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One of the decisions you will need to make as a do-it-yourself landlord is decide if you want to accept pets. Make your rental home as bullet proof and pet proof as possible. No hardwood floors. A grass yard will attract tenants with 4-legged children, a gravel one not so much.
I know a property manager who requests to see a potential tenant's home and meet the pet and check out its living conditions. Is it crated when they are gone 8 hours a day? She considers that cruel and counts it against them. Is the animal potty trained? By going to their home, she can smell pet urine a mile away! Many people are great pet owners and will gladly answer your questions. You need to ask what dog breed they own as HOA's and your rental policy may have restrictions on certain breeds. And use common sense. Two large dogs in a small condo are not a good combination. I am more reluctant about a puppy than an older dog and will want more details on how they contain the puppy when they leave. Cats present a different problem since their urine smell is impossible to remove inexpensively and many people are allergic to cats. Keep that in mind for when you re-rent the home.
There are dog barking ordinances in most cities, write into the lease that they will abide by it. Also include that tenant is responsible for any damage caused by their pet. Check your state law for the maximum total deposits you can charge, including security, cleaning and pet. Some landlords, to circumvent the legal deposit limits, are charging pets rent ex: $50 a month per pet. I'm not too sold on that, as it will turn off a lot of potential tenants, but it's legal in Arizona.
My general experience with pets has been pretty positive, except for this one tenant who allowed her cat to use the dining room as his toilet. But then, after I saw their master bath shower slimed in black mildew I understood why the cat wouldn't go in the bathroom!!
