How to Write a Remarkable Dog Resume

As a dog owner, if you’ve had more than one rental experience, chances are you know full well that finding a pet friendly apartment can be difficult. Apartment hunting with a cat may be less troublesome, however you need to be mindful here too.

Understandably, landlords and property managers want to make sure that your pet won’t cause problems for other tenants, or for them. Although your prospective landlord may love animals, how you approach them about renting their apartment with a pet can make all the difference.

This is where a dog resume comes in. Read on in order to find out what resumes are and how they can help you and your furry friend with your rental application.

You’ve probably written many CVs for yourself when job hunting. Pet resumes serve a similar purpose in that it introduces your pet to someone who needs to make a judgement about whether they might be a good fit for a particular situation.

Not only is it a helpful way to provide important information when you’re applying to rent an apartment, but you can use this document when applying for a doggie day care spot or starting with a new groomer.

The document includes basic information about your dog or cat and answers questions up front that someone may have. Interestingly, resumes are trending when it comes to rental accommodations, with property managers and independent landlords asking for them more often.

A well-written resume that covers all the bases and reveals your pet’s personality a little can be invaluable. Here’s where it can pay off.

Even if a rental application doesn’t ask for a pet resume, it’s a good move to have one ready. Pet owners that do this can assist to expedite the renter screening process by showing that they’re responsible and a good fit as a tenant. Furthermore, if your landlord has never had a reason to have a pet policy, a pet resume can persuade them to take a chance on renting to you.

On the other hand, if the landlord has a firm pet policy, or has had negative experiences with previous pet renters, a resume for your dog is a must. Try to see things from the landlord’s point of view.

They want to make sure that your dog or cat isn’t likely to damage the apartment. It can be quite troublesome and expensive to remove odors, deal with fleas and ticks or clean stained carpets. You get the picture!

In addition, they may have difficulty renting to other tenants who are concerned about having a canine for a neighbor. Noise complaints are something else they really don’t want to deal with. One thing to be mindful of is that at times you may be asked for a pet deposit.

Are you applying to start your pooch at doggie daycare? The provider will have many questions about your canine, such as their usual routine, likes and dislikes, etc. They also need to know that your canine companion plays nicely with other dogs.

Pet resumes are a terrific way to introduce your doggo to the daycare provider. Your pooch will spend a lot of time in this environment. Not only is it necessary that the daycare has standard information about health and habits, but they want to know your companion on a personal level. A document that shows a bit of their personality is welcomed.

Whether Buddy requires regular grooming or you need professional help to keep Snowball’s claws trimmed, your pet groomer will be getting up close and personal with your pet. This means they must have a clear idea of what they’re dealing with.

Some pets love a groomer’s attention while others have a fear equivalent to how some of us view the dentist. For your pet’s sake and that of the groomer, bring a resume explaining any issues to the groomer can mitigate any problems and make the experience better for your pet.

Although you may be tempted to begin by waxing poetic about Stella’s or Sam’s cute ways, start off with the fundamentals. After all, this isn’t like writing a Facebook post about their latest escapade. Plus, there’ll be some room to describe their personality once you’ve covered the main points.

Record your pet’s name and include a shortened version of this if that’s what they answer to. If there might be something offensive about a pet name that you use, don’t include it.

Note the age of your pet. Remember, when it comes to finding a pet friendly rental, mature dogs are usually more acceptable than puppies that have some growing up to do.

Certainly, different breeds are known to have particular characteristics, and some have a negative reputation that precedes them. The thing to remember is that some rental properties have breed restrictions.

However, if you have a service dog, their breed shouldn’t matter when you complete a rental application. Above all, be honest on the document – don’t try to pass them off as something they’re not!  

When you find a pet friendly apartment, the weight and size of your animal can still be factor. Some landlords have a weight restriction to avoid renting to individuals with large canines. Keep in mind that weight doesn’t count against service dogs, so be clear on your pet’s resume if this is the case.

This part of the document is for a few details about your furry friend’s character, and your relationship with them. Think about what you’d say to anyone who hasn’t met your dog yet. How would you describe them?

