What 5 Breeds Are Blacklisted For Dog Bite Insurance

What 5 Breeds Are Blacklisted For Dog Bite Insurance

Insurance companies are getting more reluctant in covering pet owners with so called dog bite insurance if they feel their animal breeds are too aggressive and potential insurance risks.

In 2007, over 33% of homeowner liability claims involved some sort of dog bite situation with the average claim over $23,000. This is a steady increase over the previous year and over 25% more than 2003. As more people are attacked and bitten by dogs, the chances are pretty good that the occurrence will warrant medical attention. In at least 32 cases, the victim died from their wounds prompting legal action and wrongful death suits.

Due this increase, insurers are citing several breeds that are regarded as being too aggressive prompting the homeowner to be un-insurable. These breeds are well known and are in some instances the focus of media attention across the country.

These dog breeds are listed as:

Chow Chow
Pit Bulls
Rottweiler
Doberman Pinscher
Akita
Direct Wolf/Dog Crossbreeds

One insurer was even known to drop a homeowner when it learned they had a Bull Mastiff living in the home. Even though these dogs may well be the best at protecting family members, their reputation of being a liability to the insurance company is very real and could cause the pet owner to assume that risk.

If you are considering one of the breeds above or others that may be seen as being too aggressive, you should add another item to your checklist; ask your insurer if they will be covered for dog bite insurance if you decide to adopt them? If not, your insurer could abandon you if there ever was an incident involving your dog down the road. It pays to ask the question before bringing home that new puppy.