Homeowners insurance will cover the cost of medical and legal expenses if your dog injures someone or damages their property. Dog-related liability claims cost homeowners around $49,000 on average in 2021, which is almost double the average cost of standard, non-dog-related liability claims. [1]
As claim expenses increase over time, some insurers are writing policies that exclude certain breeds from coverage, like pit bulls and Rottweilers. They may even outright refuse to cover you based on your dog’s breed. However, animal activist groups are pushing legislation that forbids or limits breed discrimination — Illinois, Nevada, and New York have all passed such legislation.
How does homeowners insurance cover dogs?
A standard homeowners insurance policy offers coverage for injuries caused by most dogs under the personal liability and medical payments to others parts of your policy.
Personal liability coverage
If someone was bitten by your dog and they file a lawsuit against you for damages, the personal liability part of your policy will cover expenses related to the incident, including:
Your legal counsel
Plaintiff’s legal expense
Reward if the plaintiff wins the suit
Costs if your dog destroys someone else’s valuable property
Medical payments to others coverage
If your dog bites someone and they choose not to sue, they may still need medical treatment. That’s where your medical payments to others coverage comes into play. Coverage limits typically start at $1,000 and max out at $10,000.
➞ Learn more about how homeowners insurance covers dog bites
What dog breeds are not covered by homeowners insurance?
Certain dog breeds are responsible for an overwhelmingly high number of dog bite claims. As a way to minimize what they view as a high-risk and expensive liability issue, some insurers exclude coverage for certain dog breeds or refuse to cover your home altogether.
Many insurers have restrictions against the following breeds:
Akita
Alaskan malamute
Any wolf breeds
Chow chow
Doberman pinscher
German shepherd
Great Dane
Presa Canario
Rottweiler
Siberian husky
Staffordshire terrier
Cheapest homeowners insurance companies for aggressive dogs
If you own one of the so-called aggressive dog breeds in the above sections, you may find that your homeowners insurance rates are higher.
Here are a few companies that offer cheap rates for homeowners who own a high-risk dog breed.
Insurance company | Average annual cost with a dog |
|---|---|
National General | $1,007 |
State Auto | $1,008 |
AIG | $1,107 |
Tower Hill | $1,189 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,283 |
Erie | $1,346 |
USAA | $1,432 |
* Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
When doesn’t homeowners insurance cover your dog?
If your dog bites a stranger and your dog’s breed is excluded from your policy, your insurer won’t reimburse you for the ensuing legal and medical expenses.
Here are three other scenarios when insurance won’t cover your dog:
When your dog damages your home or other structures on your property
If your dog chews through your home’s drywall or breaks through your backyard fence, your home insurance likely won’t cover the cost for repairs.
Homeowners insurance is designed to cover sudden and accidental damage that you — the homeowner — couldn’t have prevented, like damage from a windstorm or a break-in. Insurance companies will likely view damage caused by your pet as preventable — either with better training or supervision — so the loss won’t be covered.
When your dog damages your personal property
If your dog tears your sofa to shreds or damages other types of property within your home, that’s also not likely to be covered by your home insurance policy.
However if someone else’s dog damages your home or belongings, you may be compensated by the liability portion of their homeowner’s insurance policy.
When your dog injures you or other members of your household
Liability coverage is designed to cover other people’s medical expenses — not your own. That means if your dog gets scared and bites you or another member of your household, you won’t be able to file a liability claim to cover your medical treatment (that’s what health insurance is for).
What to do if your dog isn’t covered by home insurance
If an insurer refuses you coverage because you have a pit bull, for instance, you’ll need to re-shop your home insurance policy to find a more lenient insurer.
Don’t know where to start? Have an expert agent at Policygenius do the work for you. Simply begin the online quote process to be connected with a licensed agent who can look over your policy and make coverage recommendations based on your dog’s breed.
Tips for getting homeowners insurance with a dog
Here are a few pointers and coverage considerations to keep in mind as a dog owner when shopping for home insurance.
Understand your state’s dog liability laws
Most states implement one of three types of liability laws for dogs:
Dog-bite statute: You’re legally responsible for any type of injury or property damage your dog causes. Although these laws refer to dog bites, they generally include all types of dog-inflicted injuries.This means if your dog bites someone, they’re able to sue you in civil court for damages.
One-bite rule: You’re only legally responsible for an injury caused by your dog if the victim can prove you knew beforehand that they were aggressive or prone to causing injury. If this is your dog’s first incident and they have no history of acting aggressively, you may not be liable.
Negligence laws: You’re only liable if the court can prove you were careless and didn’t take the proper steps to control your dog, which resulted in the injury.
Take precautions
While your dog may be comfortable around you, they might feel threatened or scared when met with strangers, unfamiliar dogs, or boisterous kids. Because of this, your insurer may require anything from obedience training to a certain type of yard-fence as a prerequisite for coverage.
Consider pet liability insurance
If your insurance company deems your dog a “dangerous breed” and it’s excluded from coverage, you may want to consider buying a pet liability insurance policy. This provides coverage for all breeds in the event your dog injures a person or another dog.
Your home insurance company may offer a rider or standalone pet liability policy. If not, you may be able to buy a policy from a specialized liability insurer.
Look into personal umbrella coverage
Even if your dog is covered under your home insurance policy, you may still want to consider supplementing the liability portion of your policy with umbrella coverage.
Offered by most major insurers as either an add-on to your policy or standalone policy, umbrella coverage increases your liability limits in $1 million increments. It protects you against more-expensive lawsuits that may exceed the $500,000 coverage liability limit in standard policies.
Some umbrella policies may also extend coverage to your friend’s personal property. So if your dog rips their $3,000 mink coat to shreds, your liability coverage may kick in as long as the policy covers your dog. Most umbrella policies range anywhere from $150 to $250 annually.
Frequently asked questions
Can homeowners insurance drop you because of a dog bite?
Yes — depending on your state and the insurance company — your insurer could cancel your policy if your dog bites someone.
Does homeowners insurance cost more if you have a dog?
If you own a so-called aggressive dog breed, your homeowners insurance rates may be higher than if you didn’t. The cost of homeowners insurance varies based on a lot of factors though, like what ZIP code you live in, how much coverage you need, and what discounts you qualify for.
Do I need to tell my homeowners insurance company about a dog?
Yes, you should definitely notify your insurer when you get a dog. If you don’t let your insurance company know about the dog and it bites someone, your liability claim will likely be denied and the insurance company may even have the grounds to cancel your policy altogether.
