German Shepherd Friendly Homeowners Insurance

How Much Does A German Shepherd Cost

This puppy is on the more expensive side, with dog breeders pricing puppies between $450-$1,900.

During the first-year, youll spend near $3,500 to get your new friend vaccinations, grooming appointments, and a pet insurance policy. This price drops to $500-$1,500 for each year following.

On average, German Shepherds cost owners around $15,000. But if you plan on spaying/neutering your dog, hiring a dog walker, and boarding your pup once a year, expect to pay anywhere from $47,000-$99,000 in their lifetime.

Does Liberty Mutual Have Dog Breed Restrictions

Liberty Mutual is similar to Nationwide homeowners insurance dog breed restrictions in that it does not state outright that it discriminates against German shepherds.

To learn more about Liberty Mutuals home insurance dog policies, you may need to call your local office and speak to an agent. Liberty Mutual may consider some dog breeds more of a risk than others.

You may find that you can get a homeowners insurance policy with Liberty Mutual if youve never filed a homeowners insurance claim due to your German shepherds actions.

Is Your Dog On The Restricted Breeds List

Some home insurance companies have a list of restricted dog breeds. Breeds considered restricted raise red flags because theyre considered a higher risk of leading to high-cost insurance payouts.

Depending on each companys practices, owning certain breeds could potentially mean higher premiums, less favorable coverage terms, and at worse no coverage at all.

The that do have some type of restriction on breeds often base it on the losses that they experience, said, director of strategic communication for the Insurance Information Institute. They have determined, OK, we had more losses with this breed than that breed.’

A Forbes Advisor analysis of commonly banned dog breeds revealed that Doberman pinschers, pit bulls and rottweilers showed up on all surveyed lists of breed restrictions. Chow-chows and wolf dogs or wolf hybrids also appeared on more than 90% of lists.

Some insurance companies dont have hard and fast rules that immediately bar a customer from coverage should they own a particular dog breed, according to Ruiz. Certain dog breeds may engender further questions.

Maybe one company likes to take a look at the breeds but then will ask, What kind of training do you have? Have you had any prior losses with your former insurance companies?’ Ruiz said. Its a process. It could be a consideration, but it may not mean that theyre not going to insure you because of it.

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Homeowners Insurance May Not Cover Theses

Homeowners insurance

Your home will be one of the most significant investments you will ever make, both economically and emotionally. Your family will spend countless hours there, among some of your most prized possessions. In the event of any misfortune, let us give you the peace of mind knowing that you are well protected.

Here are a few things not covered under a standard home insurance policy.

Business Activities

If you run an in-home business, your homeowners insurance will not cover the liability arising out of running your business. Homeowners insurance will also not cover damaged property owned by the business. We recommend you purchase a business owners policy.

Your Sewer Backed Up

Torrential downpours could cause sewer backups into your drains and basements, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Most sewer backups, however, are not covered under a standard policy, nor are they covered by flood insurance. The good news: You may be able to purchase a separate rider for protection.

Certain Dog Breeds

Certain dog breeds are also sometimes not covered under your homeowners liability insurance. While the list varies by insurance carrier, breeds that are large or thought to be aggressivelike pit bulls, Rottweilers and German shepherds may not be covered under your policy.

Flood

All homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage resulting from flood. You will need to obtain coverage through the Federal Flood program.

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The Controversy Over Banned Dog Breeds

Not all home insurance companies have official lists of restricted dog breeds. Many decide whether to cover a household with a problematic dog on a case-by-case basis.

But among insurers with banned breed lists, the lists can be found within filings made by home insurance companies to state insurance departments. Its a rogues gallery of so-called bad breeds who scare people, bite and knock kids off bikes.

The home insurers banned breeds lists are long and include dogs youd expect, like Rottweilers, some you might not expect, like German Shepherds and rarer breeds like Alaskan Malamutes. Pit bulls of all types top the list.

Many major insurers filings specifically state that coverage wont be provided to households where these dogs live. And they wont renew a policy if the presence of a vicious dog is discovered in the home.

Dog advocatesled by the Animal Defense League, American Kennel Club, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane Society and othersare fighting back.They say its wrong for home insurance companies to discriminate against dogs due to breed. In a plea to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners , they raise an even bigger question: If insurers discriminate against the dog, do they also discriminate against the owner?

The dog advocate groups want a moratorium on banned breed lists. An NAIC spokesperson said the request would be reviewed at the groups spring 2021 meeting.

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Train Both Your Dog And Family

Training your dog immediately is the best way to establish rules and prevent headaches.

