As you might already know, buying or adopting a dog can be costly. Not only do you have to worry about the initial purchase price or adoption fee, but you also have to think about the cost of paying veterinary bills, buying food, and otherwise taking care of your new pet. However, the costs can go beyond that as well. For example, many pet owners never think about how their dogs can actually affect their homeowners insurance rates. In some cases, they can. These are a few different ways that your dog can cause your homeowners insurance rates to go up—or can prevent you from being insured by certain companies at all.

Some Insurance Companies Don't Like Certain Breeds

Even though your pit bull or German shepherd might seem like one of the sweetest and friendliest dogs that you have ever met, it might still make your insurance agent nervous. The truth is that some insurance companies will not insure families that have certain dogs on the property; this is usually the case with dogs that are known for being "dangerous" or "vicious," such as pit bulls, German shepherds, doberman pinschers, rottweilers, and other similar breeds. Some companies will provide you with insurance but will charge you much higher rates; the reasoning behind this is that the dog is at a greater risk of biting someone than a dog of other breeds, which is more risky for the insurance company.

If you want to keep your insurance rates down and avoid getting dropped by your insurance company, you may want to contact your insurance agent and inquire about restricted breeds. Then, when choosing a new puppy, consider looking for a dog from another breed.

Dog Bites are Serious Business

If your dog has ever bitten someone, chances are good that this could cause you problems with your insurance company. In many cases, insurance companies do cover the medical bills and other costs for those who have been bitten by a dog, but this can drive your insurance rates up for several years after the fact. Also, when signing up for insurance through an insurance company, you might be asked if your dog has even bitten someone. If you answer yes, you might be denied coverage, or you might have to pay a higher rate.

As you can see, your dog can affect your insurance rates and your ability to be covered at all. If you have more questions, contact your insurance agent to find out more.