Dog Liability Insurance

Dog liability insurance is a highly sought-after service in our country. Currently, most insurance companies offer pet policies that cover costs in the event of an accident. Even if your dog is not considered "potentially dangerous," it's always a good idea to have insurance in case it accidentally bites someone, or even another dog, or mistakenly eats your neighbor's plants. If you want to know what dog liability insurance entails, when it's necessary, and how much this type of policy costs, tQel explains it in detail.

What is dog insurance and when do I need it?

Dog insurance covers accidents and damages caused by a pet to third parties. As it covers third parties, owners, family members, and people living in your home are excluded from the policy.

This type of insurance does not cover damages to people close to the owner; however, you can use it if the accident occurs without you being present. For example, if you leave a friend in charge of your pet for a few days and your pet causes some damage during that time, the insurance should cover it.

These dog insurance policies are designed to cover serious situations, especially in the case of dangerous breeds. If your pet causes harm to a third party, for example, while you are out for a walk, your insurance should offer you legal advice, and if the judgment is unfavorable, you will be entitled to have your company cover, at least in part, the established compensation.

Types of dog liability insurance

Companies usually offer three types of policies based on the breed and its potential danger. Although each company has its own parameters, the following types of dog insurance are the most common:

• - Potentially dangerous companion dogs: The criterion for determining if a dog is dangerous is its breed. The potentially dangerous breeds are: American Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer, Pit Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Tibetan Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Presa Mallorquin, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu, and their mixes.
• - Guard dogs: These are dogs that, regardless of their breed, are used for guarding and surveillance duties.
• - Companion dogs: Breeds not considered dangerous.

A dog can also be considered dangerous if it has previously caused aggression, even if its breed is not considered high-risk.

Is it mandatory to have dog insurance?

The law does not establish any minimum for policies of this type, so if you have a pet not considered dangerous, you can purchase very affordable annual insurance.

How much does dog insurance cost?

The prices of dog liability insurance vary depending on the breed: A basic annual insurance for non-dangerous dogs would be between €20 and €60 annually.

Insurance for dangerous breeds is somewhat more expensive. The standard annual rate is between €80 and €160. The price varies depending on the breed and the coverage contracted.

Finally, the most expensive insurance policies are those that cover guard dogs, with prices ranging from €150 to €250. The continuous exposure of a guard dog to risky situations is what makes the policy for these dogs somewhat more expensive. In any case, all companies offer very flexible policies that adapt to the characteristics of each pet.

These are the main characteristics of dog insurance. At tQel, we offer a wide catalog of small dog harnesses so that your visits to the park are completely safe and you avoid risky situations. Also visit our post on leashes for small dogs.

We hope to have expanded your knowledge of dog insurance.

See you in the next post!