I just saw on the news about a local family being required to 'remove their rottweiler from the premises' or be cancelled. I don't know if it was just locally or nationwide, but I don't doubt it will become nationwide if it's not already. The family said they will take their business elsewhere. An amfam rep said they have a record of dog bites and liability issues w/that breed. Among other breeds included were pit bulls, akitas, chows, or wolf hybrids. I don't agree w/wolf hybrids but that is just plain wrong.

I was cancelled 4 yrs ago for a pit even though the insurance agent had told me it was fine and come out to see how the dog acted with strangers etc. I talked to the company's underwrite - she had no idea what she was talking about! I think it is nationwide.

In WI, there was a law passed to prohibit insurance discrimination by breed of dog. After the law passed, I called to seeif I could switch back to AmFam insurance - they said no. I wish I had spare time and money to take them to court to prove a point.

Try State Farm insurance. It's regional, but here, any breed of dog is fine if it hasn't bitten anyone yet and it isn't "attack trained."

I may need to switch insurance again if I join a SchH club. Any suggestions? Or is it don't ask, don't tell?

From what I understand, State Farm is generally pretty friendly to Rotts, Pits, GSDs, etc. They supposedly take it on a case-by-case basis.

With that said, if there is some sort of general clause/language about breeds in the contract you have with them (or anyone) and you aren't upfront about the breed of dog you have...and your dog bites someone...then you are screwed. Since you are a responsible owner, don't ask, don't tell would probably work for you...but it's a risk.

We did a lot of insurance research trying to get a GSD pup. Since we rent we couldn't have one but the same rules still apply even when you own. Check out the "banned" breed lists on various insurance sites...some of the breeds listed really surprised me.

I have Farmers Insurance. They even offered to insure my Rottweiler when we got the policy.

Alex, you don't agree with wolf/hybrids period? or don't agree with them being on the list? I don't understand that statement.

I will say, 3 years ago, I was cancelled "effective immediately" when I changed my policy and my agent did a drive by to verify house and saw a GSD in the front yard. Long story short, they had changed their policy which included a list of BANNED dogs (this list did NOT include wolf hybrids which pissed me off, if youre *gonna* have a list, that dog should be number one) and did not notify me. After an exhausting research endeavor including speaking with the Humane Society of the United States, I discovered this black list to be within the rights of the company!!! I took it to the insurance commissioner and filed a formal complaint against the company whom I had had insurance with for over 20 years. My reason for complaint was mainly that the company did not inform me of the change in their policy to include a black list of dogs. After that, my company called back, stated they would take me back with a rider for the dog. I told him where to take his company.

State Farm yes, as of now, takes dogs on case by case.

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I may need to switch insurance again if I join a SchH club. Any suggestions? Or is it don't ask, don't tell?

As I recall Sch is sport training is it not?

I actually work for State Farm. Since 2001. We don't have any breed specific exclusions as far as I know. I personally have never had to file a claim for a dog attack, and have never had a HO policy cancelled because of a dog. All the HO policy asks is "number of dogs" and if so, "ever bitten anyone" and "trained for attack or guard purposes". I know the last one could be an alarm ringer on this site. I have had people answer yes to the last question, but never knew of a policy being cancelled for that.

Michele, I don't agree w/wolf hybrids period. I don't think it's an appropriate animal to be kept as a pet.

We recently switched our auto insurance over from State Farm to Hartford and the agent (over the phone) suggested that they also cover our homeowner's insurance. Agent said we just have a couple of questions, the first one being did we own a dog. My husband said, oh yes, we have a dog (I was gesturing wildly in the background). He waved me off and said, "and by the way he is a pitbull but so gentle that we even take him to assisted living homes as a therapy dog". That was the wrong answer and they refused to insure us on our homeowner's insurance. So we are with the same company (not State Farm) that we have had for 25 years when we only had cats as pets.

Diane, so did SF refuse you too? or were they just too pricey on the HO?

Alex,
Sorry to take so long to reply (I'm at work and have been busy). No, State Farm was never offered our business - we only had our vehicles insured thru them, so don't know what the situation would have been with them and HO insurance. After receiving a flat "no" from Hartford, we decided not to make any waves with our present carrier.