Whether you’re picking out a new family member or reviewing tenant applications, it’s important to know the restrictions your insurance provider has on animals, and specifically dogs.

Most insurance carriers have a specific list of dog breeds that they will not insure. To help, we’ve compiled a list of breeds to be cautious of. You can find it below. Please remember, each situation is different, so be sure to speak with one of our agents to address specific coverage information for you.

– Pit Bull
– Staffordshire Terrier
– Rottweiler
– German Shepherd
– Presa Canario
– Chow Chow
– Doberman Pinscher
– Akita
– Cane Corso
– Alaskan Malamute
– Great Dane
– Mastiff
– Belgian Malinois

If you own, or would like to own, one of the above breeds, properly training your dog is a critical first step to protecting yourself from a liability issue. American Kennel Club (AKC) offers their Canine Good Citizen training program. Completing this class is recognized by a number of home insurance carriers, and it oftentimes can make an otherwise uninsurablerisk eligible.

Did You Know?

  • There are 54.4 million households that own at least one dog. Of those homes, 66% consider their dogs to be family members.
  • The average cost paid out for dog bite claims in 2015 was $37,214
  • California had the highest number of dog bite claims with 1,684 — more than 700 more than next closest Illinois.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for legal advice. Old Harbor Insurance Services, LLC recommends you consult your risk manager, attorney, business advisor, or insurance representative for all questions or concerns.

Sources:

https://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/pet_ownership_statistics.html
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2013/05/15/291947.htm
https://www.iii.org/press-release/dog-bites-accounted-for-more-than-one-third-of-all-homeowners-liability-payouts-last-year-as-cost-per-claim-soars-to-more-than-37000-per-bite-050916