Dogs, Home Insurance And Your Liability

When it comes to home insurance, dog owners face the possibility of higher rates or even difficulty getting coverage from certain companies. If you own a dog and a home, here are some things to consider.

Dog owners are often held accountable by law when their pooch attacks someone. What's more, home insurance companies will often look at the fact that you have a dog, and the breed, in determining if they want to provide coverage and at what rate.

SPAYING YOUR DOG

The reason? In their minds, your dog increases your risk of being sued for liability. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites cost the property and casualty insurance industry about 7.2 million in 2005. Increased risk means increased rates.

This may not always seem fair, but it's something that's not going away. After all, insurance companies want to be able to control their risks. So what can you do?

First, if already have home insurance and your current company has an issue with your dog, you should probably shop around. Every company is different in the way the look at dogs in underwriting. Depending on the breed, it just may not be an issue with other companies, or they may not increase your rate as much. Whether you have home insurance already, or are shopping for it, it's probably best to disclose the fact that you have a dog. When you shop, get at least three different comparison quotes since rates and policies on dogs vary so much between companies.

Also, when you get your pooch keep in mind some things you can do to reduce your liability. There are certain breeds that are considered more dangerous -- and thus more of a risk -- by insurance companies. You may want to check around before deciding on a breed.

Spaying or neutering, training and socializing and learning how to maintain control of your dog can also help. Check with your veterinarian about ways to reduce aggressive behavior.

Dogs, Home Insurance And Your Liability

Get several free comparison home insurance quotes, and learn more about home insurance and dogs at LowerYourInsurance.com. Justin Scott writes about insurance issues.

SPAYING YOUR DOG