If you encounter issues when training your pup, try looking into behavioral classes or obedience training.

As with a dog, it is equally important to train your family how to treat a dog by establishing rules right away.

This means explaining to young ones not to tug on the puppyâs ears and tail, or explaining to loved ones not to feed the pooch any human food.

In short, you and your family members need to know how to act in order to curb any unwanted behavior and to reward good behavior.

This ensures your family and your dog have a healthy relationship and dynamic and ultimately, you’re all happy.

Should You Be Covered For Pet Liability

Your German Shepherd would never bite someone. You believe this completely, and there is nothing wrong with that belief.

However, the whole point of insurance is having a contingency plan in place, just in case something unexpected happens.

You dont expect your roof to cave in, but if ever it does, youll be glad of your HOI.

You will need to assess your finances and make your own decision, but below are some statistics and information regarding dog-bite liability.

Insurance liability statistics, according to the Insurance Information Institute:

• In 2019, approximately $796.8 million was paid out by insurance companies in America to cover the costs related to dog-bites. This figure was 145.8% higher than that recorded in 2003 and increased by 18.1% between 2018 and 2019.
• This $796.8 million was incurred through 17,802 individual claims.
• The average cost per claim was $44,760 in 2019, a 14.7% increase compared to 2018.

Individual states will have their own legislation, so you will have to check what applies to you.

• In some states, you are liable if your dog bites someone, irrespective of their tendency to do so.
• Some states only hold you liable if you know or should have known that your dogs had a tendency to bite. Of course, there is a lot of ambiguity here, but typically, the victim would have to be able to prove you knew your dog had a proclivity to bite.
• There is also the potential of criminal liability connected to dog-bites.

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Why German Shepherds Owner Are Insuring With British Pet Insurance

Although German Shepherds usually maintain a good healthy life, there is still a chance that your dog could end up in unforeseen trouble. These issues arent limited to health but can also cost people in other areas. For now, let us look at the common health problems that German shepherds go through.

Do Renters Insurance Companies Have Breed Restrictions

Just like homeowners insurance, renters insurance includes liability protection if your dog causes injury or property damage. And some renters insurance policies will also base coverage decisions on what breed of dog you have.

If you own a pit bull and rent your apartment, for example, you may have to pay a higher premium, or your renters insurance may not provide coverage for damage your dog causes.

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The Best Coverage Options For Your Best Friend

If you are thinking about adding a four-legged friend to the family, theres a lot to consider. For instance, whats the right kind of food to buy? Where can you find a sitter or a walker you can trust? And, how will the dog affect your home insurance coverage?

Okay, maybe that last one hasnt crossed your mind, especially since we often think of home insurance as a policy that protects you in the event of a fire, or a storm, or even identity theft. But, it can also help safeguard you should your dog bite a visitor. As a result, having a dog and what kind of dog you have can be a factor in how much insurance is advisable to buy, and from who you could buy it.

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How Much Does A Dog Add To Your Home Insurance Premium

Having a dog can increase your cost for homeowners insurance. Pet ownership is one element that insurers use to determine risk. The exact cost of adding a dog to your homeowners insurance will depend on the breed and where you live, among other factors.

If you need to file a claim related to your pet, especially following a dog bite, your homeowners insurance rate could increase or even result in your policy being cancelled or nonrenewed.

Insurance Companies That Do Discriminate By Dog Breed

On the other hand, some companies have gone on record saying that they do consider a dogs breed when deciding whether to insure it. These include Farmers, Geico, Nationwide and Allstate, among others.

Each insurance company has a different list of dogs it is concerned about, so you may be able to buy a policy from one of these insurers, even if others wont cover you.

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What About Pet Insurance

If you buy a separate pet insurance policy for your dog, then this will typically focus on covering the cost of veterinary treatment, not liability from bites. That being said, some policies do let you add this type of liability coverage to your pet insurance.

However, the reason you would buy pet insurance is to prevent having to pay significant out-of-pocket expenses for your dogs vet care in the future. Think of it as health insurance for your pup.

What Dog Breeds Are Considered High Risk

Certain dog breeds are responsible for a majority of home insurance claims, causing some home insurance companies to exclude those breeds from standard home insurance coverage.

If you own one of the following breeds, you may need to look into a dog-friendly home insurance company to cover bodily injury and property damage youre liable for as their owner:

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Why Do Some Insurance Companies Ban Certain Dog Breeds

Dogs can cause problems for liability coverage in many ways. If a dog bites someone, jumps on someone, or aggressively runs toward a person resulting in their injury, you may have to file an expensive homeowners claim.

