{"id":353466,"date":"2017-01-20T14:53:06","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T19:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/homeowners-insurance-and-dog-breed-restrictions.html"},"modified":"2023-06-28T16:17:44","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T21:17:44","slug":"homeowners-insurance-and-dog-breed-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/homeowners-insurance-and-dog-breed-restrictions.html","title":{"rendered":"Homeowners Insurance and Dog Breed Restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Homeowners Insurance and Dog Breed Restrictions<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Some homeowners insurance companies are likely to include dog breed restrictions in the conditions of their insurance agreements.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When you own your home, your dog is often the first line of defense when an intruder sets their sights on your house. Some dog breeds scare them off with one look. That helps protect you and your property. It may not help when you’re trying to get liability coverage.<\/p>\n

Check out dog breed restrictions in your policy and state law to see if your best friend’s breed affects your\u00a0homeowner’s insurance<\/a>. Their breed may deny you homeowner liability insurance.<\/p>\n

Which Breeds are Restricted?<\/h2>\n

Your insurance policy determines what breeds your insurance company does not cover. That is because your insurance policy from home insurance companies is\u00a0a contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your contract itself, an addendum, or a third-party list shows the breed restrictions. Insurers create their breed lists from a variety of different sources. Insurance companies look at government data, private studies, or breeds attacking others on the news. In 2021 dog bite liability cases\u00a0cost homeowner insurance companies $881 million\u00a0in settlements. That same year the\u00a0average cost of payments for a dog attack was $49,025<\/a>\u00a0according to the Insurance Information Institute. As a result, insurance companies refuse coverage on dog breeds they think will cause dog-related injuries.<\/p>\n

Dog breed restrictions are not limited to American Kennel Club purebred animal lists. Mixed-breeds with a restricted breed in the dog’s DNA exclude coverage too. Homeowners policies, or renters insurance policies, may refer to dog breed restrictions by a variety of different terms, such as:<\/p>\n