It can be tough finding an apartment when you have a dog. Although many apartments accept pets, not all of them are great places to live with a dog.

To separate real "dog friendly" apartments from those that simply tolerate dogs, it's important to visit the apartment, preferably with your dog, look at the facilities, and ask questions.

Your visit will probably start at the apartment office. It's a great sign if the staff welcomes your dog - even better if they have dog treats on hand - and absolutely great if the staff brings their own dogs to work!

Look for places around the apartment where your dog can do his business. A great, dog-friendly apartment will have poop-bag dispensers nearby. Look for water bowls in public areas, and ask how often they are cleaned (dirty water bowls can spread diseases).

Walk your dog through the building and see if he is bothered by anything. Dogs hear about four times as well as humans, and their sense of smell is 10,000 times as good as ours! Noises and smells that you might not even notice can be very unpleasant and even traumatic for your dogs.

As you walk around, see how other residents react to your dog. If you encounter other residents with dogs, ask how they like the apartment and facilities.

Check Out the Area

Look for places where you'll enjoy walking your dog. This might include restaurants or coffee shops with outdoor dog-friendly seating, and nearby parks or walking trails. Ask if there are any dog parks nearby.

Check to find the closest veterinarians. While you might prefer to take your dog to your regular vet, it's great to know that there is help nearby in an emergency.

Apartment Restrictions

Most apartments charge an additional cleaning deposit if you have a dog, and may even charge a monthly fee.

Some apartments limit the size of the dog, while others don't allow certain breeds. The most commonly restricted dogs are:

• American Pit bulls

• Rottweilers

• Akitas

• Cane Corsos

• Bull Mastiffs

• Dobermans

• German Shepherds

• Malamutes

• Huskies

• Chow Chows

• Wolf Hybrids

The apartment should ask for your dog's vaccination records as part of the application process. That's a good thing, because it means that they are looking out for all their dog residents! In fact, it should be a red flag if they don't ask for your vaccination records.

There are many apartments that want you and your dog to be welcome. Don't settle for a place that just "tolerates" dogs!