How Does Getting a Dog Affect Your Home Insurance?

According to the American Pet Products Association's most recent National Pet Owners Survey, nearly 85 million households—or 67% of American households—have a pet to care for. If you're in the majority, your pet is most likely a vital member of your family. However, insurance companies frequently regard your pet as a liability. Pets can damage the property of those who live nearby, as well as your neighbors themselves, leaving you and your insurance company liable for all related damages and injuries.

Adding a pet to your homeowners insurance policy may appear to be a simple step, but your coverage may need to be changed depending on your policy and insurance company. You may even be denied coverage based on the breed of your dog.

Here's how getting a dog affects your home insurance and what you should consider before bringing Fido home.

How Does Owning a Dog Affect Homeowners Insurance?

If you already have a dog and want to buy a house, you must add your pet to your insurance policy when you apply for coverage. If you're thinking about getting a dog after you've bought a house, check your coverage to see if there are any restrictions on the types of dogs that are covered.

In most cases, having a dog will not cost you much more, but in the event of an incident such as a dog bite, you will require adequate coverage. In 2019, the national average cost per claim for a dog bite or other dog-related injury was $44,760, with California and Florida leading the way in terms of number of claims.

  • Most homeowners' insurance policies cover dog-bite liability expenses up to $300,000; however, owners are responsible for claims that exceed that amount.

How Your Dog’s Breed Could Impact Your Costs

Some insurance companies refuse to cover certain breeds because they believe they are more aggressive or dangerous, such as:

  • Pit bulls
  • Rottweilers
  • Alaskan malamutes
  • Siberian huskies
  • Akitas
  • Chow chows
  • Doberman pinschers
  • German shepherds

The limitations differ depending on where you live, your insurance company, and the type of coverage you have. "Breed-specific legislation" (BSL) refers to laws that prohibit certain dog breeds in an attempt to reduce dog-related injuries, but there is little evidence that these laws work.

  • Rather than the breed, some insurance companies are known to consider the specific animal's history of aggression (or lack thereof), as well as its training and behavior. According to United Policyholders, a nonprofit insurance information organization, these include State Farm and USAA.

Some organizations, including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), are opposed to homeowners insurance policies that target specific breeds. According to APDT, "dangerous" dogs are the result of a variety of factors, including individual genetics and a lack of proper training, and they should not be judged based on their breed or appearance.

Twenty-one states have statewide bans on breed-specific legislation, with some cities and counties enacting their own. For example, while Florida prohibits BSL, Miami-Dade County has a pit bull ban that predates the statewide legislation.

If you are unsure whether your dog is covered by your homeowner's insurance policy, or if your state has specific restrictions, review your coverage and contact your insurer. If your dog is not covered, you should consider switching to a company that does not prohibit specific breeds.

Tips for Reducing Your Dog-Related Home Insurance Costs

The only way to find out how much your dog contributes to your home insurance costs is to go over your policy. Compare several different insurance policies to see which ones will cover your dog before getting one, or if you already have one and are buying a home.

Whatever breed or breeds your dog is, it's a good idea to make sure it's well-trained and less likely to cause harm by:

  • Vaccinating your dog on a regular basis
  • Early and frequent socialization with humans and other dogs
  • You can train the dog yourself or look for training opportunities in your community.
  • Maintaining your dog's leash whenever you are not in an enclosed, private space, including the front yard if it is open.
  • Restriction on roughhousing and wrestling
  • Knowing when to back off if your dog is likely to be defensive or reactive, particularly when eating or sleeping

If your homeowners insurance policy has breed restrictions, find out what you need to do to ensure your dog is covered. Among the options are:

  • Increasing your liability coverage: You may be able to keep your current policy and simply increase your liability limit to include your dog. Of course, you'll have to pay a higher price.
  • Purchasing separate dog liability coverage: If your current policy does not provide the basic coverage you require, you may be able to obtain a separate policy that is tailored to your pet and specific incidents.
  • Consider umbrella liability insurance: This type of policy expands your liability coverage to include both the current limit for your home and one for your dog.