Rotwieller mix breed.... insurance will not cover us?

[Papa Deuce]

Anybody ever run into this? Just started with a new home insurnace company. They have a policy that does not allow you protection if you own certain breeds of dogs, or mixed breeds that have certain breeds mixed in their make up.

One of them is Rotwieller. Now I do know that this breed "can" be unmanageable with the wrong owner. But I know about 6 people who have them, and the ones I have met are gentle as a lamb, though maybe a little strong willed.

Is this normal? I was looking into getting a Rottie mix from the SPCA, but I guess that is not an option now. Shame, I think.

ETA, I guess we will pass, but he was a 6 month or so Rottie / Lab mix, it looks like.

 

[phorsenuf]

I may get read the riot act for this, but oh well. I would never get a rottie mix with small children in the house and I certainly wouldn't get one from the SPCA where you really don't know it's background.
If you did get one I'd get one as a puppy so you could train it right. Rotties can (can, I said) be unpredictable especially around young kids.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I may get read the riot act for this, but oh well. I would never get a rottie mix with small children in the house and I certainly wouldn't get one from the SPCA where you really don't know it's background.
If you did get one I'd get one as a puppy so you could train it right. Rotties can (can, I said) be unpredictable especially around young kids.

The one we are looking at is a Rottie / Lab mix.... a puppy... well, about 6 months old.

 

[themarquis]

that really disturbs me. Here's what I'm wondering: how will the insurance co. know what kind of dog you have? Do you have to record it on a form or something? Or is it just that if at some point in the future you file a claim, they might deny coverage if they find out there's a Rott mix in the house (and how exactly would they find out ...? And how do they explain why a random claim ... for example, your TV gets stolen, has anything to do with owning a certain breed of dog?) Finally ... for a Rott mix without papers, it would seem impossible for the insurance company to prove that the dog is a Rott mix. What are they going to do ... do a genetic test?! When you adopt a dog from the shelter and the shelter says that it is a "terrier mix" "rott mix", etc, that is just their best guess ... often bears no relation to the actual parentage of the dog!

 

[golfgal]

Well after watching our neighbor's Rottie take off after a dog being walked down the street for NO REASON a few weeks ago I can see it. I can tell you that if our neighbor's rotties, yes, plural, they have 2, hurt one of my kids or our dog I will sue the pants of the neighbors--and I am NOT like that. They are willingly keeping aggressive dogs and won't get rid of them even after the attack. They have an 8 year old child are responsible people, play with the dogs, the dogs are house dogs and get attention, etc.

 

[RNMOM]

I heard this from my DS who is in real estate. They also won't cover chows, German shepards, and I believe dobermans as well as pit bulls.

When we have moved into our homes, our agent came to our home to meet us and check things for themselves. They noted the location of fire hydrants, smoke detectors, etc and met our dog.

You could get away with it but is it worth the chance if your dog does harm to a stranger to not have coverage?

 

[mickeyboat]

If you did get one, and it hurt someone, and the insurance company refused to pay, you would be ruined financially! That is not a risk I would be willing to take.

Denae

 

[nephthys43]

i know allstate is big on doing this on some states. they won't cover you if you have certain breeds (rottie, pit, chow...). i guess they don't want to pay if your dog mauls someone.

 

[missj1975]

My brother-in-law inspects houses/claims for an insurance company. You are suppose to report what kind of dog you have but most of the time your agent will never ask. If he goes to inspect a house and sees the owner has a rott or pitt-bull, he will report it back to the insurance company and they will sometimes cancel the policy. He has had numerous claims of dog bites from all types of dogs, not just rotts or pitt-bulls. But the insurance company is not just worried about dog bits, bigger dogs can also cause damage to the property in general. I am not trying to start a debate here. I am just pointing out that insurance companies will look out for factors that could result in claims for them.

 

[Papa Deuce]

i know allstate is big on doing this on some states. they won't cover you if you have certain breeds (rottie, pit, chow...). i guess they don't want to pay if your dog mauls someone.

Yep, that is my company, and those breeds were on the list.

 

[schlepsnort]

I have heard of this, many co.'s will not cover you if you have a certain breed of dog, mix, pure or otherwise. They can revoke your policy if it comes to light that you have such a dog in your posession. And they can find out.
Like another poster said, they can do a home visit to check on things.
Could you get away with it? Maybe. But you risk greater financial loss by doing so than if you just get a dog of different breeding.

Rotties are cuties but they are also known for unpredictable behavior. All dogs have unpredictable behaviors, but Rotties, Chows, Dobies, and Pits have a markedly higher rate of aggressive behavior.

Good luck and if you want a dog similar in stature and appearance a Boxer is a great dog and very good with kids and is also a great protector of family and home. But they also are very goofy and loving at the same time! My Dad has a fawn boxer and we have a brindle and they are wonderful dogs! But I also know that the local 'hooligan' has seen our dog and keeps a very wide berth from our house...

Good luck!

 

[kaw1218]

State farm asked us about our rotties(we have two) the agent came to the house before he would insure us. I guess he wanted to make sure they weren't really aggressive???? I am not sure. But I do know that some policies can cost more too if you have a rottie or a pit bull.

 

[C.Ann]

It's becoming very common practice now.. Medical bills from a mauling - or worse yet, a lawsuit from a death - is just not a risk the insurance companies are willing to take on..

 

[cherylp3]

This has been an issue with the AKC for a while now.
http://www.akc.org/insurance/homeowners_inscenter.cfm?SEARCH_BUTTON.X=0\&SEARCH_BUTTON.Y=0

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_HomeInsurance.php

http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_aff...nies_unfairly_target_specific_dog_breeds.html

 

[ducklite]

Akitas are often on the "bad doggie" list as well.

Anne

 

[Luv'sTink]

We were asked if we had a dog and then what kind. I can't remember if our insurance, PEMCO, said "NO" or if they said you would have to have a rider for the dog and it would be very expensive.

 

[MarleyMurphy]

We have a boxer/pitbull mix as well as a doberman mix and have Allstate insurance. In Ohio, where we live, they would only raise our rates if they were purebred- not sure how they would know if the were purebred or not though.

 

[airhead]

I lost my house insurance when an insurance agent came to access
my property. He did the accessment while his 2 loose Shelties roamed on my property!! At the time(2 years ago) I had 2 adult dogs with several Obedience titles. They were so well socialized with people and other dogs(attending many dog shows),they didn' bark at the insurance agent or his loose dogs!
A week later,i received a letter stating my home insurance was terminated!
I now have to pay $300 extra because of my "vicious" dogs.

 

[HOGFAN]

....just like they wont insure you if you have a trampoline.

 

[aksunshine]

You have to really wonder about these companies... There is nothing wrong with Rotties!!! We have owned several, they are perfectly safe around children. We had one when I was an older child (Our Easy...Rest His Soul...) When he and my DB were about a year and a half old my DB got into the road. Granted it was a dead end gravel road, and he was safe, but Easy knew better. He went out and carefully "grabbed" DB's hand and walked him back into the yard. Not a mark was on him from it! Besides, you have to work to make most dogs mean, most dogs aren't natural born child mutilatures. Rotties were bred more for herding than anything else.

Anyway, Sorry about your luck! I posted in your other post on recommendations!