My home insurance was cancelled because I have Dobermans

[airhead]

I'm so pissed off. I could see if my dogs were a problem but they're not! Its really not fair. I have worked so hard to make sure my dogs are well socialized and obedient. Its not right. Now,I will have to pay mucho bucks to get insured. Here's the kicker and what really stoked my fire;when the company sent someone to reevaluate my property(I needed more coverage),the evaluator came with his 2 dogs which he let roam loose on my property!! I don't knowif anyone has had this problem. I'm in Massachusetts and now I have to find another insurance company. Anybody in the same boat as me?

 

[meandtheguys]

That is incrdible! My aunt does dog training and agility, and I know how frustrated she becomes at the suggestion that some breeds are inherently bad. She had a Dobie who was the biggest baby in the world, but people were even more afraid of her boxer because they thought it was a pit bull! There is no telling with folks.

All that to say sorry you are having to deal with this!

Michelle

 

[curlyjbs]

We had the same problem. 2 dogs (now we are down to one ) A norwegian elkhound (92 lbs. and looked like a wolf -Miss him soooo much) the Ins. co. did not have a problem with him. it was our other dog, a shepard/collie mix (60 lbs of dumb love) that they denied us for. The word shepard is all they needed to hear. They have some kind of list of the most "dangerous" dogs and they will not insure you if you have one of them. Really stupid because sometimes it is NOT the breed that's bad. it's the owner and how they raise them that makes a bad dog!

I went with another co. and my neighbor offered to let the dogs hang in her yard during the inspection.


Hope it works out for you guys!


curly

 

[olena]

I'm sorry, CJ. There are some companies out there that don'tmake these kinds of discriminations. You're right though, it's not fair. I think at the very least, they should make an exception if the dog has earned the AKC CGC certification. It should be done on an individual basis and NOT the whole breed.

I have an uncle with a Rottie and he's as docile as a lamb. He obeys strangers' commands.

 

[olena]

CJ, you should read this article on the AKC web site. It has some great tips.

 

[airhead]

....that a lot of people just don't tell their insurance companies what breed they have. I shoulda lied like everybodyelse....

I'm soooooo mad!!!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

We were looking to change our insurance about a month ago. The girl asked me if we have a dog. Told her yes we do. She asked what breed was it. When I told her it is a golden retriever she just laughed and said that certainly wasn't a breed on her list!!! Someone should educate these people. It's the owners of those other breeds that have caused this to happen. No, not you CJ!!! But there are owners out there with the pit bulls, rotties and dobies that have trained their dogs to be vicious. Now, entire breeds have gotten terrible reps!! Not fair. We had a collie once that if you looked cross-eyed at my mother he went nuts. Very protective but do you see them on any lists? No. Sorry this had to happen to you. You should be able to show certs of your dogs training and get insurance. Maybe someday that will happen.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

I've always wondered though, why insurance companies can't just say "ok, we'll cover MOST things but if you have any kind of dog related claim, we will not cover that" and then have the customer sign papers that specify exactly what WON'T be covered.........

isn't that possible instead of cancelling people altogether? Or am I dreaming in my perfect little world again?

 

[airhead]

life isn't. Right now ,in my state breed clubs are urging people to contact their state reps and tell them to support House Bill#2075.
This Bill makes it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against an entire breed. I would gladly produce certification of the obedience titles my animals have earned.

 

[Shannon G]

I shoulda lied like everybodyelse....

I'd be very careful about lying to get the insurance - if the insurance company later finds out that you lied on the insurance application, they can deny your claim. While it may save you some money on the insurance up front, it could cost you a whole lot more if you ever actually need to use your insurance.

 

[caitycaity]

Originally posted by Shannon G
I'd be very careful about lying to get the insurance - if the insurance company later finds out that you lied on the insurance application, they can deny your claim. While it may save you some money on the insurance up front, it could cost you a whole lot more if you ever actually need to use your insurance.

not only can they deny your claim, but they could prosecute you for fraud. probably unlikely, but it is breaking the law.

i'm sorry you got your insurance cancelled. i would try to contact other doberman owners in your area and see what insurance companies will cover you. good luck!

