Restricted Dog Breeds for Homeowners Insurance

The liability portion of your homeowners insurance usually covers injuries and property damage caused by your dog, such as bites. However, because large dog breeds, such as pit bulls, rottweilers, and Dobermans, are more difficult to insure, insurance companies may refuse to cover damage caused by them.

If your insurer refuses to cover your restricted breed of dog, you can better protect yourself by purchasing dog-specific liability insurance or, in some cases, umbrella liability coverage.

Which dog breeds are restricted by insurers?

Which dog breeds are considered dangerous and restricted vary by provider and state. A list of aggressive dogs might include:

• Pit bulls
• German shepherds
• Akitas
• Staffordshire terriers
• Chow chows
• Alaskan malamutes
• Doberman pinschers
• Great Danes
• Siberian huskies
• Rottweilers
• Presa Canarios
• Wolf hybrids

Pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids are the most likely to have some kind of limit and are more likely to have a severe restriction or be prohibited entirely. If you own one of these breeds, your home insurance company may require you to exclude dog liability coverage from your policy, raise your rates, or cancel your policy entirely if you own one of these breeds.

Dogs restricted by city ordinances

Several cities in the United States have restrictions or bans on certain dog breeds, most notably pit bulls and wolf hybrids. If your city has a breed law, it may be difficult or impossible to legally own one of the prohibited dog breeds.

If you choose to adopt a banned or restricted dog breed despite local laws, your insurer will most likely deny coverage or cancel your policy entirely in the event of an incident. In general, insurers will not cover you if you commit an illegal act, and owning a prohibited dog is no exception.

What happens if I have a pit bull or another restricted breed?

The consequences if your insurer discovers you have a restricted dog breed depend on several factors, including the exact breed you have, the policies of your specific insurer, and where you live. The most common outcome is that your insurance premiums will rise.

A nationwide LowCostInsurance analysis discovered that if a policyholder had a breed of dog that some insurers consider aggressive, rates increased by 1%.

If your dog is one of the most notorious breeds, such as a pit bull or wolf hybrid, you may have to agree to an exclusion. If this occurs, your liability insurance will not cover you if a dog bites you. Or, if your dog has previously displayed signs of aggression, your insurer may refuse to sell you homeowners liability coverage at all.

Does homeowners insurance cover dog bites?

As long as you don't have a restricted breed, your homeowners insurance should cover dog bites. If your dog bites someone and you are sued, the liability portion of your policy will cover the resulting expenses. Making liability claims, on the other hand, can result in much higher future rates.

Do renters insurance companies have breed restrictions?

Renters insurance, like homeowners insurance, includes liability coverage in the event that your dog causes bodily harm or property damage. Furthermore, some renters insurance policies will base coverage decisions on the breed of dog you own.

If you own a pit bull and rent an apartment, you may have to pay a higher premium, or your renters insurance may not cover damage caused by your dog.

What should I do if my insurer won't cover my dog?

Even though many insurers restrict dog breeds, they don't all work from the same list, so you may be able to find coverage elsewhere.

If your current insurance company refuses to insure your dog, you should begin by comparing multiple insurance companies. Because not all insurers discriminate based on dog breed, if your current company refuses to sell you a home insurance policy, you should be able to find another that will.

Consider a DNA breed test as well. It's possible that the breed you believe your dog is, or that it appears to be, is incorrect. Breed tests can be purchased online for $50 to $200, or you can have one administered by your veterinarian. You may be able to argue your case with your insurance company if you can definitively prove your dog is not a restricted breed.

If comparison shopping isn't an option and you're certain you have a restricted breed, you may be able to protect yourself with a dog liability insurance policy or an extended umbrella policy.

• Dog-specific liability policies cover damage caused by your dog, whether it's property damage or personal injury. These are sometimes offered in conjunction with your homeowners insurance or through a specialized pet insurance provider.
• Umbrella liability insurance policies, on the other hand, supplement the liability portion of any existing coverage you may have, such as homeowners, renters, or automobile policies. Umbrella policies can fill "gaps" in your overall coverage, such as dog damage.
• Furthermore, umbrella coverage is typically inexpensive for the amount of coverage it provides. However, some umbrella policies only increase the coverage limits for events for which you are already insured. Before signing up, carefully review the policy's details to ensure that it will protect you.

Which top insurers don't discriminate by dog breed?

If you're having trouble getting homeowners insurance because of your dog's breed, don't worry: not all insurance companies discriminate based on breed. In fact, insurers in Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania are not allowed to deny homeowners coverage based on the breed of their dog, nor can they exclude your dog from liability coverage.

State Farm a top option

Some insurers are more dog-friendly than others, even if you live in another state. State Farm is notable for not taking dog breed into account when determining how to insure dogs under homeowners liability insurance. Instead, it considers whether the dog has a history of biting.

Other insurance companies that provide insurance to dog owners regardless of breed include USAA and Chubb, but these companies may charge you more if you own a restricted breed of dog, so shopping around is still recommended. They may also refuse coverage for a dog with a history of biting.

Insurance companies that do discriminate by dog breed

On the other hand, some insurance companies have stated that they do consider a dog's breed when deciding whether or not to insure it. Farmers, Progressive, and Nationwide are a few examples.

We looked at insurance filings from some of the country's largest home insurance companies to see which dogs they might prohibit. Depending on the state, not every company and subsidiary will be included on this list, and some insurers will also prohibit dogs with a history of biting.

Each insurance company has a different list of dogs it is concerned about, so you may be able to buy a policy from one of these insurers, even if others won't cover you.

Why do some homeowners insurance companies have breed restrictions?

When determining what rates to offer, home insurance companies consider a variety of factors, including how likely the policyholder is to file costly claims, such as liability claims for dog bites.

Many insurance companies take your dog's breed into account when deciding whether or not to offer you homeowners insurance or how much to charge you. A dog's breed does not always predict whether it will bite someone or cause property damage.

A dog's breed, on the other hand, influences its temperament, such as whether it is easily startled or has a tendency to protect its owner. Furthermore, different dog breeds vary greatly in size and strength, and larger dogs are more likely to injure or damage property, even if it is an accident.

Dog-related injuries and property damage are among the most common liability claims filed under home insurance policies. And insurance companies want to charge rates that are proportional to how likely a dog is to cause damage, and to avoid insuring dogs that are too unpredictable.

Methodology

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

Quadrant Information Services was used to compile rates for owners of specific dogs. Rate information was obtained from publicly available rate filings.