Dog owners may have to search a bit harder to find home insurance. American Family, State Farm, and Nationwide are a few of the best dog-friendly insurers to consider.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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Between their fierce loyalty and amusing antics, it’s no wonder dogs have become a part of the family for nearly 45% of U.S. homeowners.[1] But dog owners need to keep their furry friends in mind when they buy home insurance.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies include liability insurance that covers dog-related injuries, whether you’re at home or elsewhere. But some companies restrict coverage for certain breeds or raise prices significantly if a dog lives on the property.
In this guide, Insurify highlights some dog-friendly insurance companies and explains how your four-legged friend affects your home insurance rates.
Quick Facts
Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers are a few breeds that insurers consider “aggressive” or a higher risk to insure.
State Farm is “breed-blind” and won’t ask about your dog’s breed when determining your rates.
Some states, like New York and Pennsylvania, don’t allow insurers to deny coverage based on a dog’s breed.
5 best dog-friendly home insurance companies
The best dog-friendly home insurance company for you will depend on your specific situation and needs. But the five insurance companies below offer coverage to homeowners with a dog, and they’re a good place to start your search.
Insurance Company
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IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
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Average Annual Premium
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Best For
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American Family
8.6
$1,657
Low rates
Liberty Mutual
8
N/A
Discounts
Nationwide
8.4
$2,223
Robust coverage
State Farm
8.2
$1,988
Restricted breeds
USAA
8
$2,041
Military families
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.1/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
840
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$113/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$156/mo
American Family is one of the most affordable dog-friendly home insurance companies Insurify researched. The company notes on its website that it may restrict coverage for certain breeds, and it also advises dog owners to consider additional liability coverage or umbrella insurance.
Pros
Below-average home insurance rates
Many discounts available
Cons
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
4/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A
If you’re looking for home insurance that includes liability coverage for dog-related injuries, Liberty Mutual has you covered. Homeowners who want to save on home insurance can take advantage of Liberty Mutual’s many discounts, including savings for customers who bundle home insurance with auto insurance and customers who turn on automatic payments. You may even be able to bundle home insurance and pet insurance to qualify for a discount.
Pros
Many discounts available
Offers pet insurance
Cons
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.7/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
815
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$159/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$250/mo
Nationwide’s standard homeowners insurance policies include liability coverage for dog bite claims. The company’s website specifies that coverage may depend on your dog’s breed or bite history. In addition to standard home insurance coverage, Nationwide offers several add-on options, including water backup, earthquake, and flood insurance.
Pros
Plenty of optional coverages
Offers pet insurance
Cons
Premiums are on the higher side
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.3/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
842
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$141/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$205/mo
State Farm is the largest insurer in the country by market share and has an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best. State Farm is unique in that it won’t ask about your dog’s breed before writing your policy, which may benefit owners of dog breeds that are sometimes denied coverage.
Pros
No dog breed restrictions
Above-average J.D. Power customer and claims satisfaction ratings
Cons
Fewer discounts than some competitors
May lack the regional knowledge of a smaller insurer
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.4/10
JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
880
$300,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$137/mo
$500,000 Dwelling
A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.
$190/mo
The personal liability portion of USAA’s standard home insurance policies includes coverage for dog bites. The company notes on its website that having a large dog may make your property “higher-risk” and lead to higher insurance rates. Still, dog owners looking for home insurance should consider USAA’s highly rated policies — just note that USAA is only available to veterans, active military members, and their families.
Pros
Below-average rates
Is a full-service financial institution in addition to offering multiple types of insurance
Cons
Only available to military families
Limited coverage add-ons
To choose the best dog-friendly home insurance companies, Insurify’s editors researched home insurance companies that have few or no dog breed restrictions. We also considered average annual premiums, customer satisfaction scores, and financial strength ratings, as well as their Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores.
Why some home insurance companies aren’t dog-friendly
Medical and legal expenses can add up quickly after a dog bite. That’s why some home insurance companies attempt to limit their exposure to these losses by denying coverage to owners of certain dog breeds. For example, large dog breeds that were historically bred for hunting or guarding may have a higher incidence of bites.
In short, having a dog on your property is simply another risk for home insurance companies to contend with. Fortunately, many major insurance companies offer liability insurance that covers dog-related injuries.[2] Others won’t even ask about your dog’s breed before writing your policy, instead considering each dog on a case-by-case basis.
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Common restricted dog breeds
While serious dog-related injuries are rare, insurers commonly restrict the following breeds from coverage either because of their perceived likelihood to bite or because of their size:
American bulldog
Chow chow
Doberman pinscher
German shepherd
Great Dane
Mastiff/bullmastiff
Pit bull terrier
Rottweiler
Siberian husky
St. Bernard
Many animal rights groups note that classifying based on breed is difficult due to the amount of breed mixing. For that reason, breed-specific statistics around dog aggression should be taken as a rough estimation.[3]
Good to Know
If you own one of these dog breeds, some insurance companies may consider their bite history and restrict coverage. If your dog earns an American Kennel Club Good Citizen certification, you may have an easier time getting coverage.
Can your insurer deny or cancel your policy because you have a certain dog breed?
Insurance companies may deny coverage if you have a high-risk dog on your property. Your home insurer can also decide not to renew your coverage if a serious dog-related injury occurs on your property.
