Newbies trust their life savings with strangers who are all-too-happy to provide "turn-key" investments that end up failing, due to their (I think deliberate) bad management and unnecessary maintenance costs, etc., and then they are happy to sell it for you - and do it again to the next sucker.  

Does the dog pull, does the dog lunge, does the dog bark at strangers walking by?

It is like having a bunch of strangers having the power to interfere with your investment.And then there are the board members who decide it's their mission in life to harass owners/tenants about every weird thing, like potted plants on the balcony or whatever.I only bought the one condo, intending to keep it forever and rent it out.  

Get on the phone and talk to strangers.

This is a group of med students, not some random group of 4 strangers off the street. 

If you're up to training and caring for an animal, a dog is an excellent deterrent against unwanted strangers and intruders. 

I have to get a stranger roommate because I lost half my income.  

@Sean Floyd-bethune I teach all my mentor students to practice by calling FSBOs owners to get comfortable speaking with strangers about their homes.

The only reason you might want to do this is if you're renting to strangers.

Show me facts, like I did.Leave the "I have a friend that had a pet fly that had a sister whose dog bit a complete stranger, well that strangers mom had  eye surgery and their doctor treated an other patient that did a deal with cold calling.. yup yup..Don't!