When it comes time to fill out an application for homeowner’s insurance, all agencies will want to know if you have a dog on the premises, and if so what breed. Why is this so important? Certain dog breeds have been deemed “risky” and are a liability that the insurance company most likely won’t cover. Even if your four legged friend is a gently giant who would never harm a soul, it doesn’t matter whether they have a history of biting or not. The bottom line to most companies is that some breeds are a risk that they don’t want to take.
According to Comcast Xfinity’s Lifestyle Blog by Catey Hill, There are 11 breeds that most insurance companies try to avoid covering:
- Pit Bulls & Staffordshire Terriers
- Doberman Pinschers
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Chows
- Great Danes
- Presa Canarios
- Akitas
- Alaskan Malamutes
- Siberian Huskies
- Wolf-hybrids
Any hybrid mix of these breeds would likely be rejected as well, but the first four breeds are denied by insurance companies most often. So why do companies deny coverage if you own one of these breeds? Basically they don’t want to be responsible for a lawsuit should your dog bite or attack someone on your property.
If you do own one of these breeds and find yourself searching for homeowner’s insurance, getting a policy that will cover your dog will be much harder to find, not to mention more expensive. Since the companies that do cover these breeds are rare and consider themselves to be taking a high risk by insuring your dog, they are able to charge a higher premium.
If you do own one of the breeds listed above, the most important thing you can do when applying for homeowner’s insurance is to be honest on your application. Omitting this information may come back to haunt you and cause more problems should your dog bite or attack someone. If you submit a claim after a dog attack, your insurance company may deny your claim which could potentially cost you thousands and thousands of dollars depending on the damage done. Your coverage may also be dropped and in the future insurance companies may be less likely to write a policy for you.
Although it is unfortunate that certain breeds are discriminated against, it’s a policy adopted by almost every insurance company that is put in place for their own protection. Be open and honest with your insurance company, it will be better for your and your four legged friend in the long run!
Photo By: pato_garza