Some insurance companies deny certain dog breeds coverage.
As a homeowner and dog owner, you may have heard that some insurance companies will deny coverage for homeowners who have “dangerous” dogs. This can often leave people in the dilemma of choosing their pet or their home insurance, which is a position no one wants to be in. Your four-legged friend is a member of the family! Here’s what you should know so that you can make an informed decision on how to secure home insurance with your pet by your side.
What breeds are considered “dangerous”?
Insurance companies usually come up with their own list of breeds that they consider to be dangerous. That could be based on their past dealings with claims or with popular perceptions of breeds. Check with your insurance company to see which, if any, breeds they blacklist. The most common are:
- Pitbulls
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Dobermans
- Huskies (Alaskan malamutes and Siberian huskies)
- Wolf hybrids
- Chow Chows
- St. Bernards
- Great Danes
- Akitas
- American Staffordshire Terriers
- Boxers
- Perro de Presa Canarios
Why are some dogs blacklisted?
Certain dogs are blacklisted, not because insurance companies don’t like dogs, but because of risk. Please understand that your dog may be the most loving and gentile pooch around, but these breeds have been cultivated as attack and protection dogs for centuries, and because of that, you never know what will trigger a latent instinct. It is for this reason that insurers are wary of these breeds. Insurers are all about weighing risk and the likelihood of a claim. If you have a dog with a history of biting claims in the past, this will also come up, regardless of the breed. Dogs with aggressive behavior are a major risk as they could bite and seriously hurt someone. If that does occur, your liability within your home insurance would have to step in to cover the cost of the claim. What’s more, bites often require medical attention and can lead to a lawsuit, which insurance companies don’t love.
If you have a dangerous dog, you may be required to sign a dog bite exclusion. This exclusion also comes up in personal umbrellas. There are insurance companies that will include coverage for these breeds but at a higher cost.
When you’re ready to secure reliable insurance policies for your pooch and property, contact the team Lou Aggetta Insurance Services in Pleasant Hill. We are ready to help you find quality coverage today.