Tenants want to breed dachshunds

[Carol Venolia]

I have a three-unit property, and the family in the main house has a well-behaved male dachshund. Now they want to get a female to keep the male company--and they want to breed and "find good homes for" the puppies. I don't feel good about this, but they are great long-term tenants with a delightful little girl, whom they want to enjoy watching puppies come into the world.

As background, I decided after too many bad dog experiences to no longer accept dogs on this property, but that was after this family got their dachshund. So the other two tenants aren't allowed to have dogs at all.

My first step will be to check with the city about the legality of breeding dogs on that property. Does anyone else have insights that might be helpful? I know little about dogs, and nothing about breeding. Thanks!

[Matthew Dennehy]

If you have stopped accepting pets, then you should use that as your answer.  Explain that you have recently instituted a "no pet" policy and while their current dog may be "grandfathered in" it precludes them from getting any more pets.

Secondly, I would consider breeding to be a commercial activity and wouldn't advise any commercial activities in a residential apartment.  Especially one that includes a lot of untrained dogs.  Additionally, this should never be allowed under a normal lease and would require a very specific and separate agreement.

Don't even worry about going to the city to find out about the legality of breeding.  You have your policies, make sure you communicate them to the tenants and then stick to them.