Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC

14 Dog Breeds Blacklisted by Insurance Companies

Homes containing certain breeds of dogs have been declared uninsurable

Posted May 27, 2014

While you might love your dog, the companies that carry the insurance for your house, apartment, or condominium might not. In fact, your dog's breed might determine whether or not an insurance company is even willing to provide coverage for your home.

The motivation for denying insurance to households with certain breeds of dogs is based upon financial considerations. As one representative of Allstate Insurance told me, "We are in the business of evaluating risk, and based on what we know the dogs on our 'uninsurable list' pose a higher risk." She went on to tell me that dog bites are a major financial burden for the insurance industry. "Dog bite related claims accounted for more than one third of all homeowners insurance liability claims paid out in 2013. That amounted to about $490 million, with the average claim costing close to $30,000. But actual costs can be much higher. In 2011 A Washington State Superior Court jury awarded a $2.2 million verdict to a woman who was attacked by two neighborhood pitbulls near her home in Tacoma, Washington. The woman sued the dogs' owners whose homeowners policies were unfortunately limited to $100,000 each."

Presa Canario

In association with National Dog Bite Prevention Week (which occurs in the month of May each year) a number of insurance companies have issued their lists of dog breeds which they consider dangerous and according to their rules can result in denial of coverage. These lists have various names depending upon the company, such as "excluded dog breeds," "aggressive dog list," "insurance list of dangerous dogs," "prohibited dog breeds," and one simply labels it their "bad dog list." The dog breeds which can be found on these lists seem to be drawn from a series of research studies such as one commissioned by the U.S. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that was published in 2000. It looked at the statistics on fatal dog bites (click here to read more about this). However, it seems as though any dog bite incident that receives wide media coverage can also land a dog breed on such a list. Thus the Presa Canario was a dog breed that few people had heard of prior to the media coverage of a 2001 incident in San Francisco. The media luridly described how a woman was viciously mauled to death by two of these big dogs in the hallway of her apartment building. As a result the owner of these dogs is now serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Although the Presa Canario remains a quite rare breed in North America, it now seems to appear on every prohibited dog breed list issued by the insurance companies.

The use of such lists is not acceptable everywhere. In America the states of Michigan and Pennsylvania have restricted the use of dog breed profiling by insurance companies. Ten other states have pending legislation that would similarly prohibit companies to deny insurance to someone based only on the breed of dog owned by their household. These laws propose that insurance companies should only be allowed to deny or revoke a policy or to increase the premium, based on the risk associated with a specifically named dog. That means that the individual dog must have a known history of being aggressive or must have been officially designated as dangerous.

The insurance companies counter by saying that such laws will not work. They argue that by the time the dog has bitten someone, and has therefore been deemed dangerous, there has already been a claim filed. That means that it's already too late for the insurance company since they will have to cover the claim under the pre-existing unrestricted policy. The companies argue that the only way to reduce their financial risk is to ban certain dog breeds from coverage. Nonetheless there are some insurers that do not use a banned dog list, and some other companies that will allow a household to be insured simply by excluding coverage for liabilities due to damage caused by a dog.

Looking at the various uninsurable dog lists I found a reasonable amount of variability as to which breeds were to be allowed or disallowed. Still there were 14 breeds of dogs which appeared on virtually all of the lists that I consulted. Most of these blacklisted not only the specific breed but any mixed breed that presumably included a genetic relationship to one of the banned breeds. The 14 most often blacklisted dog breeds were:

Pit Bull Terriers
Staffordshire Terriers
Rottweilers
German Shepherds
Presa Canarios
Chows Chows
Doberman Pinschers
Akitas
Wolf-hybrids
Mastiffs
Cane Corsos
Great Danes
Alaskan Malamutes
Siberian Huskies

dog canine pet Schipperke aggression insurance danger

Schipperkes

Nonetheless you must remember that each company draws up its own list based upon its opinion of the risk the dog breed presents. No specific scientific criteria are required for a dog breed to be blacklisted, and it is possible that simply one report in the media might be enough to cause an official in an insurance company to decide that one or another dog breed is dangerous. That situation is bound to lead to some odd choices as to which breeds are uninsurable. For example, take the experience of Michael Richbourg of Atlanta, Georgia. While he was being pre-screened for a home insurance policy he was asked if he owned any dogs. He answered that he had two mixed breeds and while he wasn't sure about one of them he thought that the other appeared to be mostly Schipperke (pronounced "skipper-key"). At that point the agent said that he could not process the insurance application further since his company had blacklisted the Schipperke as being a high risk breed. For those of you who don't know the breed, Schipperkes are small, black, fox-faced little dogs whose height is around 12 inches (30 cm) and weight is around 15 pounds (7 kg). I suppose that if such a dog became really angry at your shoelaces he could do great harm to your running shoes but I fail to see how this breed could reasonably be entered onto a list of dangerous dogs and effectively classed the same as a 120 pound (55 kg) Presa Canario or a 200 pound (90 kg) Mastiff.

