Four Things An Insurance Company Needs To Know When You Own A Dog
When purchasing a new home, many people know that they need to invest in homeowner's insurance. Some people do not know that they need to let their insurance company know about any dogs that they own. If your dog bites someone, you want to be sure that the insurance company will cover any medical bills that arise because of the injury. The guide below lets you know what information the insurance company needs to know about the dog.
The Age of the Dog
The first thing the insurance company will take into consideration is the age of the dog. Young puppies need to be trained not to nip or bite at people. Until they are trained, they can be seen as a risk to the insurance company because there is a high likelihood that they could cause injury to someone.
The Breed of the Dog
There are some breeds of dogs that are considered to be aggressive. If you have a dog breed that is considered aggressive, the company may determine that the dog is not insurable because it would create too big of a risk for them.
The Size of the Dog
Large dogs can often cause more damage to someone than a smaller dog can. If you have a dog that is larger in size, the insurance company may raise your insurance rates in order to cover the dog on the insurance policy. The agent will be able to let you know what the size restrictions are for the policy that you plan to get.
The History of the Dog
The insurance company will not insure a dog that has a track record of biting people. If a dog has bitten before, the company will view the possibility of them biting again as being very high. If you fail to tell the insurance company that the dog has bitten before and they find out later on down the road, they could cancel your insurance policy altogether.
Once the insurance company knows this information, they will be able to let you know if they will cover it on your insurance policy. Some dogs are considered to be too risky for the insurance company to cover. They will let you know if they will or will not cover the dog and if they do not, you will have to pay for any injuries the dog causes out of your own pocket.