10 Dogs That Can Raise Your Homeowner’s Insurance
Sure, your puppy would never bite anyone… but if it did, your homeowner’s
insurance might have to pay out for it. And that means your insurance company is very interested
in what kind of dog you have.
Insurance companies have put together a list of dogs that are more likely to be
involved in a costly attack. If your dog makes the list, you may have to pay higher
premiums for your homeowner’s policy — or you could even be denied coverage.
The Insurance Industry’s Top Ten “Bad Dogs”
These dogs have been put on this list based on their strength, temperament, and
history of incidents.
In alphabetical order, here are the top ten troublemakers:
- Akita. Originally bred to hunt bears, this Japanese dog is popular
today as a guard dog.
- Alaskan Malamute. The Malamute is an Arctic sled dog. Puppies
are strong enough to start sled training when they’re as young as three months.
- Chow Chow. This powerful dog was bred as a hunter in ancient
China, but today is typically thought of as a companion dog.
- Doberman Pinscher. Dobermans are considered among the most intelligent
and reliable dogs. They’re known to respond to danger quickly.
- German Shepherd. A favorite of pet owners and police forces,
the German Shepard is a confident and independent dog.
- Pit Bull. Bred as fighters, Pit Bulls have become among the
most feared dogs in recent years — some cities have even started making it
a crime to own one.
- Presa Canario. This breed is quiet and well-behaved — when
it’s at home. It’s also a fearsome guard dog.
- Rottweiler. This loyal breed loves the outdoors. Its independent
nature makes it a good guard dog.
- Siberian Husky. The Siberian Husky looks like the Malamute,
but is smaller. This dog loves to roam… so if you want to own one, make
sure you have a fence.
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier. This lean dog has a reputation for
being affectionate and loyal. It’s also very quick and agile, and has very powerful
jaws.
What Should Dog Owners Do?
Plenty of dogs enjoy happy lives and never bite anyone. So their owners aren’t
pleased to see these breeds singled out. And paying higher insurance premiums doesn’t
make them very happy, either.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has weighed in on the issue, saying,
“The American Kennel Club believes that insurance companies should determine
coverage of a dog-owning household based on the dog’s deeds, not the dog’s
breed. If a dog is a well-behaved member of the household and the community, there
is no reason to deny or cancel coverage.”
They also point out that since many of the breeds on the list make excellent guard
dogs, owning one can make your home safer — which ought to mean lower premiums.
The AKC and dog owners have been encouraging politicians to pass laws making it
illegal to charge dog owners more for insurance. In the meantime, the AKC
suggests dog owners do the following to save money on their homeowner’s insurance:
- Contact your dog’s national breed club and ask them to recommend an insurance
company
- Show that your dog has completed an obedience training program
- Shop around. Talk to more than one insurance agent before you buy
Before you choose your next canine companion, decide whether owning one of the dogs
on this list will add too much to your insurance bill.
And if you’re already the proud owner of one these breeds, remember that premiums
can be dramatically different from one company to another. Ask around and get quotes
from several insurance agents. While one agent might say “No way!”, you
may find others who say “No problem!”. |