Stanley Coren is the author of many books including: The Wisdom of Dogs; Do Dogs Dream? Born to Bark; The Modern Dog; Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? The Pawprints of History; How Dogs Think; How To Speak Dog; Why We Love the Dogs We Do; What Do Dogs Know? The Intelligence of Dogs; Why Does My Dog Act That Way? Understanding Dogs for Dummies; Sleep Thieves; The Left-hander Syndrome

Copyright SC Psychological Enterprises Ltd. May not be reprinted or reposted without permission

58 Comments

Pit bull

Submitted by Anonymous on May 27, 2014 - 11:22am

I own two dogs. I was walking up the street near my home with both my dogs on a leash. A pit bull in a locked secured home sensed me and my dogs on the sidewalk. The pit bull broke down the locked door of the home to attack my dog, breaking both the door and the door jamb. The horrified owner was too terrified to approach her own dog. I managed to scare off the pit bull. Fortunately, the damage to my dogs was minimal and the owner quickly offered to pay if I needed veterinary services.

The pitbull owner decided to have the dog put down immediately. I can see the insurers point.

Pitbulls

Submitted by Anonymous on May 28, 2014 - 2:15am

Lots of support groups on Facebook now for victims. I am glad you are okay. The trend in fatalities on children is for the child to be living in a home with a female pitbull owner or the child visits the female aunt, grandma.. etc. the pitbull that loved the child in the past attacks the child is killed as the female can't get the dog to let go.. Of course male owned pitbulls are a problem too but Females that get them thinking they will protect the family LOSE BIG.

Try this for fun

Submitted by Bill Atnip on May 20, 2016 - 12:01am

http://www.pickthepit.com One of the dogs pictured is considered the most aggressive. Hint ( its not a pit ) mis-identification is part of the problem.

Pitbull

Submitted by Ignorance on August 12, 2016 - 4:15pm

Now I understand why they say ignorance is bliss. You should go back and read your little story and realize how insane it sounds. Then go do some real research on the breed before making blanket comments.

protection

Submitted by Art on June 6, 2015 - 4:31am

I always carry a stun baton when walking my doggies, for protection against attack. It works well, is relatively inexpensive, and causes no damage to the attacking dog or human, for that matter.

Pit Bull

Submitted by AreUKiddingMe on August 12, 2016 - 4:12pm

Are you seriously saying the Pitties are dangerous?! Just because a handful of HUMANS have been assholes and use them for dig fighting you are afraid of them??? Our Pit is the sweetest most lovable dog we ever rescued. I'll never own another breed.

pitbulls

Submitted by nunya on October 22, 2016 - 9:55pm

i saw a racist skinhead on TV once. So i think its safe to assume all white people are racist. Since one incident indicates all others.

Siberian Huskies?

Submitted by Evie on October 12, 2017 - 10:14am

Siberian Huskies are a common breed, They DON'T show aggresiveness to humans. They are curious and wonder who that person is. I could list a whole bunch of dog breeds more aggressive than a Siberain Husky. I study dogs and work with them. I probably know more about a Siberian Husky than you do. They shouldn't be on this list. They may be playful but the AREN'T aggresive.

Are there any reliable studies?

Submitted by astorian on May 27, 2014 - 11:33am

In the abstract, I can't blame insurance companies for wanting to cover themselves. If dog bites cost them a lot of money, its only reasonable that they should increase premiums for dog owners, or "blacklist" dogs that have a proven history of biting.

But before I offer ANY opinion (pro OR con) about blacklisting breeds, I need to know if there have been any reliable studies showing that the breeds in question bite significantly more often than other breeds.

We all know that "data" is not the plural of "anecdote." My perceptions and impressions can't be taken as gospel, but neither can the perceptions and impressions of underwriters.

Do the underwriters have some PROOF that Great Danes are more likely to bite than Chihuahuas? My perception has always been that many of the biggest breeds (including Great Danes, St. Bernards and Irish Wolfhounds) are very docile, while many smaller breeds (like Chihuahuas and dachshunds) are snappish. If my perception is utterly wrong, I'd like to know that.

Where's the real data? Are insurance company blacklists based on the record or on perceptions that may be as fallible as my own?

Its not about being more

Submitted by Anonymous on May 27, 2014 - 2:06pm

Its not about being more likely to bite, its about the damage done once that bite takes place. A toy breed or even a cat may snap at or bite people more often but one is less likely to be seriously injured due to a 10 pound dog/cat bite vs a dog that has a huge mouth and is 50-120lbs.

