Some dog breeds are more prone to illness and injuries than others, often requiring more extensive treatment and medication. And due to the skyrocketing costs of veterinary care, taking out insurance may be a wise decision.
In this article, Insurance Business explains how dog insurance works, what kind of protection it provides, and the benefits it yields for both the pet owners and their pets. Read on to learn more about dog insurance or scroll to the bottom for related stories.
In the US, dog insurance is often included in a pet insurance or pet health insurance plan. This is a policy that helps pet parents manage the cost of veterinary care for their dogs. These plans are designed to reimburse a portion of a pet owner’s vet bills whenever their dog needs medical attention.
Here are the details of how this type of pet insurance works:
Most pet insurance plans fall into two main categories:
Accident and illness plans help with costs related to injuries, sickness, surgeries, prescription medications, and sometimes hereditary conditions. Accident-only plans are more limited, covering only injuries caused by accidents.
Some insurers offer optional wellness or routine care add-ons, which can help with preventive expenses like vaccinations, annual exams, and dental cleanings.
Pet owners pay a monthly premium to keep their policy active. The average monthly cost for dog insurance in the US typically ranges from $30 to $50, but this can vary based on the pet’s age, breed, and location, and the reimbursement level. For example, insuring certain dog breeds or older pets may increase the average cost of pet insurance for them.
After paying the vet bill, a claim is submitted to the dog insurance company. The pet owner is then reimbursed covered expenses, minus the deductible and according to the selected reimbursement level. Many plans offer up to 90 percent reimbursement. Most policies include a waiting period before coverage begins, which can range from a few days to several weeks depending on the provider.
Pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, and breeding costs are generally not covered in a dog insurance policy. Brokers and their clients should always review the policy details before enrolling.
There are many insurers that provide dog insurance in North America. The biggest insurance companies typically offer dog insurance via a partnership with insurers that mainly provide pet insurance. Be sure to check their products, discounts, coverage options, customer service ratings, and other crucial information to get good dog insurance for your pooch.
Nationwide is the largest US insurer to offer its own pet insurance product, covering accidents, illnesses, and wellness care for dogs. It was the first major insurer to enter the US pet insurance market and remains a top choice for comprehensive pet coverage.
GEICO offers pet insurance for dogs through a partnership with Embrace Pet Insurance. Policyholders can get accident and illness coverage for their pets alongside their auto or home insurance.
Progressive provides pet insurance for dogs by partnering with Pets Best. Customers can bundle pet insurance with other Progressive policies for potential discounts.
Allstate offers pet insurance for dogs through Embrace Pet Insurance. The coverage includes accidents, illnesses, and optional wellness care.
Liberty Mutual provides pet insurance for dogs via a partnership with Hartville Pet Insurance. Policyholders can add pet coverage to their suite of Liberty Mutual products.
Farmers Insurance offers pet insurance for dogs in collaboration with Pets Best. Customers can access accident and illness plans as part of their insurance portfolio.
USAA members can purchase pet insurance for dogs through Embrace Pet Insurance. The partnership offers exclusive discounts for military members and their families.
State Farm partners with Trupanion to offer medical insurance for dogs. Policyholders can get direct-to-vet payments and comprehensive accident and illness coverage.
AAA provides pet insurance for dogs through Embrace Pet Insurance. Members can access customizable plans and may qualify for member discounts.
MetLife, known for life and employee benefits, offers pet insurance for dogs (formerly PetFirst). Coverage includes accidents, illnesses, and optional wellness care.
The Hartford offers pet insurance for dogs through a partnership with Healthy Paws. Policyholders can access coverage for accidents and illnesses.
Travelers Insurance offers pet insurance for dogs via partnership with Pets Best. Customers can add pet coverage to their existing Travelers policies.
American Family Insurance provides dog insurance by partnering with Pets Best. Policyholders can choose from several coverage options.
Erie Insurance offers insurance for dogs via its partnership with Embrace Pet Insurance. Customers can bundle pet coverage with their home or auto insurance.
Assurant, a global insurance provider, offers dog insurance through its partnership with Pets Best. Coverage includes accidents, illnesses, and wellness options.
Pet insurance provides three levels of coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). These protections also apply to dog insurance.
The most common type of coverage, accident and illness policies cover injuries caused by accidents and sickness. These include:
Experts advise dog owners to get this type of cover, which is also known as comprehensive coverage, while their pets are still puppies as many insurance providers limit illness coverage as the dog ages. Doing so can also help policyholders save on premiums and reduce the impact of pre-existing condition exceptions.
Some insurers offer accident-only plans, also called basic coverage, which essentially covers anything associated with sudden physical injury. This type of policy usually costs less than accident and illness plans and may be suitable for dogs with pre-existing conditions.
Often offered only as a rider, this optional coverage pays out for wellness expenses. These include:
Experts, however, also advise canine owners to take out another form of protection, called pet liability insurance, which covers injuries and property damage that their pets cause others.
Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies provide liability coverage up to a certain limit. This includes claims resulting from pet-related injuries and damages. Apart from dog bites, some plans cover property damage, including when a pet chews up another person’s couch or urinates on someone else’s laptop.
