Updated: September 5, 2025
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Most homeowners insurance providers are dog-friendly, but some may restrict which breeds are covered.
Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and German Shepherds are some commonly restricted dog breeds in homeowners insurance.
Homeowners insurance covers injuries and property damage your dog may cause to others, along with dog-related lawsuits.
Most homeowners insurance providers cover dog-related incidents, but some companies exclude certain dog breeds that are considered more likely to bite or cause injury. State Farm, Allstate and USAA, however, offer homeowners insurance without breed restrictions.
Provider | Description |
|---|---|
Neither State Farm nor its agents ask what breed of dog the customer owns when they write their homeowners insurance. | |
Allstate writes its policies based on your dog’s demeanor and bite history. | |
While USAA exclusively serves U.S. military personnel and their families, it stands out as an excellent insurance provider for dog owners as it does not impose any breed restrictions on dogs. |
Homeowners insurance covers dog-related incidents, such as injuries or damage your pet causes to others. This protection is usually provided through two types of coverage: personal liability coverage and medical payments to others coverage.
Homeowners insurance is designed to protect you financially if your dog causes harm to others or their property. Some dog-related scenarios that home insurance covers include:
Liability coverage helps pay medical bills, legal fees or settlements if your dog bites or injures someone. For example, if your dog nips a jogger at the park, your policy may cover their treatment and related costs.
If your dog destroys a guest’s belongings or damages a neighbor’s yard, liability coverage may pay for repairs or replacements. This ensures you’re not personally footing the bill for your pet’s mischief.
Coverage often extends to legal defense if you’re sued over a dog-related incident. Even if the claim is dropped, your insurer may cover attorney fees and court costs.
Most policies cover dog-related claims both at your home and in other places where your dog is allowed to be, like a public park. This broader protection ensures you’re not limited to coverage only within your property lines.
Homeowners insurance focuses on protecting others from financial harm your dog may cause, not covering your own expenses as a pet owner. That means injuries to you or your household, damage to your belongings, and certain high-risk scenarios often fall outside the scope of standard coverage.
Home insurance won’t pay for medical expenses if your own dog injures you or someone who lives with you. These costs are considered personal and fall outside liability protection.
If your dog chews up your couch or scratches your hardwood floors, those repairs aren’t covered. Coverage only applies to damage your pet causes to someone else’s property.
Some insurers exclude certain breeds or deny coverage if your dog has a record of aggression. This means incidents involving those dogs may not be covered at all.
Dogs used for business purposes, such as guard dogs or breeding, are often excluded. These activities are seen as higher risk and require specialized insurance.
If an injury occurs because you encouraged aggressive behavior or ignored leash laws, coverage may be denied. Insurers expect dog owners to act responsibly in preventing incidents.
Homeowners insurance providers commonly restrict certain dog breeds, often due to perceptions about their aggression or likelihood to bite, such as Pit Bull Terriers or Rottweilers. These restrictions can vary by insurance company, but typically, the following breeds are among those most commonly restricted:
These restrictions are based on generalizations about breed behavior, and individual dogs within these breeds may be gentle and well-behaved. However, insurance companies often make policy decisions based on statistical risk assessments. If you own any of these breeds, you should check with your insurance provider to understand specific breed restrictions and explore options like additional liability coverage or specialized policies if needed.
In many states, insurers can deny or cancel your homeowners policy if you own a dog breed they consider “high risk.” However, several states have passed laws that prevent breed-based discrimination. If you live in New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota and Nevada, your insurance company cannot deny or cancel coverage solely because of your dog’s breed.
That said, insurers in these states may still take action based on your dog’s individual behavior, such as a history of aggression or prior bite claims. Outside of these states, breed restrictions may still apply, so it’s important to ask about your insurer’s specific guidelines.
The biggest challenge dog owners face when shopping for homeowners insurance is navigating breed restrictions and hidden exclusions. Knowing how to evaluate insurers and what questions to ask can save you money and ensure your dog is fully covered.
