Do dog breeds like pit bull, Doberman and Rottweiler make your home owners insurance rates go up?

Yes, insurance companies have their own classification as to the "dangerous" breeds that may make your insurance premiums go up if you own them. There are even insurance companies that deny coverage to owners of dogs that fall on the dangerous breeds list. This is because there is a high potential for liability claims.

There are laws that hold the owner of a biting dog liable for any damage incurred, particularly if the dog has a history of biting or lunging at people. This liability covers people who have a legitimate right to be in the property. These people can sue the owner of the dog and file for damages. That is why insurance companies don't like to insure homes that have dogs.

These "dangerous" breeds which include the Doberman, the Rottweiler and the pitbull are considered dangerous breeds since these tend to bite. Some consideration in a breed being classified as "dangerous" include:

• Size
• Propensity to bite
• The reputation of the breed

Some dog breeds that can cause premiums to go up or may cause insurance companies to deny coverage altogether include the German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Pitbull, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Bull terriers and wolf hybrids.

If you are applying for insurance and own a dog, be sure to be upfront on the fact that you have a dog. Not disclosing this may cause your policy to be cancelled.

If you don't want to pay for higher premiums or if the insurance company is denying you coverage, you can also opt to exclude any liability or damage caused by your dog from the coverage. There are also insurance companies that allow coverage for dogs but will exclude dogs that belong to the "dangerous dogs" list.