All, I hope you are having a great weekend. I am in a bit of a pickle and a bit insulted (not by any of you)... I am apartment shopping in the DC/VA area and almost every complex that allows dogs (some say big dogs) ban huskies...

The Gables in Woodley Park said that huskies are classified as "dangerously aggressive" and are banned from their property... The Flats 130 told me the same thing this morning... Any suggestions?

Thanks Drew

Tell them you have a Malamute and see if the response changes? I've come to find a lot of people can't tell the difference or at least won't fight with you over it. Home hunting is rough when there are restrictions. Where I live if a rental house comes up that allows pets period it's a rare thing. I had to negotiate specifically with my landlord before I rented so we could bring my husbands dog because originally it was a no pet home. Sometimes you can get landlords or managers to make exceptions if they are willing to view your dog and its behavior before they deny you. Try to negotiate with them. Exceptions will be made sometimes. Good luck.

I don't know to much about that area, cause I've only been once but is there anyway that you cannot look at complexes? I think you will have better luck with smaller apartment buildings as you can maybe get the landlord to meet your dog or tell them you will pay them extra pet rent or something.

It's hard to find complexes that allow huskies. I've had better luck with rentals by owner, or through a property manager. Our current place could care less what we have as long as they get the check every month. This is more of a long term thing but maybe you could work to get the CGC certification. Then you could present that as proof that your dog is well mannered.

Usually the issue is insurance related. Many MANY insurance companies have huskies (and malamutes) on their restricted breeds list. Because of this, complexes don't usually have the room to negotiate. They don't control it, their insurance does.

Your best bet is to try and look for private landlords that own their house or condo and are leasing it out on their own. When we first moved to our house, our landlord's insurance company had the restricted breeds list, but she was willing to change insurance companies so we could have a husky.

Good luck! It is doable, just takes a lot of work.

Interesting, if that is the case, I wonder if a waiver or addendum to the lease might work. Of course, then your screwed 6 ways til Sunday if something does happen (not that it would, just saying).