually their reason) -- they're allowing some breeds but not others under the misguided notion that aggression is a breed trait. 

Those DNA tests are useless: https://sites.google.com/site/petsboardfaqs/home/getting-a-new-pet/doggie-dna-tests

formerlyGDaisy09

RedheadBaker said:

Gdaisy09 said:

Unfortunately the landlord has the right to determine what pets are and aren't allowed to live in the building they own. We own a dalmatian, but in discussing the possibility of turning our starter home into a rental when we move out, we would put a no-dog clause in our lease...just saying it's easy to understand a landlords perspective if you take a look at any of the dog shaming websites you could understand why they'd be worried. 

That said have you thought about getting one of those dog-DNA tests done to find out what her genetics say? I know someone whose mixed breed chihuahua-looking dog came back with the 3 most dominant breeds of Dalmatian, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Shorthaired Dachshund...so you never know.

A) Landlords aren't banning particular breeds because of the potential for damage (landlords who ban ALL pets, yeah, that's usually their reason) -- they're allowing some breeds but not others under the misguided notion that aggression is a breed trait. 

Those DNA tests are useless: https://sites.google.com/site/petsboardfaqs/home/getting-a-new-pet/doggie-dna-tests

then, yes, the landlords are idiots.... while some of temperment is linked to breeding (we've had to work extra hard on biting with our Dalmatian) most of it comes from training. they'd be better off requiring that all dogs in their building have up-to-date vaccinations and are registered with the town. In the end alll breeds could be agressive if they aren't trained right. Are you sure you want to deal with these landlords?

Yes I agree the DNA tests are garbage, but maybe the landlords would be "wowed" by the science if they came back with breeds they accept.

mainerocks

Breed discrimination sucks, but as a landlord myself, I can say that the insurance companies are sometimes the ones tying the landlords hands. I wouldn't ban certain breeds personally, but our insurance does and unfortunately I'm not rich enough to pick a more expensive company for different breed rules. ;-)

Can your vet change the paperwork to say lab/hound mix? That would be better than "mix". Not a bad idea about the DNA thing too... they are totally crap, but maybe in this case the crap would be in your favor and it would say poodle or something and you could wave that "proof" at the landlords.

Another point raised above... if you do find one that accepts "lab/hound mix", I would talk to them about the look of your dog too, so that they know upfront it is Shepherd looking. For me, I would be OK renting to you if the paperwork from the vet said that, but would appreciate the heads up that the dog does look like a shep.  Then if you encounter a landlord that would take issue, at least you know upfront.

Good luck!