Homeowners Insurance and Pets

While insurance is a must for anyone wanting to own their own house, many home owners face higher premiums, inferior policies, or even blacklisting by insurance agencies—simply because they own a dog. Many insurance companies refuse to write policies for homeowners with certain breeds of dogs.

  • Akita
  • Alaskan Malamute
  • American Bull Terrier
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Bull Mastiff
  • Chow
  • Doberman Pinscher
  • German Shepherd
  • Italian Mastiff/Cane Corso
  • Pit Bull
  • Dingo
  • Presa Canario/Canary Dog/Canary Island Dog
  • Rottweiler
  • Siberian Husky
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • Any Wolf Hybrid
  • any Mix of these Breeds

As a dog owner, you should look for insurers that do not discriminate. Also, seek out independent agencies. Three insurers, who at the time of this blog post, that do not discriminate are State Farm, Chubb Group, and Amica. Talk to more than one agent for a particular insurance company, also contact the insurance commissioner for your state. Another possibility is to take out a separate policy for your pet. Be sure to check with the Federation of Insured Dog Owners to discuss insurance matters for your companion dog.

If you haven't done it before, please check your homeowner’s policy for any language that would refer to your pet, contact your insurer and get specific understanding as to what they will and will not pay for in writing. The average payout on a dog bite is approximately $30,000; however, if it is one of the above breeds and there is permanent damage or death, it can be substantially more and policy limits may play a role in how much an insurer will pay out. Whatever you do, do not ignore this issue, because it could cost you financially.