Homeowners Insurance Quotes Wagged by Certain Dogs

Your dog is loyal, friendly and protective. Sounds great, but man's best friend isn't a friend of your homeowners insurance quotes, which rise with the presence of some dogs.

Pet owners are already aware that pets are an extra expense-dog food, collars, and vet visits don't come cheap-but what about insurance expenses? According to a recently released article on Insuranceagents.com, some homeowners insurance carriers may see your pet-especially dogs-as dangerous and too risky to insure.

"Homeowners insurance companies have different policies regarding canines and home insurance policies," according to the Insuranceagents.com article, 'Will Your Canine Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Policy?' "Some will insure you for a higher premium, while others will refuse to do business with you. Either or, it is always best to shop around for homeowners insurance quotes, so if an insurer gives you a bad premium, you can move on to the next one and get the coverage you need."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 4 million and 5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year; one in every five dog bites result in injuries that require medical attention.

Considering the high amount of dog bites and the incidence of overwhelming bodily injury liability costs, a risk like that will cause homeowners insurance agents to charge higher premiums, no matter how tame you think your pet is.

"You may say that your dog doesn't bite at all, but that won't make homeowners insurance companies exclude your pooch, if its breed has a bad bite history. Therefore, you should ask a homeowners insurance agent about the bite history of your dog's breed, and see if he or she can come up with a policy that both you and the homeowners insurance company are satisfied with," according to the Insuranceagents.com article.


Breeds that are seen as particularly high-risk to insurance companies include Dobermans, German Shepards, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers.

While pets may affect your homeowners insurance premium, it may not be impossible to find affordable policies. The article details several ways to find affordable homeowners insurance policies, including comparison shopping, asking for discounts, and shopping for insurance quotes.