The good news: The Boss Mutt Dora is coming to live with us full-time at the end of the month (yippee).

The bad news: we are in process of trying to find a pet friendly apartment or house in Sydney, so Dora is comfy with us (which is hard given the demand for rental properties in Sydney right now!).

My unit is being rented out right now (it is pet friendly - shucks), so we are looking at getting a 12 month lease as a temporary fix, so having been through the hoops, thought I might share some hints for others in the same situation and a draft doggy resume we are using for Dora (Mum pulled this together some time back).

Update: we just rented exactly what we were after. Bringing Dora with us to the realtor - along with a doggy resume and reference - worked out really well.

Hints for finding pet friendly rentals:

Raise the subject of pets in person with the owner/ manager if possible. Presenting information about yourself and your pet in a face-to-face meeting will have a better impact than if it is raised over the telephone or by email.

Prepare and have handy a complete resume on your pet which includes all medical records, obedience school certificates and written references from past landlords, neighbours, obedience schools and veterinarians.

Offer to sign a pet agreement to clearly define behaviour appropriate to the rental premises.

Pets are not permitted to be kept in many Strata Title properties because of specific Body Corporate By-laws. Check the By-laws of the Body Corporate in your Strata Title development to identify any special conditions for pets.

Encourage the owner/manager to meet your well-groomed, well-behaved pet to demonstrate it is responsibly cared for and obedient.

Create a resume for you and your pet(s) which includes documents as proof of de-sexing, current medical records including vaccinations and proof of regular veterinary visits and any obedience school documents. And some cute photos too!

Include in the resume written references from previous landlord's neighbours, obedience class instructors and veterinarians.

Offer to jointly develop and sign a pet agreement with your landlord which covers all likely situations which may arise and actions to be taken in the event that problems or issues arise with your pet.

Offer to bring your pet to meet the property owner/manager to demonstrate it is well behaved and cared-for. Further demonstrate you are a responsible pet owner by explaining that:

you provide appropriate levels of exercise and attention to your pet at all times;
you do not let your pet roam the streets;
you make suitable arrangements to care for your pet if you are away on business or holidays;
you always keep control of your dog in public places, and
you hygienically clean up after your pet at all times.

We contacted a few local real estate agents in the areas we were looking by email (letting them know what price per month, duration, size etc.) but most importantly that we needed a pet friendly place.

We included a a resume for Dora with text along the following lines and a couple of her cutest photos (OK, that wasn't hard), which were accepted well by the agents (ie: we got responses and weren't rejected outright!):

DORA'S RESUME

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Dora
Family Name: Do Dog
Other Given Names: Fish, Fisherman
DOB: 01/01/03
Breed: Shi Tzu/Terrier cross
Description: Black & white

Name of Father:
Father’s Occupation:
Father’s Number:

Name of Mother:
Mother’s Occupation:
Mother’s Number:

GOAL:

For my Mum and Dad to find homes that will let me stay with them. Half of the week I stay with Dad and then with Mum for the rest of the time. Sometimes I even stay with my Grandmother, so you won’t even notice I am there!

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME:

Happy!
Please see my photographs.

HAPPY AND CHEEKY DO DOG!

Healthy!
I got my last annual vaccinations at Sydney Vet Hospital in January 2007. It didn’t even hurt. Mum gives me heartworm and flea treatments monthly and I get a tablet for gastrointestinal worms every 3 months. Mum or Dad takes me for walks everyday because that keeps me healthy as well.

I also have a microchip - literally on my shoulder - but that’s so that I can get back to my family if I ever got lost, not because I have an attitude problem.

Quiet!
I’m naturally quiet. Mum and Dad still have not heard me bark properly yet so they think I’m mute but that’s not true. I just like to communicate with my eyes.

NO MORE DODGY DOG CLOTHES, OK DAD!

Intelligent!
Ask me and I will show you.

Clean!
I never leave food in my bowl and I like to eat slowly. It’s so much more lady like.

For those in a similar predicament - good luck with your search and let us know how you go!