Allison, thanks for your comment… and lesson in underwriting. Just for the record, since I cannot interview and grade the owners, I don’t sell liab to restricted breeds, period. That would be stupid. And notice I said owner of rottie. My rot lived to 12 yrs of age and never even growled at a human. Pits are in a category all by themselves. They were bred for fighting, thats their entire reason for existence. I don’t think pits could have enough training to ever gain my trust, just their DNA.
Most claims I have reviewed involved a negligent owner. One of the worst claims I ever reviewed was a lab, attacked a 6 yr old girl. Really messed up her face. A poorly socialized dog allowed around small children at feeding time? Stupid owner!!! And remember, we insure people who own dogs, not dogs themselves!
My point was this is not a one dimensional subject; its not all about the breed, nor is it all about the owner. If it was as simple as you make it sound this article would have never been written, or needed to be written.
That is what makes it so hard to write hh with these dogs, I can’t use half the companies I have if a pit, rot, doby, or wolf is in the hh. Some will let me write the hh with a dog bite exclusion, but that is really defeating the purpose of having liability coverage in the first place. You are right about other breeds biteing and how the people raising their animals can have a profound effect on the behavior of the dog, unfortunately I can’t screen for that.
Ok I can hear the comments now when I send this “Get a Life”. I have actually researched the subject thinking I would write up an article. What I found was amazing I think the problem is the companies are simply asking the wrong questions. First a test and then the answers.
Which of the two dogs below would you approve?
A Pit bull, female, spayed 3 yrs old, fenced yard, simple woman Homeowner, the dog has had some basic training classes.
Next door lives a Golden retriever 2yrs old, not nuetered, Male of course, family with 3 older kids the dog is tied to a tree.
So let’s see what yo think and I will give you the answer and explain it.
I don’t understand why the insurance industry hasn’t taken a more nuanced underwriting stance. For example, the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen is what I recommended as a risk management consultant to real estate companies managing properties that allowed large dogs . It isn’t the breed, it’s the temperament. I personally have owned import-line German shepherds. They have never bit anyone because the Czechs and Germans breed for temperament and good health. They will, however, mix it up with a dog now and then, and that’s often when people get bitten, trying to protect their dogs, which is understandable.
The Canine Good Citizen is not bestowed on dogs with temperament problems or with dog aggression, or none that I have witnesse had those problems.
I would say either one, most agents don’t inspect the property so how would they know who or what was tied to a tree! The question on the app asks “do you own a dog and what is the breed”? Of course if an inspection is done then it might show up. The sign on the fence usually gives them their first clue, “Warning guard dog on duty.”
As to the Canine Good Citizen I have gotten it on one of my three I could train both of the other two to pass the test but one has a personality disorder so to speak, even got him a doggy shrink.
Needless to say even if I got a CGC on him it would not fix him. We are extremely careful when anyone is around and we do not take him “out”. Why keep him? If you saw how happy he is just to be alive you would understand.
I have an idiot across the street from me, who is a cop no less,perhaps synonomous with idiot these days, who feels his Pit bull is so well trained he has fought the Chief of Police in our Township to NOT have his dog on a leash, behind a fence, anything! He feels he trained it so what’s the problem? The problem is clearly outlined, it’s a PIT BULL! I’ve been branded a trouble maker for trying to keep my kids, which include a 4 yr old boy who is very rambunctious, from getting killed by this thing. I hope the dog turns on the owner to teach him a lesson and then both my problems are solved.
We have updated our privacy policy to be more clear and meet the new requirements of the GDPR. By continuing to use our site, you accept our revised Privacy Policy.
Allison, thanks for your comment… and lesson in underwriting. Just for the record, since I cannot interview and grade the owners, I don’t sell liab to restricted breeds, period. That would be stupid. And notice I said owner of rottie. My rot lived to 12 yrs of age and never even growled at a human. Pits are in a category all by themselves. They were bred for fighting, thats their entire reason for existence. I don’t think pits could have enough training to ever gain my trust, just their DNA.
Most claims I have reviewed involved a negligent owner. One of the worst claims I ever reviewed was a lab, attacked a 6 yr old girl. Really messed up her face. A poorly socialized dog allowed around small children at feeding time? Stupid owner!!! And remember, we insure people who own dogs, not dogs themselves!
My point was this is not a one dimensional subject; its not all about the breed, nor is it all about the owner. If it was as simple as you make it sound this article would have never been written, or needed to be written.
That is what makes it so hard to write hh with these dogs, I can’t use half the companies I have if a pit, rot, doby, or wolf is in the hh. Some will let me write the hh with a dog bite exclusion, but that is really defeating the purpose of having liability coverage in the first place. You are right about other breeds biteing and how the people raising their animals can have a profound effect on the behavior of the dog, unfortunately I can’t screen for that.
DD72,
I’ll bet you have a big truck too!
Ok I can hear the comments now when I send this “Get a Life”. I have actually researched the subject thinking I would write up an article. What I found was amazing I think the problem is the companies are simply asking the wrong questions. First a test and then the answers.
Which of the two dogs below would you approve?
A Pit bull, female, spayed 3 yrs old, fenced yard, simple woman Homeowner, the dog has had some basic training classes.
Next door lives a Golden retriever 2yrs old, not nuetered, Male of course, family with 3 older kids the dog is tied to a tree.
So let’s see what yo think and I will give you the answer and explain it.
That would be single woman not simple woman
I don’t understand why the insurance industry hasn’t taken a more nuanced underwriting stance. For example, the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen is what I recommended as a risk management consultant to real estate companies managing properties that allowed large dogs . It isn’t the breed, it’s the temperament. I personally have owned import-line German shepherds. They have never bit anyone because the Czechs and Germans breed for temperament and good health. They will, however, mix it up with a dog now and then, and that’s often when people get bitten, trying to protect their dogs, which is understandable.
The Canine Good Citizen is not bestowed on dogs with temperament problems or with dog aggression, or none that I have witnesse had those problems.
I would say either one, most agents don’t inspect the property so how would they know who or what was tied to a tree! The question on the app asks “do you own a dog and what is the breed”? Of course if an inspection is done then it might show up. The sign on the fence usually gives them their first clue, “Warning guard dog on duty.”
Both is the wrong answer.
As to the Canine Good Citizen I have gotten it on one of my three I could train both of the other two to pass the test but one has a personality disorder so to speak, even got him a doggy shrink.
Needless to say even if I got a CGC on him it would not fix him. We are extremely careful when anyone is around and we do not take him “out”. Why keep him? If you saw how happy he is just to be alive you would understand.
The question on the app asks “do you own a dog and what is the breed”?
There are about 3-5 total questions and statistically you would account for the majority of dog bites.
I have an idiot across the street from me, who is a cop no less,perhaps synonomous with idiot these days, who feels his Pit bull is so well trained he has fought the Chief of Police in our Township to NOT have his dog on a leash, behind a fence, anything! He feels he trained it so what’s the problem? The problem is clearly outlined, it’s a PIT BULL! I’ve been branded a trouble maker for trying to keep my kids, which include a 4 yr old boy who is very rambunctious, from getting killed by this thing. I hope the dog turns on the owner to teach him a lesson and then both my problems are solved.