Fair point

Submitted by astorian on May 27, 2014 - 6:14pm

Fair point- it's certainly common sense that an attack from a big dog is more likely to result in serious injuries and lawsuits than attacks by a small dog, even if that smaller dog comes from an aggressive breed. If a Chihuahua bites me, I'll need a Band-Aid; if a Doberman attacks me, I may need to go to a hospital. The latter case is of more interest to my insurance company.

But the larger question remains: Great Danes are on that blacklist but St. Bernards and Irish Wolfhounds are not. Are there data showing that Great Danes are more likely to attack or bite than other large dogs?

German Shepherds are on that blacklist. MAYBE they deserve to be. But are there reputable studies showing that German Shepherds are more prone to biting or attacking than Pointers or Giant Poodles or Rhodesian Ridgebacks or Pyrenees Mountain dogs (who are all equally large or larger, but are NOT on the blacklist).

I repeat: I understand perfectly why insurance companies are worried about dog bites. I'm just asking for evidence that the dogs on their blacklists truly are more prone to attacking and injuring people than other breeds. Does this evidence exist? If so, I'd like to see it. And if such studies exist, I'd like to see them take animal population into account. It stands to reason that if (hypothetically) Labrador Retrievers and Weimaraners are equally vicious (or equally tame), there'd be a lot more bites from Labradors, just because there are so many of them. If the stats are prorated, which dog breeds really do cause the most injuries?

German Shepherd bites

Submitted by Anonymous on June 29, 2014 - 6:16am

Years ago I was attacked by a German Shepherd. It was owned by my employer. I fed it daily, talked to it all the time, and even took him for rides in my car when I had to run an errand. One day I was petting the dog and it bit my face. One canine tooth went through my upper lip and into my gum and the earlobe on the opposite side of my head was nearly torn off. My whole face was bleeding. Sometimes German Shepherds are too inbred and can attack unexpectedly.

Reliable source

Submitted by Bill Atnip on May 19, 2016 - 11:25pm

One instance with one dog and all German Shepherds are inbred and vicious. All estimated 18,000,000 in the U.S. According to AKC the second most popular dog in America. Of course you chose to remain Anonymous. I have owned four German Shepherds, a Wolf hybrid, a Husky, a Malamute, a Golden Retriever, a Irish Setter and a Cocker Spaniel none have ever bitten any one. I am however a responsible owner.

You idiot. I am choosing to

Submitted by Anonymous on August 26, 2016 - 6:31pm

You idiot. I am choosing to remain anonymous simply to respond since it seems to irritate you.

The FACTS show that some dogs are more prone to bite and attack than others. I don't give one crap about what yours do, the FACTS still stand.

Wow, yay...you are a responsible owner. According to you. How can we know who is and who is not? Scumbags like you, who ignore all FACTS, only make it worse.

Dog bites

Submitted by Piranhtachew on October 24, 2015 - 11:31am

Rabies and other diseases aren't going to care where they came from.

Rabies

Submitted by Bill Atnip on May 19, 2016 - 11:34pm

It is exactly that kind of statement the blows it out of proportion. Rabies is not a huge problem and 100% curable
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sep 21, 2015 - Human Rabies. Human rabies cases in the United States are rare, with only 1 to 3 cases reported annually. Thirty-four cases of human rabies have been diagnosed in the United States since 2003, in which 10 cases were found to have contracted infection outside of the United States and its territories. No I don;t think there is a high probability that I will be killed by a terrorist.

Large Dogs

Submitted by Kyra on May 31, 2016 - 4:12pm

Actually, St. Bernard's can be very temperamental, especially with small children. However, I have never heard of any negative reviews behaviorally about Great Danes.

Dog Bites/Cat Bites

Submitted by Georgia on March 29, 2016 - 1:30pm

I have to disagree with you when it comes to cat bites. A bite from a cat can be worse than one from a dog. It has been proven that the bacteria from a cat bite can be devastating if not treated immediately by a qualified physician. Any kind of open wound from any domestic animal can be dangerous for the victims.

Bites: Big Dogs v Little Dogs v Cats

Submitted by Lori Stewart Price on March 21, 2018 - 1:44pm

Not entirely accurate. Cat bites carry bacteria that's much more dangerous to a human than the bacteria in a dog's mouth. Small dogs are very bad about biting into finger joints, which can cause serious infections. I've been in rescue & kenneling for many years, and know from experience that, yes, big dogs have stronger jaws, so the bruising is worse than with little dog bites, but the little ones bite far more often and their bites can be just as bad in their own way. Any insurance blacklisting by breed is ridiculous.

