Did you know you are held liable by law if your dog bites someone? A person who is bit by a dog can sue the owner for any amount they wish!

Homeowners insurance will protect you if you are held liable in court if your dog has bitten someone. Liability limits range anywhere from, $100,000 to $1,000,000. Make sure you carry a liability limit high enough to protect all your assets! If your homeowners limit is not enough, you should consider purchasing an umbrella policy.

While homeowners insurance will protect you if your dog does bite someone, most insurance companies have “unacceptable dog” lists. These lists name the breeds of many dogs that are believed to be more vicious in nature than others, therefor more likely to bite someone. These are the most commonly excluded dogs from home insurance:

• Pitbulls
• American bull dogs
• Akita
• Chow
• Doberman
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Presa Canarios
• Wolf Hybrids

It is also important to note that some insurance companies will issue a homeowner’s policy without excluding your dog if they pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. These companies waive the exclusion for the dog as it represents responsible dog ownership.