When buying a home and purchasing homeowners insurance, an agent will likely run down a long list of questions about the property and what you plan to have on it. This includes if you have a pool, trampoline, or dog. Claiming a dog on a homeowner’s insurance policy can be controversial, which leads to people asking, do I have to add my dog to my homeowner’s insurance?
It is always best to be truthful and add your dog to your home insurance policy. If you do not add your dog to your insurance policy, your homeowner’s insurance will deny claims that are directly related to a dog incident which can leave you paying large bills out of pocket.
When it comes to searching for an insurance policy that is dog-friendly and comprehensive, there are a lot of different topics to consider. Keep reading to learn more about different homeowners insurance policies and how they affect you if you own a dog.
- It is essential to list your dog on your homeowner’s policy to ensure personal liability will cover any incident involving the dog.
- Not every breed of dog can be covered under an insurance policy.
- There are dog-friendly insurance policies available for a higher premium.
Does homeowners insurance cover all dogs?
When it comes to the breed of dog you own, insurance companies often get very picky. In fact, there are 30 different dog breeds that are often banned by homeowners insurance agencies. This is because, statistically, these dog breeds cause more incidents than other breeds. Below is a list of the 30 most commonly banned breeds:
- Akita
- Alaskan Malamute
- American Bulldog
- Beaucero
- Belgian Malinois
- Boxer
- Bullmastiff
- Cane Corso
- Catahoula Leopard
- Caucasian Shepherd
- Chow Chow
- Coyote dog
- Dingo
- Doberman Pinscher
- Dogo Argentino
- English Bulldog
- German Shepherd
- Giant Schnauzer
- Great Dane
- Husky
- Malamute
- Mastiff
- Pitbull
- Presa Canario (Canary dog)
- Rhodesian
- Ridgeback
- Rottweiler
- Shar-Pei Tosa
- Inu
- Weimaraner
- Wolf dogs and wolf hybrids
In spite of the fact that these breeds are the most banned, there is still a possibility that an insurance company has some other banned breeds listed in their policy, so it is important to get in touch with your insurance agent to be sure.
Are mixed breeds banned?
If you have a dog that is a mix of any of the breeds above, it is likely that an insurance company will also exclude your dog from its policy. Mixed breeds are looked at similarly to purebred dogs. While every dog and owner is not the same, insurance companies will treat them as such when assessing risk for a homeowners policy.
Adding your dog to your insurance policy
If you have just bought a dog and already have an insurance policy in place, then you need to call your insurance company or agent to add your dog to your policy. This will protect you from future incidents that may occur that are out of your control. After all, a large percentage of homeowner claims are attributed to dog incidents every year.
Does homeowners insurance cover dog bites?
Your homeowners insurance will cover dog bites both on and off your property. This is because it is part of your personal liability insurance.
Your personal liability insurance has a specific amount of coverage attributed to it to cover claims such as medical bills, personal injury, or property damage that may occur due to an incident with your dog.
Different states require different personal liability minimums. The most common minimum amount is $100,000. This may seem like a lot of coverage, but if a lawsuit or severe injury occurs, bills can exceed this amount of minimum coverage.
The average dog bite incident will cost a home insurance policy around $44,000. While this does not hit the minimum required by most states, it is easy to see that the costs quickly build up. Without this insurance, you would be liable to pay these fees out of pocket.
If for some reason, your dog is involved in an incident that goes over your minimum coverage, it is important to note that the homeowner will be liable for any additional expense. What this means is, say, a dog incident costs a total of $150,000 in medical fees. Your insurance company will pay out $100,000, and you will be billed for the remaining $50,000.
In the event that you do not claim your dog, your insurance company will deny the entire claim, meaning that you will have to cover the entire bill on your own.
Finding dog-friendly homeowners insurance
Not every insurance agency is against dogs. There are some dog-friendly insurance policies available. If you do not know where to find such a policy, it is best to consult with an insurance specialist. They will often have a list of different options that a potential client can pursue to help match them with the right, dog-friendly homeowners insurance agency.
Additionally, there are many agencies online that offer dog-friendly homeowners insurance. If you are not sure about an agency, you can use a comparison site to decide which option is better for your home and furry friend.
Below is a list of well-known dog-friendly insurance companies to get you started:
While these insurance providers are dog-friendly, they may come with a price. Most dog-friendly insurance agencies will cost more in premiums. So although your dog and home will be covered from any incident, it will cost more money to keep the insurance in the long run. The best thing to keep in mind, in this case, is the premium is always much cheaper than a potential medical bill due to a dog bite or incident, so it’s worth the investment.
Add your dog to your policy
It is extremely important to add your dog to your homeowner’s policy. Not only does it give you peace of mind, but it can save you thousands of dollars in bills if there is an incident in the long run. We all like to think the best of our furry friends, but when it comes to insurance, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
