Updated: October 29, 2025
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Homeowners insurance covers dog bite incidents through personal liability coverage, paying for medical expenses and legal fees if your dog injures someone.
Dog bites may not be covered if the dog has a history of aggression or is a restricted breed, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers or Doberman pinschers.
Training your dog and getting them used to socialization can go a long way toward preventing dog bites.
Homeowners insurance covers dog bites that cause injury or property damage under personal liability. This coverage pays for medical expenses, legal defense fees and potential settlements if someone sues you after your dog bites them.
But insurers deny coverage if your dog is a restricted breed or has a documented history of aggression, or if you failed to disclose pet ownership when applying for your policy.
Not every dog bite claim gets accepted. Coverage depends on the details of the incident and your insurer's guidelines. Here's what home insurance covers when it comes to dogs:
Homeowners insurance covers dog bites whether they occur on your property or elsewhere, such as a park, sidewalk or someone else's home. However, insurers still evaluate factors like leash use, provocation and whether the dog was under your control.
Homeowners insurance applies only if your dog bites someone outside your household. Injuries to you or members of your household aren't covered under liability protection. Medical payments coverage, if included in your policy, helps cover minor medical bills for injured guests, but it does not pay for injuries to you or your household members caused by your dog.
If your dog has no past incidents or official designation as "dangerous," your claim will likely be approved. Insurers view a clean behavioral history as a sign of lower risk.
Certain scenarios can disqualify a dog bite claim. Exclusions vary by insurer and tie to breed restrictions, prior behavior or how the incident was reported. Understanding these scenarios helps you avoid gaps in protection:
Many insurers have breed-specific exclusions that deny coverage for bites from certain dog types, regardless of temperament. Commonly excluded breeds include pit bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers. These restrictions vary by insurer, so confirm whether your dog’s breed is covered under your policy.
If your dog has previously bitten someone or been labeled "dangerous" by local authorities, insurers exclude future incidents from coverage. Even one documented case of aggression can be enough to trigger denial. Some companies impose higher premiums or stricter conditions instead of excluding coverage entirely.
Failing to inform your insurer that you own a dog can invalidate your coverage if a bite occurs. Undisclosed pets get treated as a material misrepresentation on your policy application. This omission leads to a denied claim, even if your dog would otherwise qualify for coverage.
Dog bites that happen in excluded locations or during uncovered activities aren't eligible for reimbursement. Some policies limit liability to your primary residence or within U.S. borders. Others deny claims linked to business use, such as a bite occurring at a dog-walking gig or pet-sitting job.
Restrictions vary by company, but the following breeds are commonly excluded by homeowners insurance providers:
If you own one of these breeds, contact your insurer to confirm your coverage. You might need extra liability protection or a policy that reviews your dog's individual behavior rather than breed alone.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bite claims have become much more expensive over the past decade, with the average cost per claim rising by nearly 86% from $37,214 in 2015 to $69,272 in 2024. While the number of claims has increased steadily, the sharpest cost jumps have occurred since 2020, suggesting higher medical expenses, legal fees or larger settlements. In 2024 alone, insurers paid out $1.57 billion in total, the highest on record.
2024 | $1,569.6 | 22,658 | $69,272 |
2023 | $1,116.0 | 19,062 | $58,545 |
2022 | $1,136.0 | 17,597 | $64,555 |
2021 | $881.9 | 17,989 | $49,025 |
2020 | $853.7 | 17,597 | $50,245 |
2019 | $796.8 | 17,802 | $44,760 |
2018 | $674.9 | 17,297 | $39,017 |
2017 | $686.3 | 18,522 | $37,051 |
2016 | $602.2 | 18,123 | $33,230 |
2015 | $571.3 | 15,352 | $37,214 |
Source: Insurance Information Institute
Dog bite claim costs don’t just depend on the incident; they also vary by where it happens. In 2024, California reported the highest number of claims and total payout, with over $208 million paid across 2,417 incidents. New York, on the other hand, had fewer claims but the highest average cost per claim at $110,488, showing that legal and medical costs can be much higher in certain states.
1 | California | 2,417 | $86,229 | $208.4 |
2 | Florida | 1,821 | $55,680 | $101.4 |
3 | Texas | 1,190 | $75,674 | $90.1 |
4 | Michigan | 1,138 | $63,656 | $72.4 |
5 | Pennsylvania | 1,004 | $88,668 | $89.0 |
6 | New York | 994 | $110,488 | $109.8 |
7 | Ohio | 985 | $44,885 | $44.2 |
8 | Illinois | 940 | $64,941 | $61.0 |
9 | New Jersey | 782 | $72,375 | $56.6 |
10 | Georgia | 671 | $46,724 | $31.4 |
Source: Insurance Information Institute
Quick action protects the injured person and your financial interests. Follow these steps to handle the situation properly and help your insurance claim go smoothly:
Prioritize the well-being of the person bitten. Even minor bites can lead to infections or complications. If the injury is severe, call emergency services immediately. Offer assistance and show concern; how you respond influences the outcome of any future claim or lawsuit.
