Should I Notify My Insurance Company About a New Puppy? | RIGHTSURE (2024)
Having a new puppy join your household can change your life. The snuggles and kisses make getting up in the middle of the night for potty breaks worth it, but in the whirlwind of change, it’s easy to forget some practicalities. For example, should you inform your insurance company about your new dog? Are there things you can do to keep your puppy safer? What about protecting yourself financially if your dog bites someone? Here’s what you need to know as a dog owner.
A New Puppy and Insurance Coverage
Whether you own your own home or rent, you probably have insurance coverage for the property. And you should definitely let your insurance company know if you have a new puppy because it may change your policy.
First, you want to know if you’re covered for things like damage caused by your dog. Also, you need to find out if you should add more protection (see dog bite liability below).
Pro tip: while you’re inquiring about insurance coverage, it’s worth asking your insurance agent about your vehicle. Are you covered if your pooch chews a hole in the seat (it doesn’t just happen in the movies) or punctures something with its nails?
Keeping Your Pup Safe
Did you know that Great Dane puppies grow as much in a year as the average human does from birth to high school? While your dog may become practically pony-size very quickly, you still need to protect it while it’s tiny. Here are some home puppy-proofing tips, so hopefully, you won’t have to rely on that pet insurance policy:
Remove attractive items like shoes and kids’ toys until your dog learns not to chew on human belongings or can reliably respond to “Leave it!”
Investing in pet gates can protect your puppy from hazards and rooms you want to keep dog-free.
Decide from the start if you want to allow your puppy on the furniture. Once you have a policy, be consistent. It’s perfectly okay to insist your pup sleeps in its own bed and doesn’t romp on your sofa.
Keep your pup on a leash, even at places like the dog park, until its recall (coming when you call its name) is trustworthy. Never walk your puppy off leash in places where this is not allowed, even if you think your dog won’t roam. It can still get into garbage or chase a squirrel into the road.
Seriously consider crate training your puppy. This will give you a safe place to leave your dog in your absence or when you have workers in the house. It’s also great for calming down an anxious or high-energy dog — bonus points for helping with potty training, as dogs generally won’t go where they sleep.
Don’t forget about your yard. It’s best not to leave very young dogs unsupervised there, even for a minute, but you still need to check for toxic plants, gaps in the fence, and other dangers. Make sure gates shut firmly, and consider posting a sign if people enter your yard for landscaping or playtime with kids. Chasing a loose puppy through your neighborhood (they always seem to get away when you’re still in your pajamas) isn’t nearly as fun as it looks!
Find a good vet before you bring your new puppy home or soon thereafter, and they can offer more tips specific to your breed and lifestyle.
The Importance of Dog Bite Liability Coverage
Even the most friendly dog can wind up biting someone if it is scared, or believes it’s defending its owner or home. And of course, some breeds are more protective than others, particularly as they grow, and larger breeds can inflict serious damage with a bite.
That’s why every new puppy owner should discuss dog bite liability coverage with their insurance agent. Your current renters insurance and homeowners insurance policies may cover liability up to a certain amount, but dog owners might want to supplement that with a personal umbrella policy.
Do you need to double check your insurance coverage as a new puppy owner? Call RightSure Insurance Group at 520-917-5295 today. We can help ensure you’re properly protected when it comes to your new four-legged household member.
And you should definitely let your insurance company know if you have a new puppy because it may change your policy. First, you want to know if you're covered for things like damage caused by your dog. Also, you need to find out if you should add more protection (see dog bite liability below).
If the insurance company you're using has restrictions based on breed, you will need to disclose your dog's breed. Failing to do so could cause any claims you make to be denied. Some insurance companies, like State Farm, don't have any exclusions based on breed.
Having a dog can increase your cost for homeowners insurance. Pet ownership is one element that insurers use to determine risk. The exact cost of adding a dog to your homeowners insurance will depend on the breed and where you live, among other factors.
Pets can damage not only your home and property but property belonging to other people that visit or live near you. More significantly, dogs can bite people, leaving you and your insurance company liable for their injuries. So overall, pets are seen as a liability by many insurance companies.
Yes, you should expect slightly higher home or renters insurance rates if you have a pit bull. The rate increase is highly dependent on the insurance company and your pit bull's past history. The good news is insurance rates for big dogs are only about 1% more expensive, on average.
Avoid admitting fault or underestimating damages as this might lead to lower compensation or even denial of your claim. Honesty is crucial when dealing with an insurance adjuster, so avoid providing false information which can lead to serious consequences like claim denial or legal repercussions.
You must declare any pre-existing conditions when trying to get insurance for your pet. Otherwise, the policy might be void and your claim rejected. If your pet does have a pre-existing condition, you might still be able to find a deal – but you probably won't get any cover for the pre-existing condition.
Dog breeds banned by home insurance companies often include Doberman Pinschers, pit bulls and Rottweilers. Consider shopping around for insurance companies without breed restrictions or buying a canine liability or umbrella insurance policy if you own a restricted breed.
Dogs are the worst offenders, but they're not the only pet that can raise your insurance rates. If your pet causes property damage or bodily harm, you could face a personal injury lawsuit. That's the liability risk your insurance company takes on when they include your pet on your homeowner's policy.
As long as your dog isn't an excluded breed, your home insurance will likely cover you if your dog bites someone. Here's how it works. The personal liability component of your homeowners insurance covers damage and injuries considered your responsibility.
Pit bulls are among the dog breeds that some home insurance companies consider high risk due to potential attacks. This may lead to higher policy rates. State Farm, Allstate and USAA tend to be more lenient with pit bull ownership if you can show your pittie has a history of good behavior.
You won't usually come across standard home insurance that covers pet damage. Accidental damage insurance that might include cover for pet damage doesn't usually come as standard with your home insurance, but you can add it to your buildings and contents insurance policies for an extra fee.
Yes. You should absolutely notify your insurance agent about a new pet, regardless of the type or breed, because this is the only way to ensure you're protected from the damage your pet may cause your home or others.
Comprehensive claims are added to your claim history once you file, even though they are not considered at-fault accidents. Filing numerous claims for hitting animals, or any other type of incident, in three years or less can increase the chance of your insurance rates going up.
A number of breeds have been restricted or banned, including Rottweilers, American Staffordshire Bull Terriers ("Pit Bulls"), Chow Chows, German Shepherd Dogs, and Doberman Pinschers, and the list is growing.
In the worst case scenario, your home insurance policy won't be renewed at all, in which case you should use an insurance marketplace like Policygenius to compare coverage and rates with other insurance companies that are friendly to dogs with a history of biting.
Some insurers will cover pet damage – but others won't, and home insurance that does include pet damage only includes certain kinds of damage, or even certain animals. However, it's still possible to find some insurers that will offer pet damage cover.
However, they can increase rates based on a dog breed, which means you may pay more on your premium if you own a German Shepherd or another breed on the common blacklist.
Homeowners insurance generally only covers wildlife damage caused by animals like deer or bears. Damage from smaller pests like squirrels and other rodents generally isn't covered by your home insurance policy because the infestations are considered preventable.
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