Dog insurance
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There are some types of dog, including those listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act, that insurers may be reluctant to cover. Read our full guide to learn more.
The Dangerous Dogs Act first came into force in the UK in 1991 to protect members of the public from dog attacks. It is also referred to as Breed Specific Legislation (BSL).
It bans the ownership, sale, exchange and breeding of four specific types of dog, unless you have an official exemption from court:
The UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act classifies dogs by 'type' and not breed, so it doesn’t matter if your dog isn’t officially one of the banned breeds – if its physical characteristics fits one of the types, it’s at risk of being classed as restricted.
Each insurer will have its own rules – some will list specific breeds that aren’t covered, while others will only state they won’t cover dogs mentioned in the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) as well as those used for security, guarding, track racing or coursing.
It’s not just banned breeds that insurers may be unwilling to cover though. You could also struggle to get cover for some larger breeds, like great Danes and Alaskan malamutes, purely because of their size – the bigger the dog, the more expensive the vet bill, as they’ll need larger quantities of medication than a smaller breed.
A few insurers will also refuse to cover some breeds due to their typical personality traits. For example Akitas, German shepherds and Saint Bernard’s can be very loyal to their owners, which means they’re more likely to be territorial in certain situations, making them risky to insure.
Other breeds, especially those of the flat-faced variety – for example pugs and French bulldogs – could be tricky to get covered too, because they tend to be susceptible to certain medical conditions.
A dog can be deemed dangerous if there’s a reasonable cause to believe it could hurt someone, regardless of whether it does or not.
If the courts decide your dog poses a threat, you risk it being put down – whether it is a purebred banned breed or if its physical characteristics simply conform to one of the 'types' mentioned in the Dangerous Dogs Act.
If you can prove your dog isn’t dangerous, despite it being a banned breed, then you can get an exemption.
Pet owners and official organisations, including the RSPCA, say that it focuses too much on the breed, instead of the temperament of a dog. The Act also ignores the fact that irresponsible owners play a large part in dogs developing an aggressive nature.
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