Liability coverage on your home insurance policy normally covers injuries and property damage caused by your dog. Unless your dog is a member of a so-called restricted canine breed, such as pit bulls, rottweilers, or Dobermans. If your current insurance does not cover your dog, obtain a quotation from a breed-inclusive firm, such as State Farm, or look into stand-alone canine liability coverage.

What comes next?

What Are The Most Frequent Dog Breeds That Are Restricted?

The specific canine breeds that are prohibited vary by employer and state. Pit bulls and other big breeds such as Dobermans, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids are among the most prevalent dog breeds. This includes mixed breed dogs, such as a German shepherd mix.

Is It Possible To Receive House Insurance If My Dog Is A Restricted Breed?

On average, owning a restricted dog breed raises home insurance costs by 1%.

If your dog is on the restricted breed list, your insurance provider will most likely raise your premiums significantly, or they may refuse liability coverage for any harm your dog does. That means you won't be able to file a claim if your dog bites a stranger or a guest, or if your dog damages property.

However, insurance providers may refuse to issue you a new policy or cancel your current one.

Do Homes Insurance Policies Cover Certain Dog Breeds?

Unless you have a restricted breed or your dog has a biting history, your homes insurance should cover dog bites.

If your dog attacks a stranger or a visitor and you are sued to pay their medical fees, your liability coverage will cover those costs.

Making liability claims, on the other hand, may result in higher house insurance premiums in the future. Even if your dog is covered by your homeowners insurance, it may not be worth filing a claim unless the cost is too expensive.

Is Renters Insurance Available For Certain Dog Breeds?

Renters insurance, like homeowners insurance, often provides liability coverage in the event that your dog causes bodily harm or property damage. Furthermore, renters insurance providers may opt to impose an additional fee or remove renters coverage depending on your dog's breed or bite history.

If your dog is on the prohibited dog breed list for your renters insurance, you may face a little higher insurance premium, or your insurance provider may refuse to cover any liability harm your dog does. Renters with dogs having a history of biting, regardless of breed, will have difficulty obtaining renters insurance.

What Should I Do If My Homeowner's Insurance Policy Does Not Cover My Dog?

Not every insurer takes your dog's breed into account, and not every insurer restricts the same breeds.

If your current insurance provider is unable to insure your dog, you can begin by comparing rates from several insurance companies to locate one that will.

If your dog is a mongrel, you may also get a DNA breed test. A canine DNA test costs $50 to $200 and may be obtained from your veterinarian. You can have an easier time receiving coverage if you can clearly establish your dog does not belong to a restricted breed.

What Is The Best House Insurance For Breed-Restricted Dogs?

Insurance firms in Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania are not permitted to refuse you a home insurance policy or liability coverage based on the breed of your dog.

If you're having difficulties acquiring homes insurance because of your dog's breed, don't worry: not all insurance providers discriminate based on breed.

The Best House Insurance Provider For Every Dog Breed: State Farm Insurance

When you obtain a price for house insurance from State Farm, no dog breed is taken into account. Only questions concerning your dog's bite history will be required.

Other insurance firms that give insurance to dog owners regardless of breed, in addition to State Farm, are USAA and Chubb. However, some firms may charge you extra if you have a restricted breed of dog, so it's still worthwhile to look around for the best offer.

Some businesses have a considerably shorter list of prohibited dog breeds than others. Farmers, for example, often limits coverage to pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids.

Dog Breed Discrimination In Home Insurance Companies

Some insurance firms have said that they do consider a dog's breed when selecting whether or not to cover it. Each company has a somewhat different list of banned breeds, so just because one company refuses to cover your dog does not imply they will all refuse.

The following dog breeds are prohibited by Allstate, American Family, Auto-Owners, Nationwide, Progressive, and Travellers:

All but Travellers are restricted.

Home Insurance Alternatives For Limited Dog Breeds

If you are still unable to obtain coverage for your dog, try purchasing canine liability insurance or an extended umbrella policy.

Liability insurance for dogs covers harm caused by your dog, such as damage to property or injury to a person. You may be able to combine this with your house insurance or a specialised pet insurance provider.

Umbrella liability insurance complements the liability element of all your current coverage, such as house, renters, or auto insurance, at a significantly lower cost. Umbrella coverage can address "gaps" in your entire coverage, such as damage caused by your dog. However, some umbrella plans only increase the coverage limits for occurrences for which you are already protected. Before signing up, be sure the policy will cover your dog.

Do I Have To Notify My Insurance Provider About The Breed Of My Dog?

Yes, since failing to do so might cost you. If you lie about your dog's breed or bite history when applying for a coverage or updating an existing policy, your home insurance provider may refuse any future claims. This may be deemed fraud, and your insurance may be cancelled.

Why Are Breed Limits Imposed By House Insurance Companies?

When setting premiums, home insurance companies consider a variety of factors, including the likelihood that the insured may file costly liability claims for dog bites.

Many insurance firms request the breed of your dog while determining whether to provide you homeowners insurance or calculating the premium to charge you. These firms incorrectly believe that dog breed is a predictor of how likely you are to file a dog bite liability claim or how much it may cost.

City Ordinances Limit The Number Of Dog Breeds Allowed.

Despite the fact that dozens of states have prohibited breed-specific laws, there are still dozens of cities around the United States that have limitations or prohibitions on owning particular dog breeds. Pit bull breeds and mixes, as well as wolf hybrids, are the most usually prohibited breeds.

If your city has a breed ordinance, it may be difficult or impossible to legally own one of the prohibited dog breeds.

If you decide to adopt a prohibited or restricted dog breed against local restrictions, your insurance carrier would most likely deny house insurance coverage in the event of an incident. They may even cancel your coverage entirely. Insurance companies will not cover you if you do an unlawful conduct, and keeping a prohibited dog is no exception.

Methodology

We compiled restricted dog lists from insurance filings that were publicly available. Insurers and subsidiaries were among those who filed.

Quadrant Information Services was used to calculate rates for owners of certain canines. Rate information was obtained from publically available rate filings.