Do I have to tell my homeowners insurance that I have a dog?

Asked by: Assunta Jenkins  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (39 votes)

Yes, you should tell your homeowner's insurance company if you have a dog. Homeowners insurance for dog owners will indemnify you against claims for damages as a result of your negligence, including dog bites and property damage.

Does home insurance go up if you have a dog?

Owning a specific breed can raise your homeowners insurance premium. Because certain dog breeds are known to bite and create other liabilities, there's a greater chance that you would need to file an insurance claim. Your insurance company raises your rate to compensate for that potential claim and payout.

Why does home insurance ask if you have pets?

Many homeowners insurance policies cover dog bites and 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 homeowners insurance premium.

What breed of dogs are not covered by homeowners insurance?

The dog breeds that are most commonly excluded from a homeowners insurance policy include:
  • Rottweiler.
  • Pit Bull.
  • Staffordshire Terrier.
  • Doberman Pinscher.
  • Akita.
  • Alaskan Malamute.
  • Siberian Husky.
  • Wolf breeds.

What dog breeds make homeowners insurance go up?

According to HomeInsurance.org, “Dog breeds that are typically associated with higher insurance premiums include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, and wolf-dog hybrids.” Forbes.com adds Chows, Great Danes, Presa Canarios, and Alaskan Malamutes to their list.

How can a dog affect your homeowners insurance?

34 related questions found

Are pit bulls covered under homeowners insurance?

Unless your pit bull has bitten someone in the past, you're eligible to receive homeowners insurance coverage through State Farm. The company considers each dog's personal bite history to assess its insurance risk rather than having a rule that impacts every dog from a specific breed.

Does house insurance go up with a pitbull?

Owning a pit bull can raise your rates, because home insurance providers view your pet as a liability risk. While all dog breeds can bite under the right circumstances, larger breeds have the physical capacity to cause more damage. That makes them a bigger liability to insurance companies.

Does homeowners cover dog liability?

So as many of you may have dogs, This may be of interest. ... Under the Home Insurance Contents section of most insurance policies, the chewing, fouling and damage caused by pets to contents is specifically excluded.

Can insurance companies deny service dogs?

Does Insurance Cover Service Dogs or Emotional Support Animals? Yes, service dogs and emotional support animals receive the same coverage as any other pet under every home insurance policy, including homeowners, renters and condo insurance.

Does an Umbrella policy cover dogs?

An umbrella insurance policy is a pure liability insurance. It covers you from liability for injuries caused by your negligence, no matter how it happened. Umbrella insurance policies can help cover the costs of a dog bite. Most umbrella policies have very high policy limits – often starting at $1 million.

Can you add pets to homeowners insurance?

In order for your dog to be covered by your home insurance, you'll need to add your dog to your policy. If you haven't made your company aware of your furry friend, they may deny you coverage if you file a claim.

Does progressive discriminate against dog breeds?

Allstate, Amica, Farmers, Geico, Progressive, and State Farm do not have any specific breed restrictions. However, they may not cover you if your dog has a history of aggression.

How do you get around pet restrictions?

  1. Rent from Private Owners Instead of a Company. It is generally easier to rent from a private owner instead of a rental company since the latter usually have stricter policies with pets. ...
  2. Get Pet Insurance. ...
  3. Offer a Pet Deposit. ...
  4. Create a “Resume” for Your Dog. ...
  5. Register Your Pet as an Emotional Support Dog.

Does insurance cover a support dog?

No insurance company, whether privately owned or operated at the state or federal level, will cover the cost of obtaining, feeding, and providing veterinary care to an assistance animal, whether they are an ESA, a service dog, or a therapy dog.

Do you have to disclose an emotional support animal?

There is no Fair Housing mandate to disclose an ESA at the time you apply for an apartment. Landlords are also obligated to consider an ESA request from a tenant whenever they receive it. ... Remember, federal laws protect your right to live with an emotional support animal.

Does USAA cover dog bites?

If your pet bites your neighbor, USAA Renters Insurance includes medical expenses and liability protection, so true accidents like these can get solved quickly and affordably, keeping your finances safe and goals for the future on track.

How much is insurance for a pitbull?

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $37 to $50 per month for basic health insurance for your pit bull based on information collected from two pet insurance providers. Adding extras like wellness plans or preventative care can also add to your pit bull insurance cost.

Does Amica cover pitbulls?

Amica Has Excellent Customer Service

Amica is also known for having the lowest rates on the market, comparable to Geico - Geico, unfortunately, does not cover all dog breeds, and they have restrictions on pit bulls, so Amica might be your second go-to company.

What pet insurance does not increase premiums?

However, we did find two companies that don't raise prices as pets age: Healthy Paws and Trupanion.

What is considered as dog bite?

Dog Bite: A bite wound inflicted by a dog. ... The main medical issues to be addressed with dog bites are the skin damage; any injury to underlying tissues such as muscle, nerve, and bone; and the significant potential for infection of the wound.

Does claiming on pet insurance increase premium?

Will my pet insurance costs go up if I make a claim? More than likely, yes. Your insurance provider may take the view that if you've made one claim, you're more likely to make another – bumping up your premiums as a result. The same is true if you've had to claim for accidents or for losing your pet.

What is considered an aggressive breed?

Pit Bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Wolf hybrids, Akitas, and German shepherds are all commonly considered aggressive. Chihuahuas are also notably aggressive, but they rarely cause injury due to their size.

What is a banned dog?

The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 place controls on 10 breeds of dogs, namely the American Pit Bull Terrier; English Bull Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Doberman Pinscher; German Shepherd (Alsatian); Rhodesian Ridgeback; Rottweiler; Japanese Akita; Japanese Tosa and to every dog of the type ...