Should Insurance Companies Stop Restricting Dog Breeds?

At Berry Insurance, we love dogs. We have several in the office regularly including our very own Chief Barketing Officer Shredder, and VP of Puplick Relations Rider, and we’ve also been known to have a barketing intern or two visit on occasion. 

They hang out under our desks, provide much appreciated canine therapy, interrupt Zoom calls, and occasionally steal someone’s snacks (we’re looking at you Shredder.)

So when we hear about home insurance policies that automatically deny or restrict coverage based on a dog’s breed, it doesn’t make our tails wag. I mean, we understand why insurance carriers may need to consider restrictions on some dogs, but we don’t necessarily believe entire breed restriction is the most effective approach. 

In this article, we’ll cover what current breed restrictions look like, offer some potential alternatives to evaluate dog risk, and let you know what to do if you have a restricted breed dog.

What are dog breed insurance restrictions?

If you’re a homeowner (or thinking about becoming one) and you have a dog, there’s something you need to know: many home insurance carriers have rules around which dog breeds they’ll insure — or rather, won’t insure.

These restrictions are based on the idea that certain breeds are more likely to bite, cause injuries, or lead to costly liability claims.

That means if your pup falls under one of these “high-risk” breeds, you might face:

• Higher premiums
• Liability exclusions (meaning your policy won’t cover dog-related incidents)
• Or, in some cases, flat-out denial of coverage

What types of breeds are restricted?

Depending on the insurance carrier, several breeds may be up for consideration for limitations or restrictions. Among the most common are:

• Pit Bulls
• Rottweilers
• Doberman Pinschers
• German Shepherds
• Huskies
• Akitas
• Mastiffs
• Chow Chows
• Wolf hybrids
• Great Danes

These breeds have long been considered more “high-risk” than others, but in our experience (and that of many others) many if not most dogs of these breeds are loving, well-behaved family pets. They’re therapy dogs, service animals, and certified (yet oversized) lap dogs.

Why do we believe insurance breed restrictions are outdated?

Breed restrictions are a blanket restriction, meaning all dogs of that breed are restricted regardless of any other factors. They assume all dogs of a certain breed are dangerous, without looking at the dog’s behavior, training, or individual history - in our opinion, this means many families are being penalized for a perfectly well-behaved pet.

Studies have shown that a dog’s owner’s behavior, as well as training and socialization have far more to do with risk than breed alone. 

And just like people, dogs are individuals (we all know that feisty Chihuahua who thinks he’s a guard dog) - so we feel they should be evaluated on an individual basis. 

What are some alternatives to dog breed restrictions?

Again, we understand insurance carriers’ intent behind breed restrictions, but we also love to evolve as we learn, and as we have learned all about dogs through the thousands we insure (and as dog lovers ourselves) we think there could be a better way.

Rather than judging dogs solely by their breed, insurance carriers could evaluate them using more meaningful criteria, such as:

• Behavior history: Has the dog shown any aggression or been involved in past incidents?
• Training: Is the dog obedience trained or certified?
• Socialization: Has the dog been around other dogs, kids, or overwhelming environments without issues?
• Owner responsibility: Does the owner take steps to prevent incidents (leashing, training, regular vet visits, fencing)?

We realize this may take a little more time and consideration during the quoting and underwriting process, but feel it is a more accurate and fair way to evaluate dogs and their owners. We know some carriers are already moving in this direction – and for that we applaud them!

What to do if you have a restricted breed:

First, don’t panic. While it can be more challenging, it’s not impossible to get the coverage you need and we’ve been able to help clients navigate this many times before. Here’s what we recommend:

• Work with an independent agency: Independent agencies represent multiple carriers, so they can help you find one that may be more flexible when it comes to breed restrictions.
• Provide documentation: If you have proof of training or certifications, they may help you make your case to underwriters in certain situations.
• Ask about endorsements: Some policies may allow additional liability coverage for a restricted breed through an endorsement or umbrella insurance policy. While we haven’t personally seen this with any of our carriers, there may be some carriers out there willing to take this route.
• Be honest about your dog: If you do have a restricted breed, be sure to be honest with your insurance agent. If you do experience a claim related to your dog, it would be denied if the insurance company found out you were dishonest.

If you’re concerned about how home insurance handles dog bites, check out this article: Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

Protection for the whole family

At Berry Insurance, we believe insurance should protect families - and for many of us, dogs are a huge part of that. 

We always enjoy providing protection for our dog-loving friends and we hope to see the industry continue to evolve in terms of breed evaluation.  

But in the meantime, if you’re looking for home insurance coverage for you and your entire family, check out this article, 8 Benefits of Having Personal Insurance with Berry Insurance, to see if Berry Insurance might be a right fit for you, or get a quote!