Home Home insurance Home Insurance for Dog owners Do home insurance companies have a dog “black list”? Do home insurance companies have a dog “black list”? By Insure.com | Posted on November 9, 2010 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. There may not be an industry-wide “black list” of uninsurable dog breeds, but some home insurance companies do have lists of breeds and crossbreeds they will not insure. Besides pit bulls, breeds that worry insurers include: • Rottweilers • Chow chows • German shepherds • Siberian huskies • Alaskan malamutes • Doberman pinschers • Presa Canario bulldogs • Great Danes • Boxers • Akitas • Wolf-hybrids Does this mean you can’t get home insurance if you have one of these dogs? No, but you might have to shop around to find affordable home insurance. Some insurers charge more if you own a pit bull or one of the other breeds deemed risky. Others might require you to sign a liability waiver for the dog. Still others consider insuring homeowners with dogs on a case-by-case basis. The approach to insuring homeowners with dogs also varies by state. In Michigan and Pennsylvania, home insurance companies are prohibited by state law to discriminate against certain dog breeds, and similar laws are pending in other states, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In Ohio, though, pit bulls are considered “vicious dogs.” But bans on discriminating against certain breeds won’t help you if your dog has already bitten someone. Your policy could be cancelled or the insurer could insist on excluding your dog because of its history. Your best bet for finding — and keeping — home insurance if you have a dog, is through prevention. Obedience training, spaying or neutering and keeping dogs on your property and away from situations in which they might feel threatened or teased are all good steps to take. Some companies are more willing to provide coverage if a dog has passed a canine good citizen test. For more, see home insurance for dog owners. QuickTake Guide to dog liability insurance: cost and coverage Home insurance for dog owners My dog dislocated her hip while jumping off the bed at my house. Does my home insurance cover my vet bills? A heart-breaking choice: The family dog or home insurance See more > In case you missed it What is HO-6 insurance? Average home insurance cost in 2023 What is dwelling coverage and how much do you need? Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it Renters insurance quotes: Compare rates Hurricanes and home insurance: 14 key questions answered Replacement cost policies for your home: Getting what you pay for How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mobile home insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost? Homeowners insurance basics Home Insurance Advisor The Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance of 2021: Guide How much flood insurance do I need? How to bundle home and auto insurance policies to save money The largest home insurance companies by market share Home Insurance Discounts Guide to dog liability insurance: cost and coverage Do you have an emergency go-bag? Most Americans don’t 1/1 Related Articles Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? By Penny Gusner What is hurricane insurance? By Shivani Gite Is it legal for my home insurance company to drop my coverage after filing claim? By Shivani Gite What is HO-6 insurance? By Shivani Gite Are landlords responsible for tree damage to your car? By Casey Bond Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? By Nupur Gambhir Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get Quotes