Home Insurance: Home owner insurance restrictions for dogs owners.

In recent years, many homeowners have found themselves unable to get homeowner insurance. Some have had their insurance cancelled, based solely on the breed of a dog.

The fact is that since the mid-1990s the growing popularity of aggressive breeds has resulted in a drastic increase in incidents. Dog attacks have become the biggest single cause of home policy claims, with costs running to more than $300 million a year.

Consequently home insurance company policies have become increasingly restrictive about insuring households with dogs.

If you are a dog owner here are a few tips on how to improve your chances of getting and keeping your homeowner insurance:

- Enroll your dog in obedience classes and work on helping the dog earn a diploma. Consider taking your dog to obtain Canine Good Citizen certification.

- Neuter male dogs: this step can significantly reduce dominance problems and some other types of aggression.

- Make sure your dog gets lots of appropriate exercise. Dogs with predatory or herding instincts need to channel those inherent tendencies in socially acceptable ways.

- Keep dogs on leash or in a fully, physically fenced area when outside. That will keep dogs from running after animals and people.

- Never leave young children alone with your dog.

- Be watchful or how your guests behave around animals. There are a few basic safeguards to follow. For example, don't disturb dogs while sleeping or eating. Don't bother mother dogs who are with their puppies. Don't tease or yell around dogs. Stay away from chained dogs. By the way, chaining tends to aggravate and frustrate dogs, increasing the chances of aggressive behavior.

- Be aware of the signals that you yourself send to your dog. For example, if you are nervous, that can make your dog nervous. If you are not confident around strangers, do not walk your dog near strangers.

Dog owners should be aware that an insurance company could potentially find a way to impose a dog exclusion or cancel a policy, depending on the municipality's vicious dog laws (invoked if a dog has bitten) or any breed bans in place. For example, an insurance company could cite exclusions in a homeowner's policy about not covering damage or injury caused by a dog who was not supposed to be in the county.

When contemplating the purchase of a new home be also aware that a few homeowners associations have enacted or attempted to enact rules and regulations that discriminate against certain dog breeds.

Mark Van Neem

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