Does Having a Dog Increase Home Insurance?

You probably thought about food, vet bills, and chew-proof furniture before bringing a dog home. The insurance side? It might not have crossed your mind at all.

The short answer is that most policies extend liability coverage to incidents involving your pet, including dog bites. That coverage comes with a cost shift — your premium can nudge upward once an insurer knows a dog lives at the address. How much depends on breed, location, and the company writing the policy.

What Your Policy Already Covers

Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies typically include personal liability coverage. That same coverage generally extends to injuries your dog causes, up to the policy’s liability limits — often $100,000 to $300,000 according to the Insurance Information Institute. The coverage can help pay legal expenses if your dog bites someone on your property or elsewhere.

Liability protection covers damage to other people’s property caused by your pets, but it does not cover damage your dog does to your own belongings. That chewing spree on your sofa? Not covered. A neighbor’s torn screen door? The liability portion may apply.

Most insurers see dog ownership as a measurable risk. The question is whether your specific dog pushes that risk beyond their threshold.

Why Insurers Care About Your Dog

Dog bite claims cost insurers real money. The Insurance Information Institute notes the average claim payout has risen steadily, and even well-trained animals can act unpredictably under stress. Insurers price that risk into your premium.

Factors that influence how much your rate changes include:

• Breed: Certain breeds appear more often in claims data. Common lists include pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds.
• Bite history: A dog that has bitten before creates higher liability. Some insurers will exclude that animal or deny coverage entirely.
• Liability limits you carry: Higher liability limits give the company more exposure, which can increase your base rate.
• Your state and local laws: Some states limit how insurers can use breed in underwriting. Connecticut is the only state that bans breed-based denial entirely.

The dog itself doesn’t always push your rate up. Some companies do not enforce breed restrictions, so shopping around can make a difference.

How a Dog Increase Home Insurance Premiums

When you add a dog to your household, your insurer may reclassify your risk tier. Some insurers report premium increases of $50 to $200 per year for certain breeds, according to industry sources. Others may require you to carry higher liability limits before they will cover the animal at all.

A separate dog liability policy exists as an option. The cost can start around $25 per month through some providers, though the exact amount depends on your location and the dog’s history. This standalone coverage can sit alongside your homeowners policy and may be worth discussing with your agent.

Per the Texas Department of Insurance, it is wise to check your policy exclusions if you have a breed that some companies restrict. Not all policies automatically exclude certain breeds, but many do.

The lists above are examples, not a universal standard. Each insurer maintains its own underwriting guidelines, so your experience can vary widely between companies.

Steps to Take Before or After Getting a Dog

A little forethought can prevent surprises when your renewal arrives. Here are practical steps worth considering before you adopt or after you already have a dog:

1. Read your current policy declarations. Look for language about animal liability or breed-specific exclusions. Some policies mention dog bites explicitly; others do not.
2. Call your insurance agent directly. Ask whether your dog’s breed and history will affect your rate. Get the answer in writing if possible.
3. Compare quotes from at least three insurers. Some companies are more dog-friendly than others. A company that excludes your breed at one carrier may not care at another.
4. Consider an umbrella liability policy. If your dog has a bite history or belongs to a restricted breed, a separate personal umbrella policy may increase your total liability coverage without forcing you to switch homeowners carriers.
5. Maintain good records of training and vaccinations. Some insurers may ask about obedience training or whether the dog has passed behavioral assessments. Documentation can help make your case if you need to argue against a rate increase.

Taking these steps early can save frustration. Waiting until after a claim or renewal notice is riskier.

State Laws and Breed Discrimination

Most states allow insurers to consider breed when setting rates or approving coverage. The New York State Senate published a white paper acknowledging that it is legal for premiums raised by breed to be standard industry practice. Only Connecticut has passed a law that prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on dog breed alone.

Efforts to change this landscape continue. Some advocates push for model acts that would restrict breed-based underwriting, but those proposals have not gained broad adoption outside Connecticut. For now, if you live anywhere else, your insurer can legally factor your dog’s breed into your rate.

What about renters? The same rules generally apply. Renters insurance policies also cover personal liability for dog bites, and breed restrictions work the same way. Landlords may have their own breed bans layered on top of insurance requirements, so tenants face a double check.

The Bottom Line

Having a dog may increase your home insurance costs because your policy’s liability coverage extends to your pet. The increase depends on breed, bite history, and the specific insurer. Many people find that premiums go up anywhere from $50 to $200 per year, though some dogs trigger no change at all. Checking your policy and shopping around are the two most effective ways to stay in control.

Your insurance agent or broker can walk through your specific policy language and tell you whether your dog’s breed or history changes what you pay — they see real quotes every day and know which companies are more pet-friendly in your area.