Insurance Stats

Submitted by Gwen Lebec on May 28, 2014 - 12:57am

Insurance companies base their decisions on quantifiable data - namely the amount of dollars paid out in liability claims. They don't just wave their arms and guess. What this list does not do is break down the relative differences in claims by breed. I expect that they have that data, but choose to just release their top ten list.

Insurance stats

Submitted by Bill Atnip on May 19, 2016 - 10:33pm

Here are some stats the Insurance companies are just looking at raising the bottom line. All in how it is framed.

The statement dog bites account for one third of homeowner liability claims. Sounds huge they don't mention that homeowner liability claims are only 2.7% of claims.

So dog bite claims are 0.9% The same year there were 77.8 million dogs in the US. 16,550 dog bite claims.

Dog bites per capita was 0.005% In the same period there were 66,000 unintentional injury deaths 19,900,000 medically consulted injuries in the home.from unintended accidents.

A little perspective The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that there are more than 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 150 occupant deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and over $1 billion in vehicle damage.

In 2013, 191 deaths were the result of collisions with animals, with deer being the animal most often struck, according to the IIHS.

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-b

Submitted by Anonymous on May 28, 2014 - 3:59pm

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-study-dog-attacks-and-maimings-merritt-clifton.php

Dog breeds blacklisted

Submitted by Anonymous on May 28, 2014 - 8:48pm

dogsbite.org is not a credible source of information. The woman that runs that page has lied several times regarding the story of her 'attack'.

Another study from a libelous journalist

Submitted by Brian Christ on May 28, 2014 - 9:10pm

This is the same study referenced by Mr. Clifton below. He cites no specific sources. He defines no parameters. He data complies with no major breed registry. He offers no law enforcement or animal control confirmation. And of great note, he just left his longtime employer as a journalist after they were forced to apologize for unfounded information contained in an article written by him. That's a fancy way of saying he lies.

biters.i

Submitted by Diane Perkins on March 20, 2016 - 6:01pm

Astorian you are not wrong. Many of the smaller breeds such as chihauhuas, daschunds, min pins, and most of the terrier breeds are vocal and nippers and biters. Over my 50+years of owning dogs, most vets have told me that they worry more about the smaller dogs biting. Yes there are big dogs that bite. Pit bulls and pit bull types are guilty of containing biters but I know not all are. I believe that there are several blood lines some of which would indicate biters and others that would indicate the original nanny dog. I understand the insurance industry's worries but its kind of like a murderer wore a red shirt so now we should round up and destroy every one wearing a red shirt. Life is complex and often unfair.

Reliable studies

Submitted by Bill Atnip on May 19, 2016 - 10:41pm

The AKC also issued this statement concerning BSL:

The American Kennel Club strongly supports dangerous dog control. Dog control legislation must be reasonable, non-discriminatory and enforceable as detailed in the AKC Position Statement.

To provide communities with the most effective dangerous dog control possible, laws must not be breed specific. Instead of holding all dog owners accountable for their behavior, breed specific laws place restrictions only on the owners of certain breeds of dogs. If specific breeds are banned, owners of these breeds intent on using their dogs for malicious purposes, such as dog fighting or criminal activities, will simply change to another breed of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety.

The Fact is this: “A dog is not genetically predisposed to agression and/or violence. How they are raised and treated is the major factor in their temperment”. Don’t blame the dog……..Blame the owner.

There is no way to scientifically determine whether a dog is likely to bite in the future, anymore than psychologists can predict whether certain people will commit crimes of violence. The exception to this rule is the axiom that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

For this reason, many veterinary and scientific groups support "dangerous dog laws" which target individual dogs that have demonstrated a propensity to bite or attack innocent victims. The problem with BSL and breed discrimination is that legislatures and insurers have attempted to prophylactically determine which breeds are most likely to bite without any evidence of individual dangerousness.

It is possible that the statistics are being skewed because property owners who wish to purchase "guard dogs" may be self-selecting certain breeds based on the popular notions of relative dangerousness. Guard dogs are trained to protect property by scaring away would-be intruders and, if necessary, to bite an actual trespasser. Owners who desire to have guard dogs may rationalize the purchase of one breed over another based on the degree to which they subjectively believe that the dog will be "mean" or "scary."

This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. The "scarier" a breed is considered by a community, the more likely a dog of that breed will be purchased for protection, used for protection, and actually bite an intruder. This will skew the statistics in a way that purports to show that the particular breed is, in fact, inherently more dangerous.It is also skewed by the relative popularity of a specific breed in general

The very scientists who have authored studies trying to determine a link between breed and aggressiveness oppose breed discrimination and BSL. In many of the CDC studies, the scientists cautioned against using their incomplete data on attacks to make knee-jerk legislative or policy decisions based solely on breed. They pointed to the lack of reliable data on bites per breed (the "numerator problem") and the absence of a reliable count of dogs per breed (the "denominator problem").