If the injured person doesn’t live in your household, share your contact information and your homeowners insurance details. Stay calm, be polite and cooperate without admitting fault.
The best home insurance providers have 24/7 support. Once you're settled, contact your insurer immediately. Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster to your case. Be ready to explain where and when it happened, how it occurred and whether your dog has bitten before.
Take photos of injuries, the scene and your dog. Write down what happened and collect witness contact information. This documentation helps if liability or damages are disputed later.
You might need to report the incident to animal control depending on local laws. Work with your insurer and authorities while keeping records of all communications.
When a dog bites someone, the owner is usually the one held responsible, especially if the attack wasn’t provoked. Dog bite laws change from state to state. Some make owners automatically liable. Others, meanwhile, look at what caused the bite or whether the dog has a known history of aggression. Either way, it’s up to the owner to manage their pet and keep others safe.
Because laws and insurance requirements differ by location, understand how your policy handles dog-related incidents and speak with your insurer about any breed restrictions or coverage limitations that may apply.
Even if homeowners insurance usually covers dog bites, specific reasons exist for claim rejection. Understanding these common exclusions helps you avoid surprises if you ever need to file.
Preventing dog bites starts with responsible pet ownership and awareness of your dog's behavior in different situations. Even well-behaved dogs react unexpectedly when stressed, scared or provoked. Taking the right precautions protects others and reduces the risk of costly insurance claims.
Use positive reinforcement to teach basic commands and reinforce good behavior in different environments. Well-trained dogs are easier to manage and less likely to act out unexpectedly.
Introduce your dog to different settings, sounds and individuals from a young age. Proper socialization helps reduce fear-based aggression and builds confidence.
Watch your dog when they’re around new people, children or other animals. Staying nearby lets you notice any signs of stress or unease early and step in before things escalate.
Using a leash keeps your dog under control and shows others that you’re being a responsible owner. Even well-behaved dogs can get startled or act differently in crowded or unfamiliar places, so it’s best to keep them close when you’re out.
Pay attention to triggers like loud noises, food guarding or invasive handling. Recognizing and avoiding high-stress scenarios prevents a bite before it happens.
Pain or illness makes dogs more irritable or reactive. Schedule regular vet checkups to keep your pet healthy and comfortable.
If your dog has shown signs of aggression, using a muzzle in public offers an added layer of safety. It also demonstrates that you're taking steps to prevent harm.
Most homeowners insurance policies include personal liability coverage that can pay for dog bite claims, but some breeds and dogs with past incidents might not be covered.
The details often depend on where the bite happened and who was involved. With claim payouts topping $1.5 billion in 2024, it’s worth reviewing your policy to see if any breed or behavior restrictions apply.
Have questions about how dog bites affect your homeowners insurance? These FAQs break down what’s covered, what’s not and what to do if an incident occurs.
Yes, your homeowners insurance's personal liability coverage extends beyond your home. If your dog bites someone at a park or someone else's house, your policy provides coverage unless breed or incident exclusions apply.
Some insurers exclude certain breeds they consider high-risk from coverage. Check your policy or ask your provider about any breed restrictions that might affect your coverage.
Make sure the victim gets medical attention immediately, then report the incident to your insurance company and cooperate with their investigation. Document everything about the event and consider consulting a lawyer if the situation becomes complicated.
It can be difficult to find coverage, but a few insurers provide policies or add-ons that include dogs with past incidents. You can also look into specialized pet liability insurance for wider protection.
A dog bite claim stays on your insurance record for up to five years, depending on your insurer. During that time, it affects your premiums or coverage eligibility. Your insurer might exclude the dog from future coverage or refuse to renew your policy based on how severe the incident was.
Yes, report dog bites to your insurance provider immediately, even if the injury seems minor or no one has filed a claim yet. Quick reporting lets your insurer start the claims process, protect your liability and guide you through next steps.
MoneyGeek gathered sample quotes from several major home insurance companies across the country, using data modeled after a typical homeowner. The goal was to see how prices shift between providers and regions. These comparisons give a clearer idea of average costs and help readers understand why it pays to shop around before picking a policy.
Homeowner Profile
For our analysis, we created a sample homeowner profile with the following characteristics:
Homeowners Insurance Coverage Details
Unless otherwise specified, we used the following coverage limits to collect quotes for our comparison:
We also compiled data for policies with broader coverage to determine the best companies for insuring expensive homes, upping limits to $1 million in dwelling coverage, $500,000 in personal property coverage and $1 million in liability coverage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
