What Is Dog Liability Insurance and How Does It Work?

Key points

• Dog liability insurance can help cover the costs of medical expenses and repair bills if your dog injures someone or damages their property.
• It can also cover your legal fees and settlements if someone sues you after your dog injures them or destroys their property.
• Home and renters insurance policies include liability coverage, which may extend to your dog; however, it depends on the company, your dog’s breed, and its biting history. 

If your dog hurts someone or damages their property — even if it happens at the park and not your home — you may be left footing the bill for the injured party’s medical bills and property replacement costs. If they decide to sue after the event, you could even be on the hook for your legal defense and any settlements. 

The average dog bite claim payout was $58,545 in 2023, according to recent data provide by the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm. Could you afford to pay out of pocket if your dog bites or injures someone and they file a lawsuit against you? If not, that’s where dog liability insurance can help. 

What is dog liability insurance and how does it work?

Like other types of liability coverage, dog liability insurance, also known as pet liability insurance, will help cover another party’s medical or property damage expenses after an incident with your pet. For instance, if your dog bites your neighbor and they need medical attention, such as stitches or surgery, your dog liability insurance policy will pay for associated medical bills, up to your policy limit.

If that person sues you after the incident, your dog liability insurance policy can also pay for your legal defense and any settlements that result from that lawsuit. 

Though the liability insurance portion of your homeowners or renters insurance can also provide financial protection in the event your dog injures someone or damages their property, it can have limitations, including: 

• Ban on certain dog breeds the insurer deems “dangerous.”
• Decline to cover a claim if your dog has a bite history.
• Liability limits of $100,000 or $300,000, which may not be enough coverage. 

If your home or renters coverage does not cover your dog, or if you want a policy with a higher coverage limit, consider purchasing a standalone dog liability insurance policy. 

According to the Triple-I and the American Property Casualty Insurers Association, 29 states have dog bite laws stating that dog owners are legally liable for the injuries their dog causes, with some exceptions like if the dog was provoked. In some states, dog bite attacks as can be classified as misdemeanors or even felonies in severe cases.

What does dog liability insurance cover?

Typically, dog liability insurance will cover:

• The cost of repairs or replacements if your dog damages someone else’s property. 
• Another party’s medical bills if they are injured by your dog. 
• Your legal fees and settlements if you’re sued after property damage or injuries caused by your dog. 

Coverage includes incidents inside your house as well as those that occur outside of your house, such as at a park. However, dog liability coverage will not cover members of your household. For instance, if your son or daughter is injured by your dog or if your dog ruins your carpet, your policy will not pay for damages related to that incident. 

How much dog liability insurance do you need?

Your dog liability insurance policy should include enough coverage to protect your assets in the event of a lawsuit and to meet any state or local requirements. 

Other factors to consider include your dog’s breed, weight, bite history and other characteristics, said Coleman Johnson, SVP and chief underwriting officer at the Mutual Group. 

Dr. Chyrle Bonk, remote veterinary consultant for Petkeen.com, noted that pet owners with small, mild-mannered dogs may not need as much coverage as large dog owners or owners of dogs with aggressive tendencies. 

Household characteristics, like whether you work from home or have a fenced-in yard, can also help you determine the right amount of coverage. For instance, both of those scenarios provide the ability to more closely monitor your dog and limit potential interactions or situations that could cause your dog to act out.

Expert take

“Before purchasing pet liability insurance, I recommend checking your homeowners or renters insurance policy or speaking to your agent to learn how liability coverage is extended to your specific pup. You want to make sure you have enough liability coverage to cover an expensive lawsuit should your dog cause serious damage to someone else, but you also don’t want to be over-insured or pay for a policy that you don’t need.”

 – Kara McGinley, Deputy Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

When should you consider dog liability insurance?

Every dog owner should consider liability insurance because dogs can be unpredictable. “Even the most easy going dog that would never bite should have liability insurance because you just never know how a dog will react to each situation they are presented with,” said Dr. Bonk.

If a dog feels threatened, scared or territorial, for example, they could bite or cause harm to others. Having the right coverage in place could prevent financial devastation.

Here are some benefits of having dog insurance liability coverage:

• Helps the dog owner protect their assets in the event of a lawsuit.
• Keeps potentially costly claims from a homeowners insurance policy.
• Can cover gaps in the liability portion of your homeowner’s insurance that may not be apparent.

If you have a dog bite or property claim on your homeowners policy, the company may increase your premium, cancel your policy or choose not to renew it. This type of claim could make it difficult to get homeowner’s insurance in your state or could increase the premium cost dramatically. 

Dog liability insurance can help you avoid making a claim against your homeowner’s policy if your dog injures someone or damages their property.

Homeowners insurance vs. dog liability insurance

Homeowners insurance offers several coverage types, including dwelling, personal property and liability coverage. The liability coverage pays if you cause injury or property damage to others. It also pays for your legal expenses if you’re sued. 

Depending on the company and policy, the liability coverage could extend to your dog and other pets.

However, some home insurance companies may ban certain dog breeds or not extend coverage to your pup if it has a history of biting. Further, home insurance policies may have limits on how much they’ll cover for a pet liability claim. If your home insurance coverage isn’t enough to cover an expensive lawsuit — you may want to look into a dog liability insurance policy. 

Confused about coverage? What home insurance covers.

About animal liability insurance

While dog liability insurance only provides coverage for canines, animal liability insurance is for different kinds of pets such as:

• Birds. 
• Cats. 
• Rabbits. 
• Reptiles. 

It can also cover dog breeds that some insurance companies see as “aggressive” like pit bulls and rottweilers, or animals with bite histories. If you own multiple pet species, it may be worth exploring animal liability insurance. Some policies will even cover individuals or businesses using animals for commercial purposes.

Don’t assume your home insurance company will cover your pet under your liability coverage. Insurers may have a list of species they will not cover, which could include your pet. Finding out before your pet harms others or their property can help you save thousands in medical bills, property damage costs and legal fees.

Dog liability insurance FAQs