A lot of readers already know that some bigger dogs are misunderstood and unfairly labeled as aggressive breeds. So what are the most aggressive dog breeds? I came across a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science a few years ago, and the answer surprised me.

The most aggressive breed, the study found, was the Dachshund. The researchers discovered that that one in five have bit or attempted to bite a stranger, and one in twelve have lashed out at their owners. Chihuahuas were in second place, and Jack Russells were the third most aggressive breed. Up to 30 percent of these smaller breeds have bit or attempted to bite unfamiliar dogs.

Studies

Submitted by Kyra on May 31, 2016 - 4:07pm

I have seen studies that show small breeds are more likely to bite, especially small children. However, they cause far less damage. Where a Chihuahua bite can be nasty, a bite from a large breed can be catastrophic and even deadly. That is the true issue.

Personal experience

Submitted by Hgale on May 27, 2014 - 4:43pm

Extensive data has been collected and reported on the Web, and for links search on "Alexandra Semyonova" who has researched the topic for several years. Our experience of dog attacks in a suburban area included an Akida, and later a Rhodesian Ridgeback (lion dog) attacking me, my wife and our Border Collies while our BCs were on leash. Both threat dogs had been permitted by their owners for months to run loose, off leash, at night in our neighborhood. Our BC puppy needed 11 stitches & the Ridgeback's owners accused our puppy of provoking the attack by being visible on a leash by their 75 pound off leash dog.

Pit Bulls

Submitted by Anonymous on May 27, 2014 - 11:57pm

Here are some studies and data pertaining to pit bulls:

“Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Strict regulation of pit bulls may substantially reduce the US mortality rates related to dog bites.” http://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/2011/04000/Mortality,_Mauling,_and_Maiming_by_Vicious_Dogs.23.aspx

“When bite rates were determined by breed, Pit Bulls were 5 times more likely to bite than all other breeds combined.” http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA381425&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

“More severe bites and injuries were observed in attacks from the pit-bull and Rottweiler breeds.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22235708

“More than 30 different offending breeds were documented in the medical records. The most common breeds included pit bull terriers (50.9 percent), Rottweilers (8.9 percent), and mixed breeds of the two aforementioned breeds (6 percent).” http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/2009/08000/Pediatric_Dog_Bite_Injuries__A_5_Year_Review_of.28.aspx

“A retrospective review was performed at two urban Children’s hospitals from 1996-2005 of all dog attacks presenting to the plastic surgery service. Charts were reviewed with analysis of patient demographics, injury site, operative intervention, and dog-specific data...57% of dogs were deemed to be of a dangerous breed (Pit Bull or Rottweiler).” http://aaps1921.org/abstracts/2008/P13.cgi

“Significantly more pit bull injuries (94% vs 43%) were the consequence of unprovoked attacks.”
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/88/1/55.short

“Of the 199 US dog bite fatalities for which breed is known, pure breed pit bull and pit bull cross breeds were most frequently involved.”
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/7/4/321.short

“It is remarkable that five out of eight fights which led to the death of the victim involved the clearly over-represented group of fighting dogs. Three lethal injuries were caused by American Staffordshire Terriers, one death was caused by a Bull Terrier, and another dog died after a fight with a Pit Bull Terrier.” http://www.azs.no/artikler/art_agressive.pdf

“When compared with the proportion of these breeds in the estimated national dog population, bull breeds and guarding breeds were over-represented in the population of aggressors, whereas gundog and terrier breeds were under-represented. In attacks where guide dogs were injured, dogs belonging to bull breeds were the most common aggressors (41.5 per cent)...Most injuries to people occurred in attacks involving an aggressor belonging to a bull breed (52.6 per cent).” http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/166/25/778.abstract

“During the one-year period between June 1986 and June 1987, 14 people were killed by dogs in the United States. Ten of those 14 deaths are attributed to pit bulls. Thus, 71% of the deaths during that period were attributed to a type of dog that accounts for 1% of the US dog population...Most breeds do not repeatedly bite their victims; however, a pit bull attack has been compared to a shark attack and often results in multiple bites and extensive soft tissue loss (3,10). Although the teeth of dogs are not very sharp, they can exert a force of 200 to 450 psi. Pit bulls inflict more serious bite wounds than do other breeds because they tend to attack the deep muscles, hold on, and shake.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3238616

“This breed has an intensity and duration of attack not seen in other dogs. This leads to severe injuries and, in some cases, death of the victim (human or animal). This trait has been created by cruel individuals who want animals that are ‘game’ for dog fighting.” http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/168/5/133.abstract