Always provide your dog’s breed, age and bite history when applying. Hiding details can lead to denied claims or canceled policies later.
Ask insurers whether your dog’s breed is restricted, if bite history affects eligibility and what exclusions apply. Getting clear answers up front helps you avoid surprises if you ever need to file a home insurance claim.
Policies vary widely, so compare home insurance quotes from at least three insurers. This makes it easier to find dog-friendly companies that won’t penalize you for your pet.
Some insurers offer umbrella policies or special riders for high-risk breeds. Asking about these options can give you the extra protection a standard policy may lack.
When you’re ready to buy, review the policy line by line before signing. Confirm all dog-related details are listed correctly in writing so you know exactly what’s covered.
Owning a dog can increase your insurance costs, but there are proven ways to minimize the risk insurers see and lower your premium. By showing that your dog is well-trained and your home is secure, you can often negotiate better rates.
If your insurer refuses coverage due to your dog’s breed or bite history, start by shopping around for a more flexible company. Carriers like State Farm, Allstate, or USAA may still offer protection, while an independent broker can help connect you to niche insurers that specialize in dog-friendly policies.
If you can’t find coverage through standard homeowners insurance, consider alternatives like a standalone canine liability policy or an umbrella policy to cover high-risk situations. You can also strengthen your case by documenting your dog’s training, behavior assessments, and vaccination history, which may convince some insurers to reconsider.
Dog-related claims are a significant concern in homeowners insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2024, homeowners insurers paid $1.57 billion in liability claims related to dog bites.
The number of dog bite claims increased to 22,658 in 2024, higher than the 19,062 claims recorded in 2023, marking an 18.9% increase. The average cost per claim increased by 18.3%, rising to $69,272 in 2024 from $58,543 in 2023. This increase in average cost per claim over the years can be attributed to higher medical costs and larger settlements, judgments and jury awards.
These statistics illustrate the financial impact of dog-related incidents on homeowners insurance and highlight the importance of understanding policy terms, especially for dog owners.
Dog-friendly homeowners insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate, and USAA provide coverage for dog-related incidents, including injuries and property damage, without imposing breed restrictions. Standard homeowners policies typically protect you through personal liability and medical payments coverage, but many insurers still limit coverage for certain breeds considered high risk.
What isn’t covered are your own expenses, such as injuries to household members or damage to your property, along with exclusions for commercial use or negligence. In states like New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nevada, insurers cannot deny coverage solely based on breed, though your dog’s individual behavior may still affect eligibility.
We've addressed common questions regarding home insurance and dogs to highlight important considerations for dog owners seeking the right insurance protection.
Home insurance typically covers dog-related liability, such as dog bites, under its liability coverage. However, the extent of the coverage and any breed-specific exclusions vary by insurer and policy.
There are homeowners insurance providers that do not consider breeds such as rottweilers, including State Farm and USAA. However, coverage depends on the individual insurer's policies and may involve higher premiums or specific conditions due to the perceived risk associated with the breed.
Pitbulls in home insurance are often deemed as a restricted breed, but companies like State Farm, Allstate and USAA offer policies regardless of your dog’s breed. There may also be local providers who offer policies regardless of your dog’s breed.
The dog breeds that affect homeowners insurance acceptance include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers. However, there may be some insurers that do not consider your dog breed when writing your policy.
Yes. If your dog has a history of biting or if a serious claim is filed, some insurers may cancel or refuse to renew your policy. Others may continue coverage but exclude the dog going forward.
In most cases, yes, liability coverage follows you and your dog outside the property. For example, if your dog bites someone at a park, your policy may still apply.
No. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover veterinary expenses, even if your dog is injured in an incident. Pet insurance, on the other hand, is a product designed for vet costs.
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
We analyzed data from various Departments of Insurance across all 50 states and Quadrant Information Services to identify the best homeowners insurance options nationally.
Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated homeowners insurance carriers incorporating insights and premiums from the official databases of Quadrant Information Services.
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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
