Many homeowners insurers restrict certain dog breeds. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Dobermans and chow chows appear on those lists most often. Depending on the company, a restricted breed can mean a denied application, a higher premium, a dog exclusion on your policy or a non-renewal. The rules vary by insurer and by state, and you usually have options. This guide explains how breed lists work, what an exclusion takes away, which states limit the practice and how to keep your dog and your liability protection.
TL;DR
- Breed restrictions are set by each insurer, not by one national rule. A breed that is fine with one company can be refused by another.
- A dog exclusion removes liability and medical payments coverage for injuries your dog causes. You are then personally responsible for the bill.
- Some states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Nevada and Arizona, limit how insurers can use breed alone. Most states do not.
- If you are turned down, you can shop other carriers, ask about a behavior-based review, add a separate canine liability policy or look at umbrella coverage.
- Tell your agent about your dog before you apply. Hiding it can put a claim at risk.
Table of Contents
- Why insurers restrict dog breeds
- Breeds that are commonly restricted
- Restriction, exclusion, surcharge: what each one means for you
- What a homeowners dog exclusion actually does
- Which states limit breed-based decisions
- Insurance breed lists versus local breed bans
- Can an insurer look at your individual dog instead?
- What to do if your insurer won't cover your dog
- Questions to ask before you apply or renew
- Our perspective
- Get your home and your dog covered
- FAQ
- Sources
Why insurers restrict dog breeds
Dog bites are expensive. In 2024, U.S. insurers paid $1.57 billion for nearly 23,000 dog-related injury claims, about $69,000 per claim, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Some insurers try to control those costs with breed lists.
The industry's argument is simple. Dog bites make up a significant share of homeowners liability claims, and insurers say breed rules are a rational business decision, as the Insurance Information Institute explained to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Critics disagree. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) notes that experts argue breed lists lack reliable actuarial data, are hard to apply because breed is difficult to identify by appearance, and ignore a dog's own history and temperament. That matters if you own a mixed-breed rescue, because the application may ask you to guess.
The result is a patchwork. There is no single list that every company uses.
Breeds that are commonly restricted
Lists differ from one carrier to the next, but the same names come up again and again. Breeds commonly found on exclusion lists include:
- Pit bull types and Staffordshire terriers
- Rottweilers
- Doberman pinschers
- German shepherds
- Chow chows
- Presa Canarios
- Akitas
- Wolf and wolf-hybrid dogs
Some lists also include Alaskan malamutes, bull terriers, American bulldogs and mixes of any of these. A few insurers go further and ask about any dog with a bite history, whatever the breed.
Two cautions apply here.
- Mixes count. If your dog looks like a listed breed, or a DNA test says it has some in it, the insurer may treat it as that breed.
- The list is not the whole picture. Even a breed that is never restricted can be refused after a reported bite, a dangerous-dog designation or a complaint.
Because lists change, always ask the company for its current rules rather than relying on a blog list, including this one.
Restriction, exclusion, surcharge: what each one means for you
These words get used loosely, but they lead to different outcomes.
| What the insurer does | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Declines the application | You cannot get that company's homeowners policy while you own the dog. |
| Non-renews the policy | Your current policy ends at renewal, and you need a new carrier. |
| Adds a dog exclusion | You keep the policy, but dog-related liability is not covered. |
| Charges more or requires conditions | You are covered, sometimes with a higher premium, a fence or a higher deductible. |
| Accepts the dog | Standard personal liability applies to bites, up to your limit. |
The exclusion is the one that catches people out, because the policy looks normal until you need it.
What a homeowners dog exclusion actually does
Standard homeowners insurance includes personal liability coverage. It pays if you are legally responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property, and it covers the legal defense. It also includes medical payments coverage for guests hurt on your property.
A dog exclusion carves that out. A widely used industry form, the ISO Canine Liability Exclusion (HO 24 77), lets you and the insurer agree to exclude liability and medical payments coverage for injury or damage arising from direct physical contact with a scheduled dog that you own or that is in your care. The form is approved only in certain states, and insurers can use their own wording as well.
