A dog in the home is like a family member, but insurance companies see them as potential liability risks.
Is your beloved pet going to raise your homeowner insurance rates? It's worth the time to find out and see if there are ways you can save money.
When I was a child, I had a friend whose family kept several large dogs including a German Shepherd and a Doberman Pinscher.
These dogs were so friendly they would try to sit on your lap.
It seemed like they could never injure anyone.
Now I have neighbors who own two Doberman Pinschers and they couldn't act any more different.
They bark hard at every noise in the area, run away from their owners and terrify other people walking their dogs.
Clearly, how an owner trains and treats a dog affects how safe that dog is around other people.
Insurance companies, however, don't know the difference in disposition between your dog and the next policyholder's.
But they do look at statistics such as number of dog bite claims filed for particular breeds, etc.
Consequently, some insurance companies may limit the coverage you have for dog bite liability, increase your premium or even not provide coverage if you own a certain type of dog.
These types of dogs typically include breeds such as Pit Bull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Malamutes and Chow Chows.
However, companies may not distinguish based on breed when they rate your policy.
And.
there are some home insurance companies who don't care if you own a dog.
If you think your dog has caused your home insurance premium to increase, you may want to contact your agent and find out why or if there is something you can do to lower it.
You probably should also shop around and get some other homeowner insurance quotes since rates and underwriting rules about dogs vary so much.
What's more, even with homeowners insurance, you want to make sure you do everything you can to reduce the chance of your dog biting someone.
Talk to your vet about getting proper training for your dog breed.
This could save your finances and your dog's life.
If you are planning on getting a dog, consider how it may affect your premiums.
Talk to your agent and get some additional quotes from other companies before you bring home your newest family member.