Most homeowners insurance providers cover dog-related incidents, but some companies exclude certain breeds considered more likely to bite or cause injury. State Farm, Allstate and USAA offer homeowners insurance without breed restrictions.
Dog-Friendly Homeowners Insurance Companies
Updated: August 1, 2026
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Key Takeaways
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.
Dog-Friendly Home Insurance Companies
Provider | Description | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
State Farm doesn't ask about breed at any point during the quoting or underwriting process, not from the agent and not on the application, which removes the risk of a mid-policy surprise if your breed comes up later. This makes it a strong fit for owners of commonly restricted breeds like Pit Bull Terriers or Rottweilers. If your dog has a documented bite history, though, prior incidents can still trigger a policy review at renewal, and Allstate's behavior-based underwriting may offer more flexibility in those cases. | $204 | |
Allstate underwrites based on your dog's individual demeanor and bite history rather than breed, so a well-behaved Rottweiler with a clean record is treated differently from a mixed breed with prior claims. Owners of restricted breeds who have obedience training records or a vet's behavioral assessment will get the most out of this approach. Without that documentation, you're in a weaker position if a claim is filed, and State Farm's no-questions model removes that burden entirely. | $198 | |
USAA imposes no breed restrictions and covers dog-related liability under its standard homeowners policy, making it one of the most straightforward options for military homeowners with dogs of any breed. It's exclusively available to U.S. military personnel, veterans and their families, so civilian homeowners need to look elsewhere. State Farm is the closest alternative, with no breed restrictions and availability to all homeowners nationwide. | $186 |
*Rates mentioned in the table are based on a sample homeowner's policy with $250,000 in dwelling coverage, $125,000 in personal property and $200,000 in personal liability with a $1,000 deductible.
Our rates come from Quadrant Information Services, which pulls home insurance premiums directly from state insurance filing records across 925 ZIP codes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. These are actual filed rates that carriers have committed to regulators, not broker estimates or online quote approximations.
Our base profile is a homeowner aged 41 to 60 with good credit, no recent claims, a wood-frame home built in 2000 and $250,000 in dwelling coverage. Older homes, high-risk weather areas or prior claims will produce higher premiums. See our full home insurance methodology.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dogs?
If your dog injures someone or damages their property, homeowners insurance responds through two coverages: personal liability coverage and medical payments to others coverage.
- Personal Liability Coverage: Pays legal fees, medical bills and property damage costs when your dog hurts someone or damages their belongings and you're found responsible.
- Medical Payments to Others Coverage: Pays the injured person's medical bills even if you weren't at fault.
Home Insurance with Dogs: What It Covers
Homeowners insurance pays out when your dog injures someone or damages their belongings, covering the legal and medical costs you'd otherwise pay out of pocket.
Injuries to OthersLiability coverage pays medical bills, legal fees and settlements when your dog bites or injures someone. If your dog nips a jogger at the park, your policy covers their treatment and related costs.
Damage to Someone Else’s PropertyWhen your dog destroys a guest's belongings or damages a neighbor's yard, liability coverage pays for repairs or replacements. You won't personally foot the bill for your pet's mischief.
Dog-Related LawsuitsCoverage extends to legal defense if you're sued over a dog-related incident. Even if the claim is dropped, your insurer covers attorney fees and court costs.
DOG INCIDENTS ARE COVERED WHEREVER YOU ARE
Most policies cover dog-related claims at your home and in other places where your dog is allowed, like a public park. This broader protection isn't limited to your property lines.
Homeowners Insurance with Dogs: Limitations & Exclusions
Homeowners insurance covers financial harm your dog causes to other people. It doesn't extend to your own medical bills, damage to your own belongings, or a handful of high-risk situations insurers usually exclude.
Injuries to the Policyholder or Household MembersHome insurance won't pay medical bills if your dog injures you or a family member living in your home. Liability coverage only applies to people outside your household.
Damage to Your Own PropertyYour dog chews up the couch or scratches the hardwood floors, and you're paying for repairs yourself. Homeowners insurance covers damage your pet does to someone else's property, not your own.