In plain terms, if your dog bites a neighbor, your homeowners policy will not pay the medical bills, the lawsuit or the settlement. You would. That is serious money. Dog owners in many states are legally liable for their pet's injuries, with exceptions such as provocation: 29 states as of March 2021, according to a Triple-I analysis.
A serious bite can lead to dog bite injury claims for medical treatment, lost income and long-term harm, and those costs can run well past a typical liability limit. If you see "dog exclusion" or "canine liability exclusion" in your policy, read it closely and ask what it removes.
Which states limit breed-based decisions
Insurance is regulated state by state, so your protection depends on where you live. These are the states our research turned up with rules on breed.
- Pennsylvania and Michigan: laws prohibit insurers from canceling or denying coverage to owners of particular breeds in some policies.
- New York and Nevada: laws restrict insurers from using breed as the sole factor in determining homeowners liability coverage.
- Arizona: state law bars using a dog's breed as the sole factor in specified underwriting and actuarial processes, and in gathering information about dogs on the insured premises.
- Model legislation: in 2022 the National Council of Insurance Legislators adopted the Dog Breed Insurance Underwriting Protection Model Act. It bars specified decisions based solely on breed or mix of breeds, but it still allows them when a dog has been designated dangerous and the decision rests on sound underwriting principles.
Notice the words "sole factor" and "alone." Even in these states, an insurer can still act on an individual dog's behavior, such as a bite history.
In states without specific breed prohibitions, insurers have more room. Maryland's insurance regulator, for example, has said that insurers may exclude specific breeds as long as decisions are reasonably related to their business purposes and based on objective data. Check your own state's insurance department if you are unsure what applies.
Insurance breed lists versus local breed bans
People often mix up two different things.
Insurance breed restrictions are company underwriting decisions. They affect whether you can buy a policy or what it covers.
Breed-specific legislation consists of laws that regulate or ban dogs based on appearance or breed, usually for public-safety reasons. A city or county may ban a breed, require registration or require muzzles in public. The NAIC describes the difference this way: insurer breed lists can make it harder to get enough coverage, while breed-specific laws regulate the dogs themselves.
They can overlap. A dog banned in your town may be uninsurable in practice, and some local rules go further, such as requiring proof of liability insurance. Ohio, for instance, requires owners of dogs classified as vicious to carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Before you move or adopt, check both your local dog ordinances and what your carrier will accept.
Can an insurer look at your individual dog instead?
Sometimes. Some insurers, such as State Farm, consider a dog's bite history rather than its breed. That is good news if you own a well-trained dog from a restricted breed, but it is not universal.
Industry representatives have said that reviewing dogs case by case is expensive and labor-intensive, which is why many companies stick to lists. That is exactly where an independent agent helps, because the agent can find the carriers that look at the dog and not just the label.
What to do if your insurer won't cover your dog
A denial or exclusion is frustrating, but it is rarely the end. Work through these steps in order.
- Ask why. Find out whether it is the breed, a bite claim or a mix guess. A wrong breed label on the application can sometimes be corrected.
- Gather proof of the dog's record. Vet records, training or obedience certificates, a Canine Good Citizen certificate and a clean bite history all help an underwriter see the individual dog.
- Check your state's rules. If you live in a state that limits breed-only decisions, tell your agent. It can change the conversation with the carrier.
- Shop other carriers. Companies differ widely. Some accept your breed, some accept it with conditions and some are breed-neutral.
- Consider a separate canine liability policy. Standalone dog liability coverage exists for owners whose dogs are excluded from the homeowners policy. Ask what limits it offers and whether it covers bites off your property.
- Ask about an umbrella policy, then read it. An umbrella adds liability limits above your home and auto policies, but some umbrella carriers exclude certain dogs too. Confirm in writing.