“Dog bite injury hospitalization (DBIH) rate in Winnipeg relative to Brandon (a city without BSL) was significantly lower after BSL in people of all ages...Conclusions: BSL may have resulted in a reduction of DBIH in Winnipeg, and appeared more effective in protecting those aged

Pitbulls

Submitted by Anonymous on May 28, 2014 - 2:23am

Great stuff! Glad to see some intelligent people posting on this subject. Here is MORE: ASCPA is not spending money on pets.. http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/14/us/animal-charity-investigation/ Pennies in the bucket out of millions go to pets. So pass on the sappy sad song late night commercials. ASPCA is also running "enrichment programs focused on FEMALES where 10 and 11 year old females are taught all of the lies of pitbull advocates and the HELP promote the dogs in High Kill shelers. People are reporting these young volunteers are helping out at Adopt-A pet promotions at local pet stores and telling patrons all the lies and propaganda they are learning about pitbulls. Interesting, no males are targeted in ASPCA's campaign to indoctrinate the next generation of starving rescue angels.

Pitbulls

Submitted by RTS on May 28, 2014 - 11:43am

Sad, and foolish. Although I have known some very excellent pitbulls, the differece between them and the vast majority of pitbulls out there is these were carefully bred and raised animals, and they were trained by people with experience with this breed. Most people don't have this, and most dogs they buy are "junkyard" mutts, mixes with no particular attention paid to the parents' tempraments.
Pittbulls are POWERFULL. They bite repeatedly and grind when they bite. They shatter bones. They are supposed to, that's how they won dogfights and bearbaiting. They have a very agressive fighter instinct when triggered. This is not the animal's fault, by any means. But it doesn't help if you are a child or elderly person and "trigger" the dog.
This is sad, because the breed does have some very good sides, but in my mind, the potential for harm to people and the subsequent harm to the animal is, to me, a huge deterent to ever owning one or wanting one around my children/grandchildren.
All love to Sissy's memory, a PB who I am glad to say never took a bite from anyone, but had owners who loved her enough to breed her and train her properly.

Actuarial risk

Submitted by Merritt Clifton on May 28, 2014 - 2:41am

I have since 1982 maintained a log of fatal & disfiguring dog attacks in the U.S. & Canada, initially structured to replicate insurance industry actuarial risk charts, and now extensively used by insurance companies because it has proved to have high predictive value in indicating which dogs are most likely to cost them money. The major findings: of the 4,783 dogs involved in fatal and disfiguring attacks on humans occurring since I began logging the data, 3,252 (68%) were pit bulls; 551 were Rottweilers; 4,081 (85%) were of related molosser breeds, including pit bulls, Rottweilers, mastiffs, bull mastiffs, boxers, and their mixes. Of the 556 human fatalities, 292 were killed by pit bulls; 87 were killed by Rottweilers; 420 (75%) were killed by molosser breeds. Of the 2,885 people who were disfigured, 1,973 (68%) were disfigured by pit bulls; 321 were disfigured by Rottweilers; 2,430 (84%) were disfigured by molosser breeds. Surveys of dogs offered for sale or adoption indicate that pit bulls and pit mixes are less than 6% of the U.S. dog population; molosser breeds, all combined, are 9%. Next highest in the actuarial risk category are the "wolf-like" breeds, including huskies, Malamutes, Akitas, German shepherds, wolf hybrids, and others sometimes passed off as wolf hybrids. They collectively account for about 10% of the fatalities and disfiguring attacks. All other dogs combined, about 80% of the dog population, account for less than 10% of the risk.

Is that why you had to start your own website?

Submitted by Brian Christ on May 28, 2014 - 8:59pm

More fancy numbers Merritt. Would you like to explain to everyone why in the same week, you left Animal People and they were forced to issue an apology for libel, in an article you wrote? I'm certain there's a better explanation than you simple made up or manipulated information.

Got a source for this? I

Submitted by Anonymous2 on June 13, 2014 - 9:28pm

Got a source for this? I can't seem to find any information on this supposed "libel" case aside from pro-pitbull people speculating on various blogs and message boards. And I trust that about as far as I can throw you.

Umm...I guess I don't

Submitted by Anonymous on October 22, 2014 - 9:23pm

Umm...I guess I don't understand the data here because some of these numbers don't add up to me. 4,783 dogs in fatal and disfiguring attacks = 3,252 + 551 + 4081 OR 556 human fatalities = 292 + 87 + 420 OR 2,430 disfigured = 1,973 + 321 + 2430.

