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The
breed of dog
you have can impact how much you pay
for home
insurance.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites cost the
property and casualty insurance industry about $317.2 million in 2005.
With a figure like that, you better believe that insurance companies
look carefully at what kind of dog lives on your property.
Breeds
that are statistically more likely to bite or injure someone can
raise your home insurance rate.
That's
why if you plan on adding a four-legged member to the family you
might want to make sure it's not a breed that's going to open you up to
lawsuits and high insurance premiums.
The
Center for Disease Control and Prevention tracked the breeds that
caused the most fatalities over a 20-year period, from 1979 to 1998.
They are as follows:
- Pit Bull type
- Rottweiler
- German Shepherd
- Husky
- Malamute
- Doberman Pinscher
- Chow Chow
- Great Dane
- Saint Bernard
If
you already have a dog, you can take steps to reduce the chance that
it might bite. Here's what the Insurance Information Institute suggests:
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Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered.
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Work to train and socialize your dog with people and
other animals.
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Avoid playing aggressive games like tug-of-war that
could encourage aggression.
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Always be aware of any situation that you're not
sure
how your dog will respond, and maintain control of your pet throughout.
Get
a FREE comparison home insurance
quote
now.
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