When it comes to talking about your dog’s health, the main thing people want is to know is that they’ve been vaccinated. Be ready to prove that their vaccinations are up to date.

The property manager may require proof to ensure your pet won’t disease in the building, especially if they’re in contact with other animals. Your daycare operator and groomer will definitely want assurance that your animal has had their required check ups and shots.

In terms of other health matters, landlords may request confirmation of your pet’s spay neuter status. That’s because this reduces the potential for aggressive behavior. Be prepared to state information on the resume about any illnesses that your pet has had.

Compose a section that discusses what training your dog has had, and whether they have special skills. Open with formal training classes they’ve attended and how you’ve trained them yourself to follow commands.

Be sure to list any an all certificates they’ve obtained for passing a certain course or qualifying with a specific skill. For instance, perhaps your canine is a trained therapy pet and you take them to seniors’ residences or hospitals. Is your pooch part of a K9 reading program at a nearby school? Then, say so.

Whatever it is, talk up your dog’s training certificates. This demonstrates that your fur baby is well-behaved, giving you bonus points on your rental application.

Take time to outline any incidents involving your pet, especially at another rental unit. Landlords will often check with whoever you rented from previously, and any problems will come up. Honesty is always the best policy anyway.

When you’re candid about past situations and elaborate on what you’ve done to mitigate anything undesirable occurring again, you’ll be seen as responsible.

This can be the place to give a little info about your care routine for your dog. It indicates, as well, how you strive to be an accountable and trustworthy pet owner.

Give a brief account of your pet’s routine, such as when you take them for a walk, whether to drop them off at doggie day care in the morning, or if there’s a dog walker who comes to take them out when you’re not at home.

Maybe you have a regular pet sitter or a friend that cares for them if you’re away overnight. You can also say if your companion is microchipped in the event that they somehow become lost.

For sure, you have a huge number of terrific photos of your dog to choose from. Narrowing it down might take some time indeed! The right photo can be a real asset in convincing a property manager to give some serious consideration to your rental application.

Read over how you’ve described your canine companion and what their best features are. Then, decide on a photo that will really bring that to light.

For example, you could pick a picture of your fur baby interacting with children or seniors that shows their calm and soothing behavior. A photo of them shaking a paw, or doing another trick, can support your claim that they’re well trained.

If you have a shot of them sitting beside a trophy or award they’ve received, so much the better. A picture of your dog in a happy mood or posing cutely for the camera is another one to look for. No matter what you photo of your pet your pick, your pet’s personality should shine through and show them in a positive light.

Obviously, you need to have a place for your full name and contact information. A phone number and/or email address will suffice. This is necessary so that the property manager can match Rover’s resume to your rental application in case the two documents become separated in the office.

In this section, write down the names of a few references and their contact information too. Besides the references you provide for yourself, your pooch should have one or two people who will back up your assertion that your pooch is well-behaved.

This suggests that you’re a responsible pet parent as well. Former landlords are some of the best to offer. Other good choices are your veterinarian, dog walker or a past neighbor. Don’t forget the mailman if that was a good relationship! 

There are several ways to approach this. First, you can write the document yourself. See below for our resume builder template and a short example of what to say. Alternatively, you can hire a writing professional. Check out the cost first and see if it makes sense for you.

Name: Sadie

Age: 10 years

Sex: Female

Breed: Lab

Size: 50 lbs

Spay neuter status: Neutered

Health: Good, vaccines and flea/deworming up to date

Description: Adopted from pet rescue at six months old, good with children and other animals . . .

Training/Activities: Passed obedience school classes with flying colors, loves her morning and after dinner walks . . .

Owner’s name and contact information: Your phone number/email

References: Names and contact info

Photo: The best you have

Of course, creating your pet’s resume is a bit of work. You want to take the time to get it right and see through the eyes of your, hopefully, future landlord. Having said that, telling the story of your canine companion is certainly a labor of love.

Start with some basic information about your dog like breed, age, size, etc. and move on to describe their personality, behavior, routine and the like.

Use our resume builder template for all the categories you need.

A well-written pet resume should cover all the bases and reveal your pet’s personality.