limit dog by weight

Hi Barbara,

We tried that and found it is impossible to enforce - plus it did not address the problem (doggy poop and damage caused by urine). We ended up revising our Rules/Regs to be the same as our Village Ordanance on pets. And upped our fine schedule for rule violations. We also repair damaged turf and charge back the HO when we can "show" their dog caused the damage.

Hope this helps,
Bonnie

We have leash laws (Village) and rules (HOA). So, cats must be on a leash - and, yes, I have seen it done. There are also pet strollers, have seen them, too....lol

Weight is still near impossible to enforce (I seem to recall this may have been discussed here previously). As for safety concerns, require a dog to be on a leash no longer than 8 feet (or whatever length your Board decides is appropriate)and be attended by the owner at all times. A small dog can hurt someone too.

Good luck!

Weight restriction is a ridiculous notion if you are talking about "safety". What is unsafe about larger/heavier dogs? Some of the kindest, gentlest dogs are larger in size (retrievers and great danes for example) and would likely exceed whatever weight limit your association decided to randomly impose. Some of the most vicious and territorial dogs I have seen/met are smaller in size.

What is the real issue here?

If you are concerned about safety, what you should be looking at is a BREED restriction. Restricting historically-aggressive breeds like dobermans, rottweilers, pit bulls, etc. is what you need to do if you are concerned about safety. However, there are owners of those breeds that will claim their dogs are angelic and would never hurt a fly. And while they might be correct, even insurance companies and apartment complexes actively and successfully impose restrictions on these breeds. So, if you're actually concerned about safety, I would suggest looking at breeds versus weight.

Steve,

You have a valid argument about the breed restriction that I was recommending. Sometimes it is difficult to figure out what breeds make up a mixed-breed dog. I suppose, in order to really understand the original question and help develop a rational solution, I'll ask again . . .

What is the real issue here?

If "safety" is indeed the issue, what occurred to make association members feel that larger dogs are unsafe? In general, it's not the dogs that are unsafe but the owners that failed in the training of the animal. Small dogs can be equally "unsafe" as large dogs.

Steve,

That was my problem with the breed restriction. The management company told us the other communities they manage use a weight limit of no more than 20lbs.

thanks
Barbara

Small or large, any dog can kill another dog. The issue is aggression.

Without going into the HOA fine-em zone, most cities/towns have leash laws. You could remind all residents that having the dog on the leash is the law. If its the law, you could always call the dog catcher or if you find the dog loose, and its friendly, just bring the dog to the pound yourself.

I keep trying my best not to comment on this thread, but the weak claims that "small" dogs can be either as "equally" unsafe as larger dogs or that "small" dogs can kill or harm larger dogs are just that, weak and anemic claims, and I don't blame the residents for being concerned or the HOA board for looking into how to minimize the issue.

It is rare that a "small" dog can exact the damage that a larger dog can. Can they hurt someone? Yes. Can they do the damage that larger dogs can? Very unlikely and very rare.

Aggression certainly is a factor, but there is no freaking way my yorkie is going to take down a rott, or cause much damage to a person beyond a torn sock, as opposed to ripping out thigh meat.

So let's just stop pretending that size doesn't matter.

I do believe that your local Animal Control division can assist you in formulating not only some sort of restriction that would be fair and reasonable, but they can also provide assistance with the dogs running free, etc, since, as was noted, leash laws are fairly common.

breed matters. size matters.

Better people than we can toss around statistics all day long about what breeds are more aggressive (smaller toy breeds are far more aggressive than larger breeds, even typically-thought-to-be-aggressive breeds), which dogs bite most often (labs often lead this category, because there are so MANY of them in the world), which dogs can do more damage when attacking (pit bulls are in the front of this one, but bulldogs, mastiffs, irish wolfhounds, and aerdales run a close second in potential damage), which dogs lead in per capita attacks on humans, other dogs, etc. (american staffordshire terriers, pit bulls, dobies, shepherds, chihuahuas, depending on how you slice and dice the stats). Toss in the problem of a "mix" or mutt, and the fact that most people couldn't properly ID a pit bull terrier from a sampling of 10 dogs, and you have a problem for any board. Heck, i know BREED RESCUE people who can't always ID a dog in their chosen breed. it's tough!

trying to choose one of those to govern pets is doomed to failure. Behavior matters is more likely to get you where you want (safe) than breed or size, but it's tough(er) to regulate, and requires more effort, which is why it is often doomed to failure (we are lazy, and it's easier to ban X instead). Actually, what matters most is owner. That's why you SHOULD find it easier to enforce a leash law... don't care what dog, it's on a leash or behind a fence. If an owner complains, and wants to demonstrate that his dog is fine without a leash, allow him. have him demonstrate his mastery of his animal with verbal commands and hand signals, with distractions, while you observe (i suggest firecrackers, a rope with a bit of fur on it, some raw steak on a string, etc.). if he maintains control, excellent. issue him a pass (not good for city leash laws, however). if not, he goes to the back of the line like everyone else, and leashes his dog.

honestly, any dog can and will bite, under the right circumstances. to think that this dog never will is as blind to doggie nature as to think that this dog always will bite. I am not sure my rambling is getting anywhere, except to say that this is a tough question, and there is no easy answer, except leash laws and good owners.

You "rambling" was spot on, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for taking the time to toss it up for consideration.

breed matters/size matters, again, because while most all dogs can and will bite, the damage caused by smaller (even fairly "aggressive") dogs is considerably less than the potential damage that can be caused by a larger (even fairly "non-aggressive") dog.

However, even small dog bites/attacks can cause trauma to a victim beyond simply physical trauma.

At any rate, the non-leashed dogs should be reported to the local animal control officers regardless of what your development has in place for pet restrictions.

Glen,

The owner of the unit was notified that 1 dog has to be removed from property. We have the nuisance clause but how do you realistically enforce it?

Barbara

Thank you Glen.

Barbara