- Reduce the risk. A fence, secured gates, "beware of dog" signage, supervised visits and training reduce bites. They also strengthen your case with an underwriter.
Two things to avoid. Do not leave the dog off the application, because a misrepresentation can give an insurer grounds to deny a claim or cancel the policy. And do not drop liability coverage because the dog is excluded. Your guests, delivery drivers and neighbors still create risk that the rest of the policy covers.
Questions to ask before you apply or renew
A short list saves a lot of surprises:
- Does this company restrict my dog's breed or mix, and how does it decide?
- Will you accept my dog with a bite-free history or training records?
- Is there a dog exclusion on the quote, even if the dog is accepted?
- What happens at renewal if a neighbor reports a bite or I add a second dog?
- Does the policy cover bites away from my home, such as at a park?
- What are my liability and medical payments limits, and are they enough?
If you rent or own a condo, the same questions apply to renters and HO-6 policies, and your landlord or HOA may have its own breed rules on top of the insurer's.
Our perspective
We are an independent agency, which means we are not tied to a single insurance company. For dog owners, that matters more than most people expect.
Here is what we tell families who come to us worried about a breed. First, the breed list is a company rule, not a verdict on your dog. A carrier that turns you away may have a competitor that does not. Second, the worst outcome is not a higher premium. It is a policy with a quiet dog exclusion that nobody explains until a claim. We would rather you know up front and plan around it.
We also believe in telling the truth about the dog on the application. It is the quickest route to a policy that will actually respond when something goes wrong. If you are comparing coverage and have a dog, start by telling us the breed, the age and the dog's history. We will look at carriers with that in mind and explain what each policy covers in plain language.
— Mike
Get your home and your dog covered
If your homeowners policy has a breed restriction or exclusion, or you are shopping for a policy with a dog in the house, we can compare options across carriers and explain the liability limits you need. Our team works with homeowners, condo owners and renters, and can also review a personal umbrella policy to add liability protection. Learn more about home insurance with MF&T North America, or see how a personal umbrella fits with your auto coverage.
For a broader overview of what a policy includes before you compare quotes, read our guide to homeowners insurance.
FAQ
What breeds of dogs are not covered by homeowners insurance?
There is no universal list. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Dobermans, chow chows, Presa Canarios and Akitas appear most often on insurer restrictions, along with wolf hybrids. Your carrier's own underwriting rules decide, so ask for them in writing.
Does my dog need to be added to my homeowners policy?
Not usually, because standard liability coverage applies to injuries caused by your pets without naming them. But you should disclose your dog when asked. If the insurer has a breed rule or adds an exclusion, it will be tied to the dog you disclosed.
Can an insurer cancel my policy because of my dog's breed?
In many states, yes, as long as it follows state underwriting rules. A few states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Nevada and Arizona, limit decisions based on breed alone. Your state insurance department can tell you what applies to you.
What happens if my dog bites someone and I have a dog exclusion?
Your homeowners policy will not pay for the injured person's medical costs or your legal defense related to the dog. You would be personally responsible for the claim. That is why many owners with excluded dogs buy a separate canine liability policy or confirm umbrella coverage.
Can I get coverage if my dog has bitten someone before?
It is harder, but not always impossible. Some insurers will consider the circumstances, the dog's training and any steps you have taken. An independent agent can approach carriers that evaluate individual dogs, and a standalone dog liability policy may be an option.
Sources
- Breed-specific legislation, NAIC
- Spotlight on: Dog bite liability, Insurance Information Institute (2026)
- Spotlight on: Dog bite liability, Triple-I
- Breed discrimination bites homeowners, AVMA
- Canine Liability Exclusion HO 24 77 Analysis, PropertyCasualty360
- Arizona Revised Statutes 20-1510
- Maryland Insurance Administration bulletin on dog bite liability
- NCOIL Dog Breed Insurance Underwriting Protection Model Act press release
- When Homeowners Insurance Won't Cover Dog Bites: Breed Exclusions
- Dog bite injury claims