I understand that larger dogs are on these lists because their bites lock down, however, I have a friend that lost a finger because of a little dog bite. And my sister was in the hospital for 5 days because of a cat scratch. So, little animals shouldn't be excluded from lists.

any large dog

Submitted by Holly on May 28, 2014 - 9:39am

I'm sorry but you really don't know what you're talking about..I have had Akitas for the last 25 years..on my third set..and its all about how you raise them...My parents have had pitbulls over the last 40 years and unless you break in to their house, their dogs have not bit or hurt anyone at all...My Akitas have never bit or hurt a person, animal, anything...its all about responsible ownership of your animal.... You or anyone else cannot tell me that my dogs should be blacklisted and I don't give a crap for any insurance co. that would say I couldn't have this dog...this is a bunch of Bullshit in its finest form!!!!!!!!! You don't have the experience to say this and as I said in the beginning, you don't know what you're talking about!!!!

Insurance companies don't have to insure you

Submitted by Anonymous on May 28, 2014 - 5:29pm

Insurance companies can insure and not insure whoever they wish, they are business people. If you have Akitas and you don't divulge the breed if asked, then your insurance company may not pay your dog bite claims.

Financial Risks of dog bites -US

Submitted by Molnya on May 28, 2014 - 1:08pm

In our part of the US dog bites maiming humans allegedly averaged about $10million per case. Our county required owners to obtain at least $50,000 injury insurance if their dog caused injury by biting humans or companion animals. In these circumstances, during the recent fad in our vicinity for rescuing pit bulls most that were permitted to hunt off leash disappeared within 18 months of arrival. Of four Akidas, two that were permitted by the owner to hunt off leash in our suburb were allegedly by court order after several offenses put down and the owner jailed briefly. Another Akida trained as a guard dog and always in a fenced yard or on leash if in public was eventually neutered (former male) after injuring one of the owners. A fourth local Akida who was socialized as a member of their family has behaved splendidly at all times, including on leash visiting other dogs, and will be fondly remembered by us all who met her well after she possibly dies of old age.

Adam Miklosi, 2007, asserted that there is probably no such thing as "THE DOG" ...... However per Coppingers, 2000 there are behavioral and physical differences among dog breeds, and the behavior of canid individuals is further distinguished by their individual personal experience (socializing, training, etc.). The Nobel prize winning ethologist Konrad Lorenz alleged that when his dog's behaviors became unacceptably dangerous he arranged for it to be confined permanently in cages(a zoo)...

America has it wrong wrong wrong!

Submitted by Jacquie Dougan on May 28, 2014 - 1:46pm

You hear the saying we are going just like the Americans...Sue sue sue! Okay I agree compensation should be given but flippin heck American's the amount you sue for is disgusting. It's all your fault the insurance companies have upped their quotes and now you are allowing companies to create stupid,ridiculous and Irresponsible rules and letting them get away with it.....and so it follows world wide. When are you going to get off your back sides and put a stop to this. A fair compensation given to 'legitimate' claims...cause lets face it, you sue over a hot cup of coffee!!! Now that was out of hand!!...we Britain's hate you for what you are responsible and creating... a society, that is now affecting our dogs and our personal homes, our blood sweat and tears and our HARD EARN MONEY. So the next time you choose to drive with a "HOT" cup of coffee between your thighs....tell yourself how stupid you were and take responsibility of your OWN ACTIONS!

Dogs and Insuranace companies

Submitted by Jayne Lein on May 28, 2014 - 9:10pm

Is it the same in Canada? We have 2 Dobermans and we were never asked about it by our insurance company which happens to be Allstate!

The difference between a dog being dangerous and the risk of a lawsuit

Submitted by Brian Christ on May 28, 2014 - 9:14pm

My comment pretty well sums it up. Lawsuits are more likely to occur with a breed that has a negative connotation, because a jury is more likely to side against that dogs owner. This isn't to say the danger a dog poses isn't considered, but it's the verdict that drives the insurance industry.

Lo, the "poor" insurance companies....

