If you share your home with a pooch, you will need the perfect pet-friendly luxury apartment to ensure everyone in your household is happy. Not all luxury apartments are created equally, though. The following tips will help ensure you make the right choice when you are apartment hunting.

Tip #1: Check the lobby rules

Most luxury apartments feature a lush lobby area, with or without a doorman. In many cases this is the primary entrance and exit from your apartment unit. Make sure the lobby allows you to walk your pet through to get outdoors. Some apartments have rules that all pets must be carried or crated when in the lobby, which can pose a problem if you have a larger dog. The same rules may also apply for use of elevators or even stairwells, so make sure you know if there are any areas that are either off-limits for dogs or that have a carry-only rule. If there is a back entrance that you must use, make sure it is easily accessible, well-lit, and feels safe.

Tip #2: Check patio safety

Most luxury units include an outdoor area of some sort for each separate apartment. For upper floors, these are usually nice-sized balcony patios. Make sure the balconies are safe before signing the lease, though. It's best that the barrier is solid and not made of pickets or rails. If you have a smaller dog, check that there is no space at the bottom that they could squeeze through. It's also a good idea to verify that the barrier is tall enough to contain your pet. Ask if there are any rules about installing netting. There is nearly invisible netting that you can stretch over the empty space that will help keep a dog from leaping over the rail, but you have to make sure it is allowed by management.

Tip #3: Flooring matters

While hardwood floors or stone tile may seem like a luxury in an apartment, it can make you unpopular with the neighbors below. Dogs – even small dogs – can make a lot of noise running on a hard floor surface. Carpet helps insulate so that the sound doesn't travel into the units below. Of course, hard floors are also less prone to damage from any accidents or messes your dog makes. If you fall in love with a place with hard floors, ask to see the place in the evening or early morning when most residents are home. This way you can judge whether sound travels easily between units or if the apartment is relatively sound-proof.