I would go with hardwood floors rather than carpet, although I think most dog-owners prefer carpet because dogs slip easily on slippery floors. Carpet also provides padding for soundproofing the claws. But I think it runs the risk of too many replacements from "accidents."

I would not want "industrial" flooring unless the whole place were done in loft style with an industrial, exposed hardware feel.

I don't think you have to provide a place for dogs to go out if there are places nearby. It might even be better not to, since there is always someone who doesn't clean up their dog's mess. But if you can, it would be a benefit to the renters. One thing I would love is if there was a small fenced area I could leave my dog for a short period -- perhaps people could even sign up for times to use it -- like a shared yard. I'm not sure people could put dogs in there together, but they could reserve a time (?).

Soundproofing would also be a good idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds disgusting

Well, I think so too, but then, I wouldn't in OP's target market.

I do, dearly, wish DC would require dog owners to register DNA samples. Sadly, like registering/licensing cyclists, it's just never gonna happen. Too bad-- I've had to clean (or even throw away) my kid's shoes and everything she stepped in before I caught her bajillion times over the years. She's 13 now, and it just happened again two days ago. Would be nice to be able to demand satisfaction from a specific asshole rather than seething with hatred for the whole freaking doggie mommie/daddie fad-following Kollektiv.

I think dogs are nasty and hate dog owners who do not scoop, but...

you do know you can wash dog poop off shoes? You can even disinfect them.

No need to throw away a perfectly good pair of shoes just because there is dog poop on the soles.

Well, you can't *actually* use chemicals to disinfect porous materials, but that would be a silly thing to try to do to the soles of shoes worn outdoors, anyway.

If you must know, the pair I threw away years ago were freaking adorable little mary janes from some European brand or other and made of something like nubuck, and the poop was ALL OVER THEM. It was as if her little dressed-up foot had sunk into the whole steaming pile of shit. I also threw away my car floor mat the second time she smeared stepped-in poop all over it. It was my birthday, and I just couldn't face it as I had the first time.

Sure- rubber soles can be scrubbed, and I've done it many times. Shouldn't have to, because pet mommies are assholes with no respect for real moms' time, but I've done it. The public spaces in my neighborhood-- tree wells and sidewalks-- are nothing more than open-air toilets.

If you have a balcony, have a mesh railing, one that has spaces that are small enough that a small pet (think kitten or chihuahua) couldn't slip through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC landlord who currently doesn't allow pets, but I know from fielding hundreds of calls about it there is a real need for places for people who have pets, especially large dogs, to live. I'm toying with the idea of renovating a small apartment building (4-8 units) into a pet-friendly building. If you were designing a pet-friendly apartment, what details would you include? I'm thinking about things like tile floors (so they don't get scratched up by claws) and a yard for letting them do their business. Other ideas? What would you want in a pet-friendly apartment if you could design it from the ground up? Thanks!

Get the cheap bamboo floors. Y can advertise them as hard wood. Grass outside is nice but factor in doody calls or some other clean up company into your rent. Also the price of the little bags for the bag station.

Bamboo floors are terrible for places w pets! They are too soft and get terribly scratched up by paws. They'd look horrid within a week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds disgusting

Well, I think so too, but then, I wouldn't in OP's target market.

I do, dearly, wish DC would require dog owners to register DNA samples. Sadly, like registering/licensing cyclists, it's just never gonna happen. Too bad-- I've had to clean (or even throw away) my kid's shoes and everything she stepped in before I caught her bajillion times over the years. She's 13 now, and it just happened again two days ago. Would be nice to be able to demand satisfaction from a specific asshole rather than seething with hatred for the whole freaking doggie mommie/daddie fad-following Kollektiv.

I think dogs are nasty and hate dog owners who do not scoop, but...

you do know you can wash dog poop off shoes? You can even disinfect them.

No need to throw away a perfectly good pair of shoes just because there is dog poop on the soles.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds disgusting

Well, I think so too, but then, I wouldn't in OP's target market.

I do, dearly, wish DC would require dog owners to register DNA samples. Sadly, like registering/licensing cyclists, it's just never gonna happen. Too bad-- I've had to clean (or even throw away) my kid's shoes and everything she stepped in before I caught her bajillion times over the years. She's 13 now, and it just happened again two days ago. Would be nice to be able to demand satisfaction from a specific asshole rather than seething with hatred for the whole freaking doggie mommie/daddie fad-following Kollektiv.

Anonymous wrote:Be prepared to put a lot of $ into replacing the flooring between tenants and having smelly apartments.

Deceitful and underhanded

Anonymous wrote:I would require references from previous building - landlord, neighbors, something close to them - ask them about barking.

Silly. If it's a dog friendly building people moving in know they will hear dogs. I no longer have a dog but can hear my neighbors dogs and guess how much it bothers me? Not at all

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC landlord who currently doesn't allow pets, but I know from fielding hundreds of calls about it there is a real need for places for people who have pets, especially large dogs, to live. I'm toying with the idea of renovating a small apartment building (4-8 units) into a pet-friendly building. If you were designing a pet-friendly apartment, what details would you include? I'm thinking about things like tile floors (so they don't get scratched up by claws) and a yard for letting them do their business. Other ideas? What would you want in a pet-friendly apartment if you could design it from the ground up? Thanks!

Get the cheap bamboo floors. Y can advertise them as hard wood. Grass outside is nice but factor in doody calls or some other clean up company into your rent. Also the price of the little bags for the bag station.

Sounds disgusting

I would require references from previous building - landlord, neighbors, something close to them - ask them about barking.

OP here, thanks for the great ideas. And yes, I'm TOTALLY doing the poop DNA thing. Too awesome to pass up.

DNA testing for all dogs so you can trace back the non-scoopers to the correct owner.

So, I own a condo in a building that doesn't have pet restrictions (so there are a bunch of them, including large dogs) and the things that are the biggest issue are noise from units, pets that don't get along super well running into each other in crowded halls or elevators and picking up poop. I think the suggestion of poop bag dispensers and trash cans is a great one - it's gone a long way to mitigate the clean up issue. I think for sound abatement, I'd just go with a rule for tenants that they need 80 % (or whatever) of their floors covered. That way they bring their own carpets. Honestly, more than physical damage, my HOA has found that having ground rules for residents to work things out between them when one pet is too noisy or is badly behaved in public spaces, etc is the biggest deal. I suppose you can put in an outdoor play space/dog washing station/ etc but I don't think they're that crucial. I would think about what pet issues you might consider violating the lease so that you have some tools to address behaviors you don't want.

Soundproofing between the apartments. A fenced area for a dog "park", which the owners would be required to scoop. A specific bin to put the scooped material in plastic bags into. A place to wash the dog, which could also be used to wash out an empty cat box. I like the idea with the closet with the removable shower pan for cats. I love hardwood floors but will concede that a decent looking laminate might be a good alternative.