Most homeowners policies can cover a household with a dog. The dog mainly affects the liability part of the policy, which can help pay if your dog injures someone or damages their property. Whether an insurer accepts your dog, on what terms, and what the policy may cover all depend on the insurer and the policy wording. 

Insurers pay close attention to dogs because these claims are common and costly. Insurers paid $1.86 billion on 28,450 dog-bite and other dog-related injury claims in 2025, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm.

Why insurers ask about your dog

Insurers use the word “exposure” to mean how likely a home is to produce a claim and how large that claim might be. When they price homeowners insurance, they look at the house and at what goes on there, including the people and pets who live in it.

A dog adds liability exposure. A bite, a visitor knocked down in the yard, or an injured neighbor can lead to a claim for medical bills and other costs, even if the dog has never shown aggression before. Depending on the company, an underwriter may consider the dog’s breed, size, bite history, any prior dog-related claims, and whether local authorities have declared it dangerous.

What your policy may cover if your dog injures someone

Two parts of a homeowners policy usually come into play when a dog injures someone who doesn’t live in your home.

Personal liability coverage helps pay for injuries or property damage you are legally responsible for, along with the cost of defending you if you are sued. Triple-I notes that homeowners and renters policies typically cover dog-bite liability up to the policy’s limit, which is usually $100,000 to $300,000, and the owner is responsible for anything above it. With the average dog-related injury claim reaching $65,450 in 2025, it is worth reviewing whether your personal liability limit would be sufficient for a serious claim. Our article on personal liability coverage explains how limits work.

Medical payments coverage helps pay eligible medical bills for a guest who is injured on your property, regardless of fault, subject to the policy's terms and limits.

Coverage varies by insurer and policy. Review your policy and confirm the details with your insurance professional.

If you breed, board, or train dogs for income at home, ask your insurer about business coverage, since homeowners policies generally exclude business activities.

How insurers handle dogs they consider higher risk

When an insurer sees a dog as higher risk, it can respond in several ways, and its decision can affect your coverage and premium.

A canine liability exclusion limits or removes coverage for certain incidents involving a dog, as described in the policy endorsement. It is easy to miss because the rest of the policy stays in force. Check the wording carefully or ask your insurance agent which claims are excluded.

Dog breeds that often face restrictions

There is no single industry list, and some insurers judge each dog on its own history rather than its breed. Breeds that often appear on insurer restriction lists include pit bull terriers, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, chow chows, Akitas, mastiffs, Presa Canarios, Alaskan malamutes, Siberian huskies, Great Danes, Belgian Malinois, and wolf hybrids.

Insurers that use breed lists usually point to size and strength, which can make an injury more serious if something goes wrong. A breed on a list says nothing about your own dog, and insurers differ on how they classify mixed breeds. Ask your insurer which restrictions apply to your policy. For more on how breed affects coverage, see our article on dog breeds and homeowners insurance.

Do you have to tell your insurer about your dog?

If an application or renewal form asks about dogs, answer accurately, including the breed and any bite history. An incomplete or incorrect answer can give the insurer grounds to deny a later claim or cancel the policy, depending on the policy terms. If you get a dog partway through the policy term, ask your agent whether to report it right away rather than at renewal, so you learn about any exclusion before an incident instead of after one.

If your insurer won’t cover your dog

One company’s refusal doesn’t mean your dog can’t be insured.

Compare other insurers. Breed and bite-history rules vary widely, and an agency that works with several companies can check them at once.

Ask about separate canine liability coverage. Some specialty insurers offer liability policies for dogs that a homeowners policy excludes.

Read umbrella policy terms carefully. An umbrella policy adds liability limits, but many follow the exclusions in your homeowners policy or have their own animal exclusions.

Reducing the chance of a claim

Triple-I recommends choosing a dog that suits your household, socializing it gradually, using positive training methods, and keeping it leashed on walks. Supervise children closely whenever they are around dogs, including your own. A secure fence and self-latching gates also help keep a dog from getting out.

Getting homeowners insurance with a dog

If your insurer restricts your dog, or you aren’t sure what your policy covers, an IZC licensed specialist can review your situation and look for homeowners insurance quotes from the insurance companies IZC works with. Mention your dog’s breed and any bite history when you request a quote.