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Some homeowners insurance companies exclude certain dog breeds from coverage.
Large dog breeds are more likely to be banned due to the severity of bites as opposed to frequency.
Consider an umbrella policy or canine liability insurance if you have a restricted breed.
I’ll never forget chasing my childhood dog, an adopted mutt with a love of trouble, around the neighborhood while his thick metal chain dragged behind him. After that, I swore I would only have easygoing dogs like my current golden retriever. So I know that, for better or worse, dogs become part of the family. But that can present challenges when you shop for homeowners insurance if you’ve run into the dog breeds insurance blacklist.
“Any dog breed can be aggressive,” says Dr. Courtnye Jackson, a veterinarian and founder of The Pets Digest.
Yet, research shows that certain breeds are statistically more likely to cause costly bites. Since insurance companies are always looking to minimize risk, breeds, including pit bulls, Rottweilers, and German shepherds, among others, may not be covered.
If you have one of those breeds, getting homeowners insurance coverage can be tricky. But getting homeowners insurance coverage while keeping the dog you love is still possible. Here are seven things you should know about homeowners insurance, banned dog breeds, and dogs with a bite history, whether you have a pit bull, a poodle, or a golden retriever, like me.
Banned breeds depend on your homeowners insurance company
Over her nearly 30 years working in the insurance industry, Deborah J Turner has seen various breeds fall in and out of favor with insurers. Many factors determine which breeds are banned, said the president of Dean Insurance Agency, which specializes in canine coverage.
“It may be media driven, losses they have paid out on a certain breed, personal experience of underwriters or management or reports about which breeds are biting,” Turner says.
Large dogs and terriers are more likely to be banned
Certain breeds are more likely to be banned by homeowners insurance companies, whether fairly or not. These are usually large dogs since they are more likely to cause costly damage if they bite. Commonly banned breeds include:
Pit bullsMastiffsGerman shepherdsAkitasStaffordshire terriersChow ChowsAlaskan malamutesDoberman pinschersGreat DanesSiberian HuskiesRottweilersPresa CanariosWolf hybrids
There are options for insuring banned dog breeds
If your homeowners insurance application is denied because of the dog breeds insurance blacklist, you might panic, thinking you must go uninsured or get rid of your dog. But there are better options.
Companies like Turner’s specifically sell canine liability policies. Other insurers like State Farm don’t ask about dog breeds. Instead, it asks whether your dog has ever bitten anyone. Its site says, “It’s not the breed, it’s the dog bite.” An umbrella insurance policy might also cover bites even if you have a restricted or banned breed.
Lying about your dog’s breed will void your homeowners or renters insurance coverage
It may be tempting to pass your pitty off as a lab mix, but that’s financially risky whether you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy.
“People often tell me that they just lied about breed or withheld the fact that they have a dog,” Turner says. “That might get a policy written but it voids the policy if there is any injury or property damage caused by the dog.”
For homeowners, it may also result in challenges getting reinsured. Not only does your dog now have a bite history with a claim attached to it. Your homeowners insurance history has been disrupted, making you a more significant risk. Insurance companies that do take you may multiply the cost of homeowners insurance.
If you don’t resolve it quickly, your mortgage company could also take out a home policy and charge you for it. These mortgagee-owned home insurance policies cover the mortgagee’s risk for a substantially higher price. But your personal property, liability, etc., are not covered.
All dog owners should have liability insurance
Even if your dog has no bite history or isn’t part of the dog breeds insurance blacklist, you should carry liability coverage as part of your homeowners insurance policy.
Nearly 800,000 Americans need to see a doctor after being bitten by a dog yearly, and more than 17,000 insurance claims are filed because of dog bites. The average cost of those claims is nearly $50,000. If you have liability coverage and include your dog on your homeowners policy, it will cover the associated damages up to your purchased limit. However, you may be responsible for additional damages if damages exceed your chosen limit.
Know what’s covered and what isn’t
“Most people assume their homeowner’s insurance covers dog bites, but more companies are getting rid of that coverage,” Turner says. Others only cover your dog if the bite happens on your property. So, you won’t be covered if Fido jumps a fence or bites someone at the dog park.
If you have a dog, talk to your agent about dog-related coverage, including for bites or property damage. Something to note is your homeowners insurance also does not cover your pet’s medical bills, even when accidents happen at home. Separate pet insurance plans can help you with vet bills.
Insurers write restrictions and exclusions into your policy documents, even if you have strong liability coverage and/or an umbrella policy. So, especially if you’re working with a licensed insurance agent, ask about anything you’re unsure of.
Liability insurance doesn’t cover the cost of bites to people within your household
If your dog is prone to biting, it’s essential to know the people most at risk (those living with the dog) may not be covered.
“Liability insurance, in general, compensates others for injuries as a result of your actions or your dog’s, but it does not cover you or members of your household,” Turner says.
Getting proper insurance coverage is only one part of being a responsible pet parent. Socializing your dog, no matter its breed, is just as important.
“Start training early and recognize any signs of aggression early on so [you] can deal with them before it gets out of hand,” Jackson says. That way, you’ll hopefully never need to utilize your liability coverage.