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Show Your Pit Bull's Not a Threat to Home Insurers
Your homeowners insurance policy is available to help protect you from damages and liabilities in or around your home. This can include theft, fires, lightning, and dog bites. You may have heard this, but some insurance providers may deny coverage or raise your rates depending on your dog breed.
While we understand that any dog breed is capable of biting under the right circumstances, larger breeds like pit bulls typically have the capacity to cause more damage, therefore they are a bigger liability.
Insurers that allow pit bullsFortunately, there are a few insurers that offer pit bull friendly policies. Note that coverage can vary depending on the case and if you’re in Michigan or Pennsylvania, the legislation prohibits denying coverage based on the breed alone.
- State Farm does not require you to disclose your dog’s breed nor do they have breed restrictions. They will consider your coverage on a case-by-case basis and consider your pet’s history.
- Allstate also has a similar policy to State Farm, but coverage is subject to change if your pet attacks or causes damage.
- USAA can help cover your pit bull if it has a proven track of good behavior. However, this company only serves US military veterans and their families.
Be sure to also shop around with other carriers to compare and find the best rate for you and your pit bull.
How to show that my pit bull is good?Your current home insurance policy might be able to work with you on coverage and price if you can demonstrate that your pit bull has good behavior. Here are some suggestions on what you can do to show your beloved pit bull is obedient and safe:
- Spay or neuter your pit bull. There has been evidence that neutering your pit bill can help decrease aggression (those that are influenced by hormone). It can also help with population control and continuing to pass aggressive behavior to offsprings.
- Ensure your dog is properly socialized and leash trained. Socializing your pet will lower the probability of it feeling threatened by other people or dogs.
- Enroll your pit bull in a training class. Get to know you canine and understand it’s stressors and how to work on it or avoid them. This takes time, energy, and work, but can help minimize liabilities.
- Earn the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate from the American Kennel Club. This is the gold standard of behavior for dogs where you go through a series of tests with your dog to show their obedience.
If you’re still having some trouble with liability coverage with your home insurance, consider an umbrella policy of canine liability insurance. An umbrella policy is a supplemental insurance policy that extends your maximum, payout and filling in any coverage gaps. Canine liability insurance is a standalone policy, so you don’t need an existing home or renters policy to have it. It has a wide array of liability coverages related to your pit bull.
As with any pet, you should be a responsible owner and ensure that your pit bull is happy and can be safe around people. Recognize any potential threats with children and adults and always keep an eye on your companion.