While many insurance companies sell homeowners policies to dog owners, they may come with higher average costs to offset the risks that come with dog ownership.
Dog-related incidents that homeowners insurance covers
Standard home insurance policies include liability coverage, which kicks in if a guest is injured on your property. This liability insurance covers dog-related incidents. Here are some specific incidents that homeowners liability insurance covers:
Dog bites: If your dog bites a guest, your home insurance covers the resulting medical bills and legal fees, up to the limits of your policy.[4]
Dog attacks: Young children are particularly prone to serious injuries after a dog attack due to their small size and inability to pick up on canine cues, according to data from the National Canine Research Council. Liability insurance should cover this type of incident.
Dog-related damage to neighbor’s property: If Fido has a field day with the neighbor’s rose garden, your home insurance can cover those property damages.
Dog-related incidents that homeowners insurance doesn’t cover
Your homeowners insurance won’t cover all dog-related incidents. Here are a few situations where your insurance won’t kick in:
Dog-related property damage: If your dog chews up your couch or scratches your floor, your home insurance won’t cover the cost of necessary repairs.
Injuries to members of the household: Home insurance liability only extends to injured guests — not injured members of the household. Your health insurance policy can cover any resulting medical expenses.
Injuries to your dog: If your dog is injured, a separatepet insurance policy can cover any resulting medical bills. Most large insurance companies offer some form of pet insurance.
How dogs affect home insurance rates
Owning a dog will usually affect your home insurance rates. In most cases, insurers see your dog as an additional risk on your property and charge higher rates as a result. Breeds with a higher historical rate of dog bites are more expensive to insure most of the time. Some insurers might even deny you coverage if you have a certain breed of dog.
How much your rates go up will vary from company to company. Receiving quotes from multiple insurance companies can help you find a dog-friendly home insurance policy that meets your needs and budget.
Do you need to tell your home insurance company if you have a dog?
Yes. You should always let your home insurance company know about any dogs on the property. If you didn’t tell your insurer about your dog when you purchased the policy, it could deny any future claims involving your dog.
You may even run the risk of a policy cancellation or non-renewal if you received a policy without disclosing your dog. Some insurance companies might deny you coverage when you tell them about your dog, which is why it’s important to seek out dog-friendly home insurance.[5]
A few states, including New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, have passed laws that require “breed-blind insurance,” which prohibits coverage denials based on breed.
How to make sure your home insurance policy covers your dog
Here are a few steps you can take to make sure your dog is covered:
Research dog-friendly insurance companies
Find information online about dog-friendly home insurance companies. Sites like Reddit offer many firsthand experiences and reviews, while quote-comparison sites can give you insight into costs.
Talk to your insurance agent
Have a conversation with your insurer. They can let you know whether your breed is high-risk and whether you need more liability insurance.
Make sure you have enough coverage
Most home insurance policies offer $100,000–$300,000 in liability coverage. Decide if you need umbrella liability insurance for additional protection.
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Ways to avoid dog-related home insurance claims
Here are some strategies dog owners should take to avoid dog-related home insurance claims:[6]
Do your homework. Before adopting a dog, ask vets and experts which breeds are a good fit for people in your living situation and location.
Stay on top of veterinary and grooming needs. A healthy dog whose nails are properly clipped is less likely to act out or cause damage. You should also spay or neuter your dog as quickly as possible.
Play with your dog. Letting out energy in the form of non-aggressive games like “fetch” can improve your dog’s behavior, and having plenty of toys around will prevent boredom.
Consider dog training classes. These classes can help correct behavioral issues that can lead to injuries.
Dog-friendly homeowners insurance FAQs
If you’re wondering which home insurance companies are dog-friendly, this additional information may help as you’re researching your coverage options.
Which homeowners insurance companies don’t discriminate by dog breed?
State Farm is one of the very few insurance companies that don’t discriminate by dog breed. The company won’t ask what breed of dog you have when you sign up for a policy, and it won’t deny you coverage just because your dog’s breed has a history of incidents.
Does having a dog make your homeowners insurance go up?
In many cases, having a dog will lead to higher homeowners insurance rates. Insurers view having a dog on the property as another risk factor for future claims.
Do you need to tell your home insurance company about your dog?
Yes. You should always tell your home insurance company if you have a dog. Insurers could deny any claim involving a dog that wasn’t approved when you first got a policy.
Does Allstate restrict dog breeds?
Allstate’s site doesn’t say anything about restricting coverage based on dog breed. Instead, Allstate says it considers a dog’s demeanor and bite history when determining coverage and rates.
Which dog breeds are commonly excluded from home insurance coverage?
Home insurance companies may deny coverage to pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, and Dobermans. If you own one of these breeds, it’s especially important to look for a dog-friendly homeowners insurance policy to make sure you’re covered.
A.M. is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and content marketing strategist who's worked with major brands in insurance, tech, finance, and healthcare. He also contributes to The Average Joe, a personal finance newsletter that reaches over 250,000 daily readers. Since 2019, he's written for Insurify, breaking down a diverse range of insurance topics into crisp, readable prose.
A.M. has been a contributor at Insurify since December 2022.
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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American Family
Liberty Mutual
Nationwide
State Farm
USAA
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