If you have pets and you are going to be renting an apartment for you and your family, then you want to make sure you protect yourself and your pets during the rental process. Luckily, you will find that there are plenty of apartment complexes out there that will be fine with taking your pets, but as a pet owner, you still want to make sure you do your part to rent with your pets in a responsible manner. Not only will this help your household run smoother, but it will also be much appreciated by your property manager. Here are some of the things that you should be doing:

Get your pets professionally trained: When you own pets, you should make sure they are well-trained. If you can do this on your own, then that's great. However, if you find that you have a pet, such as a dog that has issues like digging, chewing, or dealing with anxiety issues then you may need to call in a professional trainer. This will help prevent damage to your rental and it will even make it easier for you to rent a place with pets when you can show the realtor proof that your pets have passed a training course.

Get permission to have a kennel area put up in the yard: If you are looking into renting an apartment that has a yard area, but that doesn't have a fence and you would like to put up a small outside dog run, then you want to ask your managers permission. Even if the dog run won't be permanently affixed, the manager will appreciate you asking since it will be a temporary addition that may be viewable to the other tenants.

Get renters insurance: When you rent a place, having renter's insurance is important for many reasons. However, when you are renting and you own pets, renter's insurance can also protect everyone in the case of your pet hurting someone who comes on the property. Showing that you are covered in this manner can be important to the manager of the property that you are renting. Along with protecting pet owners, this insurance will also cover things like fire, flood, and theft when you are in a rental unit.

Look for a place that fits: When you will be renting with pets, try to hold out for a rental that better accommodates them. You may want to look for a downstairs apartment because it will make it a lot easier for you to take the dog out.

Look for an apartment with a dog area: Some apartments have dog parks or walking trails where you can walk the dog to give them some exercise. Finding an apartment with this feature can be especially important if your apartment doesn't really have a yard where your dog can let off steam.  

Contact a real estate agent to help you rent apartments in your area.