Canine owners can also purchase separate dog liability coverage, especially if their pets are among those considered “aggressive” breeds or if they feel that coverage provided by their home insurance policies is not enough.
The table below lists the dog breeds and their level of restrictions. These dog breeds most often require liability coverage, arranged alphabetically:
| Breed | Commonly Restricted? | % of Insurers Banning (2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akita | Yes | ~79% | Consistently on banned lists |
| Alaskan Malamute | Yes | ~26% | Less frequently restricted |
| American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull) | Yes | 100% | Almost always classified as "Pit Bull" |
| Bulldogs | Sometimes | ~19% | English Bulldogs less commonly restricted |
| Cane Corso | Sometimes | ~19% | Gaining attention, but not always restricted |
| Chow Chow | Yes | ~95% | Consistently on banned lists |
| Doberman Pinscher | Yes | 100% | Universally restricted by major insurers |
| German Shepherd | Sometimes | ~45% | Frequently restricted, but not always |
| Labrador Retriever | No | None | Not considered high-risk by insurers |
| Rottweiler | Yes | 100% | Universally restricted by major insurers |
These are the factors that insurers look at when deciding whether to allow liability coverage to an individual dog or specific dog breed. These factors also determine premium pricing:
Insurers rely heavily on their own and industry-wide historical claims data, especially the frequency and severity of dog bite incidents and related liability claims. The number and cost of insurance claims involving specific breeds, particularly those resulting in severe injuries or high payouts, directly influence which breeds are labeled as “high risk.”
Breeds with a reputation for aggression or those frequently reported in bite statistics (e.g., pit bulls, rottweilers, Dobermans, akitas) are more likely to be restricted, regardless of individual temperament. News stories and public perception can influence which breeds are considered risky, even if scientific evidence is lacking.
Insurers consider the potential severity of injuries a breed could cause, often focusing on breeds with strong jaws or large body size, which can result in more serious harm if a bite occurs.
Some states and municipalities have varying local laws that ban or restrict certain breeds. States like Connecticut are in the process of prohibiting bans of any sort of dog breed, while Florida has proposed a minimum of $100,000 liability coverage for certain breeds.
Insurers often align their policies with these laws, further influencing which breeds are restricted. It’s advised to check with local laws to be sure about BSL.
Each insurer develops its own underwriting guidelines, which may include lists of restricted or banned breeds (sometimes called “blacklists”). However, some insurers, like State Farm, consider a dog’s bite history or behavioral assessments rather than breed.
Some insurers will ask if the dog has a history of biting or aggressive behavior. A dog with a bite history may be excluded from coverage, regardless of breed.
In rare cases, proof of training (such as Canine Good Citizen certification) may help an owner obtain coverage for a restricted breed. Some insurers may consider the number of dogs in the home, presence of children, or whether the dog is used as a guard dog.
Like other pet insurance policies, most dog insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions.
However, some insurers may provide coverage for acute and curable illnesses after a certain waiting period.
One thing to remember is that canines with pre-existing medical issues are not disqualified from getting coverage; rather, the policies available to them will exclude cover for the specific condition. Some other exclusions from dog insurance policies are:
The following are typically excluded from basic and comprehensive plans but can be accessed by purchasing a wellness coverage rider:
Premiums for dog insurance are determined based on a range of factors, including:
However, there are two factors that have a far greater impact on dog insurance rates. These are:
Bigger canines tend to have shorter lifespans. This means they are more prone to health issues associated with ageing, including canine cancer, developmental disorders, and tumors. Experts say that these health issues may be linked to breeds’ accelerated growth.
Purebred dogs are typically more expensive to insure than crossbreeds. This is because they have a greater risk of developing hereditary disorders.
As of 2025, these are the breeds that have the most expensive dog insurance. Note that these premiums are national averages and may vary by provider, location, and the dog’s age. All figures are based on the latest data from various comparison sites.
| Dog Breed | Average Monthly Premium (USD) |
|---|---|
| Alaskan Malamute | $121 |
| Boxer | $163 |
| British Bulldog | $197 |
| Bullmastiff | $232 |
| Cane Corso | $188 |
| Chow Chow | $122 |
| English Bulldog | $205 |
| French Bulldog | $182 |
| Golden Retriever | $124 |
| Great Dane | $207 |
| Kangal Shepherd Dog | $187 |
| Newfoundland | $197 |
| Rottweiler | $205 |
| Saint Bernard | $218 |
| Samoyed | $110 |
| Tibetan Mastiff | $194 |
Meanwhile, these are the breeds that are the cheapest to insure. They consist mostly of small mixed-breed dogs and are the cheapest to insure, averaging $49 per month. These breeds generally have fewer hereditary health risks and lower average vet bills, which keeps insurance premiums down. Premiums may vary slightly by provider, location, and the dog’s age, but these figures reflect the latest national averages.
| Dog Breed | Average Monthly Premium (USD) |
|---|---|
| Chihuahua | $65 |
| Cockapoo | $73 |
| Havanese | $76 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | $73 |
| Maltipoo | $68 |
| Miniature Poodle | $78 |
| Morkie | $71 |
| Shih Tzu | $71 |
| Small Mixed Breed | $49 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | $78 |
