Dog Liability and Homeowners Insurance

Dangerous Dog Breeds Can Be An Insurance Risk
When getting your homeowners insurance, the breed of dog you have may actually change your premium rates or even disqualify certain aspects of the policy. The liability is created by having a certain type of dog that is statistically more likely to bite someone than other breeds. The lists vary by insurance company, but most have listed the following breed of dogs as unacceptable: Pit Bulls, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers and even Chows may actually be a liability that insurance companies would prefer not to cover. Some carriers have a more extensive list of unacceptable breeds which could include:
Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Chow, German Sheppard, Husky, Presa Canario, Staffordshire Terrier and Wolf Hybrids to name a few.
Some states are even considering making pet liability insurance mandatory for all pet owners.
If a homeowner has a dog that has ever bit someone while he or she was on your property, the injury could quite conceivably fall into the “liability” category. And despite all of the other precautions taken to secure and protect your home and the people inside it, like good locks, alarms, safe construction etc., the simple fact that you own a particular type of dog could potentially put the entire homeowner’s contract at risk.
Precautionary Steps to Lower the Risk
Show the insurance company that you are serious about keeping your “high-risk” dog at bay, safely secluded away from the neighborhood and any potential visitors. High fences and safety collars can make a world of difference in lowering the risk of a liability problem. Be sure to have a “Beware of Dog” sign posted on your property.
If you don’t want to deal with this potential homeowner’s insurance problem, you can always get a low-risk dog. Mixed breeds tend to be perfect, and there is always a nice variety of mutts around. Plus, local shelters are typically overrun with dogs and many of them are not categorized as high-risk. Or you can get a certain type of specialized breed which has not been placed on the insurance companies’ blacklist. And if you absolutely don’t want to give up your high-risk dog, just make sure the dog never gets the chance to hurt anyone and thereby create a claim that may not be covered. A little prevention can save a lot of heartache and money.

Landlords and Dogs
A landlord who allows a tenant to have a dog on the premises can be and have been held liable. When interviewing tenants you need to ask what breed of dog they have. Insist on seeing the dog. Approach the dog, is he hostile or aggressive? If yes, find different tenants or be sure to write on your leases an addendum for animals, that way you can revoke the animal privilege without rewriting the lease.

Insurers will never stop underwriting dogs when writing homeowner policies. Dogs are a liability hazard for insurance companies, and the risk associated with insuring their owners is too great to overlook. Addressing an unacceptable exposure after a loss occurs is too late. Take the time to identify your own exposure. By doing so, you help protect yourself and lessen the risk of lawsuits and insurance issues. A few companies have not restricted dog breeds.