WANT TO OWN A WOLF-HYBRID?? Please pen the dog when I'm showing your home for sale.

WOW - I am a animal lover thru and thru - but I would NEVER bring a client into a home with a dog loose in it!  I appreciate that my current listings put thier animals in thier car and go for a drive when showing the home, incessant barking does not present a good Chi!  One hides her cat's in the van parked in the garage - you would never know they were there, but I think it is best for the cats and the clients!

Better yet...doggie day care.

I showed a home with a beautiful German Shepherd that didn't want to let us in.  Owner didn't apologize, said hold on, I'll take the dog out back.  We went through the home and it was time to view the back yard, figuring the dog was leashed.  NOT!  As the owner sat in her lawn chair reading a paper, this large dog charges my 2 buyers and me.  The husband pushed his wife and I back into the garage and was ready to take the attack.  The owner got her dog verbally under control seconds before he lunged (he was already charging).  

Why would this owner take such a chance when showing her home?  The first thing I thought about (after we stopped shaking), was this owner's home owners insurance.  Needless to say, none of us can remember that home, only the dog.

And on the other side of the coin - if the dogs are friendly and the buyers are "dog people" they're apt to pay more attention to the dogs than the house.

Either way you look at it, it's best to take your dogs along when you leave the house for a showing.

Marte brings up a good point too.  I once showed a house where a sweet, larger dog was crated in the master bedroom, locked up in blazing hot sunlight streaming in through the window.  He was panting and his water bowl was empty.  My clients - dog lovers - were horrified and would have nothing to do with buying a house from such a person.  I closed the curtains and called the agent to ask her clients to get home and give the poor baby some water.

LOL! Great post. Lot's of good ole common sense here.

23 yrs in real estate and i was attacked for the first time, this year!

I was entering the home with the owner....she said, oh by the way, i have a dog....Oh, what kind? I asked...

Dont worry, he'll lick you to death !

I didnt make it in the front door....once fido saw me...he attacked me! outside the house. I was bitten 3x in the hand and i was able to restrain him by the collar....he was a Norwegian Elkhound....strong as an Ox,,,but my addrenalin turned me into superman and i was able to defend myself....i actually was able to punch the dog in the mouth and kicked his ribs,.....i had a terrible nite for sleeping...and Im sure he had a few bruises as well....

It took me a few months to heal (mentally) for I instantly "feared" dogs from then on....i refused to go near a property with a dog...Keep in mind...I had dogs all my life from poodles to Great Danes....never bothered me..now to this day...i dont trust any of them....and refuse to show a property unless"fido" is caged or removed.   Best Wishes.....

Owners with houses for sale with pets should constrain their pet no matter how well-behaved they think it is.  Houses would show better and no one would be surprised.

Lenn, here is my true dog story.  This dog definitely needed to be penned or removed! http://activerain.com/blogsview/2279683/-friendly-dog-in-yard-really-

You are so right. I'm a huge animal lover and don't fear them. But you never know how even a domesticated, friendly animal might respond when strangers come through the door. Better be safe than sorry.

Lenn-I have been lucky I guess. Until reading your post and comments, I've not consider the dogs I come into contact as being the risks, but obviously they can be.