Many insurance companies banned some of the breeds responsible for most of these offenses to offset claims costs. If you have a breed that an insurance company bans, it will deny you coverage.

Not all insurance companies have strict rules about banned dog breeds some take each policy application on a case-by-case basis to decide whether to offer coverage. However, you may pay higher-than-average rates for homeowners insurance because you are a dog owner.

What Dogs Are Not Allowed With State Farm Insurance

The breeds insurance companies believe pose the greatest risk of incident are labeled as dangerous. The dangerous dog category includes pit bulls, rottweilers, chow chows, German shepherds, Siberian huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Doberman pinschers, Presa Canario bulldogs, Great Danes, boxers, Akitas and wolf hybrids.

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Where Can I Find Dog

State Farm and USAA are among the insurance companies that dont take a dogs breed into account when determining eligibility or rates for home or renters insurance. Instead, they evaluate the behavior of your individual dog.

Its already standard practice for insurance companies to check your claims history when you apply for coverage. And most inspect your home when your policy takes effect. If you have a prior dog bite claim on your insurance record or your home inspection reveals a safety issue of any type, your application could be denied or your rate hiked.

If you have a dog-bite claim after your policy takes effect, your coverage might not be renewed when the term expires. This is not much different from what could happen with certain other claims, or too many claims.

Farmers does not have dog breed restrictions in most states. However, the company does require dog-bite exclusions for California customers with pit bulls, Rottweilers or wolf hybrids, according to BADRAP, a California non-profit that helps sheltered pit bulls find homes.

BADRAP lists Amica, Auto-Owners and Chubb as additional dog-friendly home and renters insurance companies.

Toggle, an insurance brand under Farmers, offers a unique renters insurance package for customers with any type of pet, including dogs of any breed. Toggles Pet Parent package includes up to $100,000 in pet liability coverage and up to $500 to board your pet if a covered loss leaves your home uninhabitable, plus other benefits.

I Rent Do I Need To Worry About Insurance

Like homeowners insurance, renters insurance may cover dog bites. If you are a potential tenant looking for an apartment, an offer to provide renters insurance may help convince a landlord to accept you and your dog as tenants. Additionally, renters insurance will cover your personal property not covered by your landlords insurance.

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Is My Dog Covered By My Homeowners Insurance

Whether or not your dog is covered by your homeowners insurance depends on who you have as an insurance provider. With American Family, your home, renters, manufactured home or condo policy will provide dog liability coverage a form of financial protection against liability claims, including lawsuits for accidental bodily injury or damage to someones property. This includes paying for medical expenses if your dog injures someone or helping cover costs if your dog destroys someone elses property.

It’s important to note that your homeowners insurance wont cover damage done by your pets to your own home, such as if your dog chews a hole in your sofa or scratches your doors or woodwork. And, keep in mind, your homeowners policy doesnt cover injuries to you and the residents of your household. It only pays for injuries to others.

Need insurance for your dog? Consider pet insurance from an American Family Insurance agent to help you care for your pet through all stages of its life.

We also offer a special add-on pet coverage that provides up to $1,000 for veterinarian services, final expenses or the cost to replace your dog if death occurs. This coverage is applicable after a covered property loss.

Home Insurance: What To Do If Your Dog Is A Blacklisted Breed

Your home insurance company may assume your dogs breed is considered an aggressive type and place them under an insurance term called a blacklisted breed

Homeowners insurance and renters insurance policies typically cover your liability if your dog bites or attacks someone at your home or apartment. Most standard insurance policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in coverage.These standard insurance policies cover most dog bites and breeds.

However, your dogs breed may be blacklisted by some home insurers. Many insurance companies may not cover a dog bite if your dog is any of the following breeds:

• Siberian Huskies

In general, an owner is responsible for any damage done by his dog, whether the dog is provoked or not. Thats where liability on a homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy kicks in. Youll want to compare quotes from multiple home insurance providers to make sure you are getting the best liability coverage if you have a blacklisted dog breed.

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Does Homeowners Insurance Place Restrictions On Dog Breeds

Since dog bite statistics show that certain breeds are more prone to biting than others, there are specific dog breeds homeowners insurance won’t cover. These vary by insurer, but often include the following breeds:

• Mixed-breed dogs
• American bulldogs

If you own a dog that’s on an insurance company’s aggressive breed list, the insurer will likely include a clause in the policy that excludes your pet from coverage.