Living In The Dog House

As a dog friendly real estate agent, I began writing about renting, buying or selling your home with your canine in mind in the Spring 2016 issue of NOVADog Magazine. Since then, I have been on The Pet Show with Dr. Katy twice, radio and podcasts several times, and featured in the Washington Post, Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria Living Magazine and ALX Now.

For today, however, I wanted to mention some of my recent experiences as a dog lover in my own lifestyle.

I live in a townhouse in Old Town Alexandria. As a development with no yards, a leash is required every time my dog(s) need to go out. We also have pet rules with specific areas for dogs to relieve themselves. Having lived here for more than 20 years, this has never been an issue for me since I love to walk and enjoy spending time outside with my dogs (except for maybe in the pouring rain and the freezing cold weather).

This past year, I had a bit of a paradigm shift, when I brought home an 8 week old Golden Retriever puppy (Daisy) as a sister to my older Golden (Honey). I can’t count how many times Daisy had an accident either while we were getting geared up, or in an off-limits area just outside my door. There are rules about what to do if this happens, so I began walking around with a bottle of water to pour on the grass.

I had always wanted two dogs and figured it would not be an issue walking them both at the same time. Honey was very good on a leash, however, you can imagine the tangled mess we got in with Daisy. I am surprised that I didn’t break an arm or get torn in half trying to keep them straight and going in the same direction.

With Alexandria being one of the dog friendliest cities in the country, keeping Daisy away from other dogs until she got all of her shots was another challenge. We were lucky enough to find a place where she and Honey could play together off lead, but getting there was an obstacle course, especially since it is hard to resist wanting to say “hello” to a puppy (especially a Golden Retriever!).

Talk about lack of sleep! Daisy had no problem waking me up with her little whines to say that she needed to go out, even at 3 in the morning. It is nights like that when you really wished you had a yard! But instead, I would try to hold her off until I got dressed, carried her down two flights of stairs, got her leashed up and out to the “official” potty area.

Fast forward six months, and life is back to normal. Daisy is in training and walking well on a leash. Unfortunately, Honey has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, but I know that she loved her little sister and that Daisy brought a sparkle into her last few months.

Do I wish I lived in a one level house with a yard? It sure would have been nice at the time, but I love my home and living four blocks from King Street, so I am here to stay.

When I speak to people about buying or renting a home when they own a dog, I always encourage deep thought about what type of property best fits their lifestyle. Are their dogs OK in an elevator? Can they manage several flights of stairs? Do you need a yard, or would walking on a leash or visiting a dog park be OK? Do they bark when left alone? How about getting along with other animals? Are they afraid of trucks and other city noises? Would you be willing to abide by the rules of your development or condo? Adapting to a puppy’s needs is only for a few months, but what about on a long term basis?

I always like to reflect back on a year to see where my clients have come from. Are they friends, neighbors, referrals, etc.? It never surprises me to see that approximately 40% are dog owners. I have a number of success stories I would be happy to share, including one family that had six beagles! In the meantime, please take a look at some of these comments…

“Finding a home with one dog is challenging let alone three dogs who range in size. While we faced many barriers, working with a Realtor who understood our pet needs was not one of them. A pet owner can always tell another animal lover, and that is exactly what we got with Lisa!”

– Jacquie R.

“Being the first time we sold a home Lisa made us feel like her only client, and was extra attentive to our needs as we have 3 dogs. She knew that not only was this going to be stressful for us but also our 4 legged children. We would use Lisa again in a heartbeat!!!”

– Tracy N. & Sherrie R.

Daisy is my eighth Golden Retriever, so I guess you could say that I am definitely a dog lover!

Feel free to reach out to me for guidance in buying, renting or selling your home with your canine in mind. You are also welcome to check out the dog friendly section of my website for tips on making the transition easier for you and your pet.

Lisa Groover is a licensed real estate agent with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Old Town Alexandria, VA. As an active member of the community since 1989, Lisa specializes in Alexandria, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with her friends, neighbors, former clients, and their referrals.

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