If you are a dog lover, this blog may be for you. Our family currently includes three rescue pups, and each holds a special place in our hearts – and under the kitchen table. The following may surprise some readers. According to a study from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States every year, and 800,000 of those bites result in medical care. That means that insurance companies pay out a lot of money due to those bites when claims are filed. Many home-owner insurance policies cover dog bites as well as other incidents. Your policy’s liability insurance is intended to protect you financially by covering medical expenses if someone is injured on your property. The breed of dog is a key factor when it comes to determining your insurance premium.
An insurance company may deny you from getting homeowners or renters insurance because of your pet’s breed. They know these statistics and keep lists of the breeds that are deemed more dangerous. If you own one on the “dangerous” list, you must find a carrier that will cover your dog. Depending on the breed, your insurance could cost you more.
Here is a partial list of dog breeds that many insurance companies do not allow (due to those statistics regarding dog bites) and can cause the most harm compared to other breeds:
- Pit Bulls & Staffordshire Terriers
- Doberman Pinschers
- Chows
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Great Danes
- Akitas
Yes, insurance companies are all different. Underwriting guidelines vary. Some may deny certain breeds while others may insure them. The breeds listed above are the ones denied most often by insurance companies. Be sure to let your agent know if you have one of these dogs. Yours might be the sweetest, well-trained, and best pet you have ever owned. Their decisions are based solely on the breed of the animal, not the individual characteristics of your pet. The problem arises when one of these breeds bites a guest and major damage is inflicted. When that happens, higher claims are paid out.
It is risky to hide the fact that you own a certain dog breed. In a claim scenario, the insurance company may deny your claim and cost you thousands of dollars. The result may also be that your company will most likely cancel your insurance. The safest thing to do is to make sure your agent knows you own one of these breeds. Find out if your insurance company allows that breed and if not, find a company that will.c
