Renting With Dogs: Easier than you may think!

Renting with dogs can feel like an uphill battle—from finding pet-friendly housing to navigating breed restrictions, rules, and landlord expectations. Many landlords are cautious about allowing dogs, and for good reason: untrained or unmanaged pets can cause noise complaints, damage, and tension with neighbors. But the reality is, with the right approach, living with a dog in a rental doesn’t have to be stressful or limiting. In fact, with proper training and structure, your dog can become an easy, well-behaved part of your home—no matter where you live.

We partnered with our friends at PMI Hometeam to give you the stress-free way to rent with your canine companion.

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Start with the Right Foundation: A Well-Trained Dog

Talking with Brady and Kailia, owners of PMI Hometeam, we broke down the issues they have seen owners have while renting. Most problems could be avoided with proper training. The biggest factor in protecting your rental isn’t luck—it’s training.

Dogs that lack structure are far more likely to:

• Scratch doors and floors
• Have accidents inside
• Chew baseboards or furniture
• Bark excessively (leading to complaints)

A dog with clear expectations and consistent training is far less likely to cause any damage in the first place. Focus on:

• Crate training for safe downtime
• Place training to prevent chaos
• Consistent potty routines
• Chew toy structure (so they don’t choose your house)

This is where most people go wrong—they try to fix damage after it happens instead of preventing it entirely with training.

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Training Your Dog to Live Comfortably while Renting

Here’s a practical list of training points that make renting with dogs significantly easier—and keep landlords happy:

1. Crate Training: THE MOST IMPORTANT

Your dog should be comfortable and calm in a crate when unsupervised. This prevents damage, accidents, and anxiety-driven behaviors.

2. Reliable Potty Training:

No accidents—period. A solid potty routine and clear communication eliminate one of the biggest landlord concerns.

3. Place Command (Settle Training)

Teach your dog to go to a bed and stay there calmly. This is huge for:

• Guests coming over
• Maintenance visits
• Preventing chaos in small spaces

4. Loose Leash Walking

In apartment complexes or neighborhoods, your dog should walk politely without pulling, lunging, or reacting to others.

5. Neutrality Around People & Dogs

Your dog doesn’t need to greet everyone. Calm, neutral behavior prevents complaints and stressful encounters in shared spaces.

6. Door Manners

No rushing or bolting out the door. This keeps your dog safe and avoids awkward or dangerous hallway/runaway situations.

7. No Excessive Barking

Teach your dog when to be quiet. Barking at every noise, neighbor, or passing dog is one of the fastest ways to get complaints.

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Renting with Dogs: How to Get Your Security Deposit Back

Renting with a dog can feel stressful—especially when you’re thinking about that security deposit. Many landlords assume pets automatically mean damage, odors, or extra cleaning. But the truth is, responsible dog owners can leave a rental in better condition than when they moved in.

If you want your full deposit back (and maybe even a glowing reference), here’s exactly how to make it happen.

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Do a Move-In Inspection (and Document Everything)

Before you even unpack, protect yourself.

Take photos and videos of:

• Floors (especially scratches or stains)
• Baseboards and doors
• Carpet condition
• Walls

Send these to your landlord or property manager so there’s a clear record. That way, you’re not blamed for damage that was already there, especially when renting with dogs.

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Create a “Dog-Proof” Living Setup When Renting With Dogs

Think proactively. Your environment should make good behavior easy.

Simple adjustments go a long way:

• Use rugs or runners in high-traffic areas
• Add door protectors or scratch guards
• Keep chew toys easily available
• Use baby gates to limit access when needed

If your dog never has the opportunity to damage something, you don’t have to worry about fixing it later.

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Stay Ahead of Odors and Cleanliness

Smell is one of the biggest reasons deposits get withheld when renting with dogs.

Even if there’s no visible damage, lingering pet odor can cost you.

Stay ahead by:

• Vacuuming regularly (especially pet hair)
• Washing dog beds and blankets weekly
• Using enzymatic cleaners for any accidents
• Bathing your dog as needed

Pro tip: Don’t wait until move-out to deep clean. Maintenance cleaning is much easier than trying to reverse months of buildup.

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Address Damage Immediately

If something does happen when renting with dogs—handle it right away. Brady and Kailia tell us the fastest way to create a problem is by trying to fix it yourself.

Small issues become expensive when ignored:

• Scratches can often be buffed or filled
• Minor carpet stains can be spot-treated
• Chewing damage can sometimes be repaired before it spreads

The longer you wait, the more noticeable (and costly) the problem becomes.

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Keep Your Dog Exercised and Mentally Fulfilled

A bored dog is a destructive dog.

Most rental damage happens because dogs:

• Have too much pent-up energy
• Don’t know how to settle
• Are left unsupervised without structure

Daily exercise, structured walks, and mental stimulation (like training sessions) drastically reduce destructive behavior.

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Do a Pre-Move-Out Deep Clean

Before you hand over the keys, go above and beyond.

This should include:

• Professional carpet cleaning (if applicable)
• Washing walls and baseboards
• Cleaning vents and removing pet hair
• Eliminating all odors

If you want to be extra safe, consider hiring a professional cleaner—this can actually cost less than what a landlord might deduct.

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Leave on Good Terms

Finally, when renting with dogs, communicate well and leave the property in great shape.

A landlord or Property Manager who sees:

• A clean unit
• No lingering pet issues
• Responsible communication

…is far more likely to return your full deposit and even give you a positive reference for your next rental.

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Final Thoughts

Renting with a dog doesn’t mean sacrificing your security deposit—it just requires a proactive approach.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this:

• Train your dog
• Manage your environment
• Stay ahead of problems

Most people wait until something goes wrong. The owners who get their full deposit back are the ones who prevent issues before they ever start.

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If you want help creating a calm, well-behaved dog that won’t destroy your rental, that’s exactly what we specialize in at Cornerstone Dog Training.

Because the easiest way to protect your home…
is to have a dog that knows how to live in it.

Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION to train your dog to live comfortably in your next rental.

Take a look at these pet friendly homes near you.