Updated: April 30, 2025
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Most homeowners insurance companies are dog-friendly, but some may have breed restrictions.
Generally, home insurance covers dog bites and injuries to others, property damage caused by dogs, and dog-related lawsuits.
Some dog-friendly insurers may require behavioral assessments or additional liability coverage for specific breeds.
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. Fortunately, there are insurance companies, such as State Farm, Allstate and USAA, that don't ask which breed a homeowner owns.
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. |
Owning a dog may affect your home insurancef. While most policies cover certain dog-related incidents, coverage may vary among insurers. Your dog's breed, bite history and coverage details matter. Understanding these can help protect you from paying for accidents your dog may cause.
Dog-related incidents covered by home insurance typically include dog bites and property damage caused by dogs, with liability coverage playing a key role in these situations. This coverage protects homeowners against financial losses if their dog injures someone or damages someone else's property. Generally, these incidents may include:
Many home insurance policies include liability coverage, which can protect you if your dog bites or injures someone. This coverage typically pays for medical bills, legal fees and settlements if you are sued as a result of a dog-related injury.
If your dog damages someone else's property, your home insurance liability coverage may help cover repairs or replacement costs.
If someone sues you because of something your dog did, such as biting or causing an injury, your home insurance policy's liability coverage may help with legal expenses.
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.
If you get injured by your friend's pet, you can claim damages under the pet owner's insurance policy.
Homeowners insurance is a financial safety net that protects against various unforeseen events, but may not cover every aspect of pet ownership. Regarding dog-related incidents, there are certain scenarios and liabilities that homeowners insurance typically excludes from its coverage. Here are specific instances and circumstances that homeowners insurance commonly does not address concerning dog-related incidents:
Various factors affect home insurance costs. Comparing quotes from multiple insurance providers can help you get accurate estimates. Use MoneyGeek's home insurance calculator below to get personalized quotes from different companies.
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Rates updated:
May 02, 2025
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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. Some insurers might not have breed restrictions but will consider the individual dog's history of aggression or claims.
Navigating homeowners insurance with a dog can be complex, and it often raises questions about coverage, breed restrictions and insurer policies. This article highlights dog-friendly home insurance companies and what dog-related incidents are covered.
Major home insurance providers like State Farm, Allstate and USAA offer dog-friendly homeowners insurance, meaning dog-related incidents such as bites to guests or damaged property are covered. But some dog breeds, may not be covered.
Each home insurance provider has a unique approach to handling policies for dog owners, so contact them directly to understand the specific terms that apply to your situation, especially if you own a breed that is often subject to restrictions.
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.
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.