Restricted Breeds or Dogs with Bite HistoryInsurers routinely exclude specific breeds and deny coverage for dogs with a documented history of aggression. If your dog falls into either category, an incident could go completely uncovered.
Commercial or Working DogsGuard dogs, breeding dogs and other dogs used for business purposes usually fall outside a standard homeowners policy. That work carries enough risk that it needs its own commercial coverage.
Intentional Acts or NegligenceIf you encouraged your dog's aggressive behavior or broke a local leash law, the insurer can deny the claim. Coverage assumes you took reasonable steps to prevent the incident in the first place.
Common Dog Breed Restrictions in Home Insurance
Insurers commonly restrict dog breeds based on perceived aggression or bite risk, including Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweilers. Restricted breed lists vary by company. The breeds below show up most often:
- Pit Bull Terriers
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Doberman Pinschers
- Staffordshire Terriers
- Alaskan Malamutes
- Siberian Huskies
- Chow Chows
- Great Danes
- Presa Canarios
- Akitas
- Wolf Hybrids
These restrictions come from generalizations about breed behavior, not an assessment of your individual dog. An insurer's decision is based on statistical risk data for the breed, even if your dog is gentle and well-behaved.
If you own a restricted breed, ask your insurer directly whether it applies to you and whether additional liability coverage or a specialized policy is available.
Can Your Home Insurance Company Deny or Cancel Your Policy Because Of Your Dog Breed?
Several states now ban insurers from denying or canceling homeowners coverage based solely on dog breed. If you live in New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota or Nevada, your dog's breed alone can't be used against you.
Insurers in these states can still act on your dog's individual behavior, including a history of aggression or a prior bite claim. Everywhere else, breed restrictions can still apply. Ask your insurer for its specific guidelines.
How to Shop for Dog-Friendly Home Insurance
The biggest challenge dog owners encounter 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 help verify that your dog is fully covered.
- 1Be Upfront About Your Dog
Always provide your dog's breed, age and bite history when applying. If you leave out details, insurers can deny claims or cancel your policy later.
- 2Ask Direct Questions About Coverage
Ask insurers whether your dog's breed is restricted, if bite history affects eligibility and what exclusions apply. Clear answers up front prevent surprises when you file a claim.
- 3Compare Multiple Providers
Policies vary widely, so compare home insurance quotes from at least three insurers to find dog-friendly coverage without penalty for your breed.
- 4Explore Add-ons and Endorsements
Some insurers offer umbrella policies or riders for high-risk breeds. Ask about these options to get protection a standard policy may not include.
- 5Finalize and Purchase Carefully
Before signing, read the policy line by line. Confirm all dog-related details are listed correctly in writing so you know exactly what's covered.
Tips for Lowering Your Premium as a Dog Owner
Owning a dog can raise your insurance costs. Insurers reward lower risk, so a well-trained dog and a secure property often earn you a better rate.
- Invest in Obedience Training: Dogs with formal training or certifications, like the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, are viewed as lower risk. Insurers may reward responsible ownership with lower premiums.
- Keep Your Property Secure: Fences, gates and clear signage reduce the chance of an incident on your property. These measures show insurers you're taking steps to limit liability.
- Increase Your Liability Limits Strategically: Higher coverage limits reduce your overall financial exposure and can help stabilize your premium over time.
- Maintain a Clean Claims History: A history free of dog-related claims keeps your risk profile low. Insurers often offer better rates to policyholders with no prior incidents.
- Bundle Policies When Possible: Combine home and auto insurance with the same insurer to access discounts that offset the extra cost of owning a dog.
What to Do if Your Insurer Denies Coverage Because of Your Dog
If your insurer refuses coverage due to your dog's breed or bite history, look for a more flexible provider. Carriers like State Farm, Allstate or USAA may still offer coverage, and an independent broker can connect you to niche insurers that specialize in dog-friendly policies.