 

[Lorix2]

Here in NH insurance companies deny you for certain breeds of dogs, trampolines and certain pools.

 

[Blondie]

I have never heard of this! I don't ever remember being asked if we owned a dog before!

All the Dobies I've had the pleasure of being around were big babies! They may look intimidating, but I've never found one to be mean! They are so sweet!

I hope you can get this squared away.

Someone once told me "there are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners." I totally agree with that!

 

[airhead]

...who I train with that have what insurance companies consider
"aggressive breeds" and the response I'm getting is "my insurance company doesn't know" or "I told them I had a mutt".
So,sorry,to all you people that believe truth is the way to go,my mistake! Next time,I lie!!!

 

[jel0511]

I was asked the exact same thing when we had to get new homeowners last year when our insurer pulled out of NJ. I asked the rep who was asking the questions, dogs, pools, trampolines, etc why she was asking this. She said that pools ALWAYS end up in higher premiums, and diving boards can be a reason for denial, a slide is a definate denial. Certain breed of dogs result in higher premiums, but the more "agressive" breeds can result in denial (german shepards, dobermans and pit bulls were some she mentioned). Luckily for us we don't have any of these things, and only have a completely lazy cat. It's unforunate that insurance companies do this, but they do have the liability on their head if something were to happen.

 

[DisneyVillain]

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in Sept. 2000, and covering 20 years from 1979-1998:
- There were 238 reported Human Dog Bite-Related Fatalities. (The study estimates that this represents 74% of actual occurances, and excludes police dogs in the line of duty and deaths from rabies.)
- Over half were pit-bulls and Rottweilers.
- About 4.5% were Dobermans. (Ninth on the list, including wolf/dog hybrid. "Relative rankings do not differ greatly whether one focuses only on purebred dogs or includes crossbred dogs.")
- Over 75% of these attacks (171/227) occurred on the owners' property.

The study is available on the CDC website.

 

[JKanownik]

I worked as an Underwriter for a major insurance company for 3 years and I would have to decline or cancel homeowner policies everyday because of unacceptable dog breeds. There were only 4 unacceptable dogs and included, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and Chows.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by HauntedMansionGeek
I've always wondered though, why insurance companies can't just say "ok, we'll cover MOST things but if you have any kind of dog related claim, we will not cover that" and then have the customer sign papers that specify exactly what WON'T be covered.........

isn't that possible instead of cancelling people altogether? Or am I dreaming in my perfect little world again?

I work for a major insurance company in commercial lines. The problem with excluding a known hazard from a policy sometimes does not hold up in court. If someone would be seriously injured by your dog and has no other means of recovery, the courts will sometimes rule that the insurance company has to pay anyway.

 

[airhead]

My dog,whether it is a Doberman or mutt is a well trained dog. I don't want my animal grouped with Joe Smoe's untrained,chained up yard dog! Obedience training is costly. I should be rewarded for taking the time and money to properly train my animal. To group ALL dogs in a catagory is discrimination.
See,I guess the way I see it,and I've been struggling with this in all areas of our culture/society,that it does not pay to follow the rules or to do the "right thing". This is just one more instance of "good gets ya nuthin".

 

[amez]

When we got our home inspected our insurance agent and the evaluator walked through. My agent picked up our new Rottie puppy and carried her around the whole time, saying what sweet dogs they were. It never came up at all. But I will keep it in mind for next time (we're getting ready to move)
It's really too bad that some dogs get a bad name because like another poster said, there are bad dog owners. I've had a pit bull mix, two rotties and my next dog will probably be a rot also. They've been the sweetest gentlest dogs and I definitely want my kids to have one as they grow up.
Amy