Best Dog-Friendly Home Insurance Companies (2025)
Dog owners may have to search a bit harder to find home insurance. American Family, State Farm, and Nationwide are a few of the best dog-friendly insurers to consider.
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Between their fierce loyalty and amusing antics, it’s no wonder dogs have become a part of the family for nearly 45% of U.S. homeowners.1 But dog owners need to keep their furry friends in mind when they buy home insurance.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies include liability insurance that covers dog-related injuries, whether you’re at home or elsewhere. But some companies restrict coverage for certain breeds or raise prices significantly if a dog lives on the property.
In this guide, Insurify highlights some dog-friendly insurance companies and explains how your four-legged friend affects your home insurance rates.
5 best dog-friendly home insurance companies
The best dog-friendly home insurance company for you will depend on your specific situation and needs. But the five insurance companies below offer coverage to homeowners with a dog, and they’re a good place to start your search.
Best insurer for low rates: American Family
Best insurer for discounts: Liberty Mutual
Best insurer for robust coverage: Nationwide
Best insurer for restricted breeds: State Farm
Best insurer for military families: USAA
To choose the best dog-friendly home insurance companies, Insurify’s editors researched home insurance companies that have few or no dog breed restrictions. We also considered average annual premiums, customer satisfaction scores, and financial strength ratings, as well as their Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores.
Why some home insurance companies aren’t dog-friendly
Medical and legal expenses can add up quickly after a dog bite. That’s why some home insurance companies attempt to limit their exposure to these losses by denying coverage to owners of certain dog breeds. For example, large dog breeds that were historically bred for hunting or guarding may have a higher incidence of bites.
In short, having a dog on your property is simply another risk for home insurance companies to contend with. Fortunately, many major insurance companies offer liability insurance that covers dog-related injuries.2 Others won’t even ask about your dog’s breed before writing your policy, instead considering each dog on a case-by-case basis.
Common restricted dog breeds
While serious dog-related injuries are rare, insurers commonly restrict the following breeds from coverage either because of their perceived likelihood to bite or because of their size:
American bulldog
Chow chow
Doberman pinscher
German shepherd
Great Dane
Mastiff/bullmastiff
Pit bull terrier
Rottweiler
Siberian husky
St. Bernard
Many animal rights groups note that classifying based on breed is difficult due to the amount of breed mixing. For that reason, breed-specific statistics around dog aggression should be taken as a rough estimation.3
Can your insurer deny or cancel your policy because you have a certain dog breed?
Insurance companies may deny coverage if you have a high-risk dog on your property. Your home insurer can also decide not to renew your coverage if a serious dog-related injury occurs on your property.
While many insurance companies sell homeowners policies to dog owners, they may come with higher average costs to offset the risks that come with dog ownership.
Dog-related incidents that homeowners insurance covers
Standard home insurance policies include liability coverage, which kicks in if a guest is injured on your property. This liability insurance covers dog-related incidents. Here are some specific incidents that homeowners liability insurance covers:
Dog bites: If your dog bites a guest, your home insurance covers the resulting medical bills and legal fees, up to the limits of your policy.4
Dog attacks: Young children are particularly prone to serious injuries after a dog attack due to their small size and inability to pick up on canine cues, according to data from the National Canine Research Council. Liability insurance should cover this type of incident.
Dog-related damage to neighbor’s property: If Fido has a field day with the neighbor’s rose garden, your home insurance can cover those property damages.
Dog-related incidents that homeowners insurance doesn’t cover
Your homeowners insurance won’t cover all dog-related incidents. Here are a few situations where your insurance won’t kick in:
Dog-related property damage: If your dog chews up your couch or scratches your floor, your home insurance won’t cover the cost of necessary repairs.
Injuries to members of the household: Home insurance liability only extends to injured guests — not injured members of the household. Your health insurance policy can cover any resulting medical expenses.
Injuries to your dog: If your dog is injured, a separate pet insurance policy can cover any resulting medical bills. Most large insurance companies offer some form of pet insurance.
How dogs affect home insurance rates
Owning a dog will usually affect your home insurance rates. In most cases, insurers see your dog as an additional risk on your property and charge higher rates as a result. Breeds with a higher historical rate of dog bites are more expensive to insure most of the time. Some insurers might even deny you coverage if you have a certain breed of dog.
How much your rates go up will vary from company to company. Receiving quotes from multiple insurance companies can help you find a dog-friendly home insurance policy that meets your needs and budget.
Do you need to tell your home insurance company if you have a dog?
Yes. You should always let your home insurance company know about any dogs on the property. If you didn’t tell your insurer about your dog when you purchased the policy, it could deny any future claims involving your dog.
You may even run the risk of a policy cancellation or non-renewal if you received a policy without disclosing your dog. Some insurance companies might deny you coverage when you tell them about your dog, which is why it’s important to seek out dog-friendly home insurance.5
A few states, including New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, have passed laws that require “breed-blind insurance,” which prohibits coverage denials based on breed.
How to make sure your home insurance policy covers your dog
Here are a few steps you can take to make sure your dog is covered:
Ways to avoid dog-related home insurance claims
Here are some strategies dog owners should take to avoid dog-related home insurance claims:6
Do your homework. Before adopting a dog, ask vets and experts which breeds are a good fit for people in your living situation and location.
Stay on top of veterinary and grooming needs. A healthy dog whose nails are properly clipped is less likely to act out or cause damage. You should also spay or neuter your dog as quickly as possible.
Play with your dog. Letting out energy in the form of non-aggressive games like “fetch” can improve your dog’s behavior, and having plenty of toys around will prevent boredom.
Consider dog training classes. These classes can help correct behavioral issues that can lead to injuries.
Dog-friendly homeowners insurance FAQs
If you’re wondering which home insurance companies are dog-friendly, this additional information may help as you’re researching your coverage options.
Which homeowners insurance companies don’t discriminate by dog breed?
State Farm is one of the very few insurance companies that don’t discriminate by dog breed. The company won’t ask what breed of dog you have when you sign up for a policy, and it won’t deny you coverage just because your dog’s breed has a history of incidents.
Does having a dog make your homeowners insurance go up?
In many cases, having a dog will lead to higher homeowners insurance rates. Insurers view having a dog on the property as another risk factor for future claims.
Do you need to tell your home insurance company about your dog?
Yes. You should always tell your home insurance company if you have a dog. Insurers could deny any claim involving a dog that wasn’t approved when you first got a policy.
Does Allstate restrict dog breeds?
Allstate’s site doesn’t say anything about restricting coverage based on dog breed. Instead, Allstate says it considers a dog’s demeanor and bite history when determining coverage and rates.
Which dog breeds are commonly excluded from home insurance coverage?
Home insurance companies may deny coverage to pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, and Dobermans. If you own one of these breeds, it’s especially important to look for a dog-friendly homeowners insurance policy to make sure you’re covered.
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