If standard homeowners insurance isn't an option, a standalone canine liability policy or umbrella policy can cover high-risk situations. A record of your dog's training, behavior assessments and vaccination history may also convince some insurers to reconsider.
Dogs and Home Insurance: Statistics
Dog bites are a growing liability concern for homeowners insurers. According to the Insurance Information Institute, homeowners insurers paid $1.57 billion in dog bite liability claims in 2024. Claim volume rose 18.9% to 22,658 incidents, up from 19,062 in 2023. The average cost per claim climbed 18.3% to $69,272. Higher medical costs and larger settlements and jury awards pushed that figure up.
Most homeowners policies default to $100,000 in personal liability coverage, and a $69,272 average claim eats roughly 70% of that limit before attorney fees or court costs. A claim that runs above average, or turns into a lawsuit, can exceed a standard policy fast. Raising your liability limit or adding an umbrella policy is a direct response to a $69,000 average claim standard coverage wasn't built to handle.
Dog-Friendly Home Insurance Companies: Bottom Line
Dog-friendly homeowners insurance companies like State Farm, Allstate and USAA cover dog-related incidents, including injuries and property damage, without imposing breed restrictions. Standard homeowners policies protect you through personal liability and medical payments coverage. Many insurers still limit coverage for breeds they consider high risk.
Standard coverage has limits. It doesn't pay for injuries to household members, damage to your own property, or incidents involving commercial use or negligence. Insurers in New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota and Nevada can't deny coverage based solely on breed. Your dog's individual behavior can still affect your eligibility.
Dog-Friendly Home Insurance: FAQ
We've addressed common questions about home insurance and dogs to highlight important considerations for dog owners seeking the right insurance protection.
Pit Bulls in home insurance are often considered a restricted breed, but companies like State Farm, Allstate and USAA still provide coverage regardless of your dog’s breed. You may also find local insurers that do the same.
The dog breeds that affect homeowners insurance acceptance include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers. Some insurers, though, don't consider breed when writing a policy.
Yes. When your dog has a history of biting or 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. If your dog bites someone at a park, your policy may still apply.
Best Dog-Friendly Homeowners Insurance Companies: Our Review Methodology
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
MoneyGeek reviewed homeowners insurance data from all 50 state Departments of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services to find the best options for dog owners nationwide.
Methodology
Our analysis combined rate data and policy insights from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance databases.
Homeowner Profile
To compare companies fairly, MoneyGeek used a consistent sample profile with the following characteristics:
- Good credit score (769 to 792)
- Home constructed in 2000
- Wood-frame construction
- Composite shingle roof
Homeowners Insurance Coverage Details
Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were based on these standard limits:
- $250,000 in dwelling coverage
- $125,000 in personal property coverage
- $200,000 in personal liability coverage
- $1,000 deductible
We also reviewed higher-value policies to identify which companies work best for expensive homes, increasing limits to $1 million in dwelling coverage, $500,000 in personal property coverage and $1 million in liability coverage.
Homeowners Insurance for Dog Owners: Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. He has spent nearly a decade covering the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he analyzes hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships influence his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College before earning a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. Before MoneyGeek, he worked in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Spotlight On: Dog Bite Liability." Accessed April 17, 2025.
- Governor Kathy Hochul. "Governor Hochul Signs Animal Welfare Legislative Package." Accessed September 5, 2025.
- Colorado General Assembly. "Pet Animal Ownership In Housing." Accessed September 5, 2025.
- Connecticut General Assembly. "Dog Breed Restrictions in Homeowners Insurance." Accessed September 5, 2025.
- Illinois General Assembly. "SB1672 - 102nd General Assembly (2021-2022)." Accessed September 5, 2025.
- Michigan State University. "Minnesota Statutes Annotated. Insurance (Ch. 59A-79a). Chapter 65A. Fire and Related Insurance. Homeowner's Insurance. 65A.303. Homeowner's liability insurance; dogs." Accessed September 5, 2025.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®. "Nevada: Put a Stop to Breed-Specific Insurance Discrimination." Accessed September 5, 2025.