Submitted by Lane Batot on May 29, 2014 - 3:09pm

People, remember, Insurance Companies are a BUSINESS first--they'd just LOVE to jack anyones' home insurance up that had ANY kind of dog, and they just may get their way one day. I recently had a very negative interaction with an extremely dishonest Insurance Agent/inspector, who came to my home looking for ANY WAY POSSIBLE to raise my rates! Being a poverty level subsistence wage worker with no fancy modern home with high tech improvements, he was sore outta luck EXCEPT in regards to my many dogs! He first tried to raise rates calling my Weimaraner a Pit Bull--but I did have AKC papers on that dog to prove otherwise. I do not have "papers"(although those can be manufactured by anyone dishonest enough to do that, too!) on my 4 rescue Siberian Huskies--which were not on this particular Insurance Companies "dangerous dogs" list--they are(very incorrectly, if you know ANYTHING about Siberians, but the generic term "husky" unfortunately lumps them into this category on some inaccurate lists)--so he--without any mention or question to me during his visit--listed one of them as a "wolf hybrid". Funny, but he didn't identify this particular dog's brother(which I also have) as a wolf hybrid! I got a notice from the insurance company threatening to cancel my policy. That's just a scare tactic in many cases, folks--if you're easily duped they send you another notice later saying you can keep your insurance(of course) IF you pay this ungodly exorbitant premium! Unfortunately for this dishonest jerk, he probably picked the WORST possible person to try and pull this stunt on--not only have I HAD actual wolf hybrids in the past, and am very experienced with these animals(in another place long before such insurance tactics reared their ugly heads), I am a zookeeper who works with wolves, and I have friends who are wolf/wolf-hybrid identification experts I promptly got to write affidavits assuring the insurance company my animal WAS NOT a wolf hybrid! I also mentioned I'd be happy to take them to court(with my many affidavits) regarding this issue. They apologized profusely, and left me and my dogs in peace! This agent HAD submitted a photo of my animal in question--though he could EASILY have gotten a good clear photo of ANY of my dogs, the one he submitted was similar to most Bigfoot photos, where you couldn't tell much WHAT it was of! Maybe he just got it mixed up with his Bigfoot photo collection.... So yeah, be warned people, insurance companies are not above using such dishonest tactics to squeeze more blood from the stone.......

I don't think there is a dog

Submitted by Paul on August 21, 2014 - 11:24am

I don't think there is a dog that is necessarily dangerous. I'd say a harmful dog arises from the way it is raised.

Half truths are wrong part of the time

Submitted by Molnya on August 21, 2014 - 1:51pm

Abused poorly or unsocialized untrained dogs indeed can be dangerous, but certain breeds genetically developed and used by modern humans for violence to other animals and humans can indeed be insurance statistical risks disproportionally more harmful than their proportions in the total population of dogs. Reality is not changed by saying different.

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Great Danes should not be on that list

Submitted by Tracey on January 15, 2015 - 1:16pm

I am having a hard time understanding why Great Danes continue to be on the "blacklist" for insurance companies? I have owned a Great Dane for 10 years and have met countless Danes. They are one of the most gentile breeds on the planet. They are wonderful with children (the reason my husband and I got her), good with other animals, and one of the easiest to trainI. I have had all kinds of dogs over the years and once I got my Dane, decided I'd never have an other kind. I really think this Breed needs to be removed from this list. If the insurance companies had done their research well, as I did, they', know that the Breed should be on the list. They are wonderful for small spaces and are much more quite than the little yappie dogs, that would bite the had that feeds them, more often that not. I am not saying that they are all as sweet as pie, but with any breed proper training is needed because of their size. It's really frustrating, because the only dogs that have ever attempted to bite me were all under that 20LB limit that so many apartment builds think are ok. It's beyond frustrating to know that such an amazing breed is on a list that says they're considered aggressive, when they are not. Watching Scooby Doo should give you a clue to how the Breed is. I know who ever wrote that cartoon, had to have owned a Dane. Because it's spot on!

Great Dane Bite

Submitted by rt_elms on April 27, 2015 - 9:30pm

I for one have been bitten by a Great Dane. It belonged to my daughter. He had no history of aggression, yet about a week later he bite someone else. They found a rescue to take him and he was gone. I own 4 Doberman's and they have never bitten anyone......but I pay extra on my State Farm Home Owner's insurance because of their perceived "Bad-Dog" status. They are really gentle with the grand-kids, but I would not recommend jumping the fence into their world.

I would like to say that

Submitted by Daniel Featherston on March 22, 2015 - 2:23am

I would like to say that insurance companies are not helping us. They are just doing business and they can not support those breeds due to which they can suffer loss.

Insurance should be mandatory

Submitted by Sophie on August 10, 2015 - 7:17pm

The insurance is NOT for the dogs or their owners, it's for the victims.... less than 1.5% of victims ever get restitution or compensation... and those that do get some part of the medical/vet bills paid, it usualy takes 2-3 years. WHY do we allow victims to be ripped apart and then have to pay the medical bills just because someone made a sociopathic choice of a 'dog'?

Insurance should be mandatory. You're found without insurance and your dog is seized and you have 72 hours to get it. If your dog harms someone and you don't have insurance your dog should be seized and put down within 24 hours and you can't have another dog for 5 years.... any dog. Do it again and you get a lifetime ban. If your dog kills someone, it should be counted as premeditated murder because we know that some dogs and breeds are genetically predisposed to aggression... in fact that is why some people CHOOSE them or breed them.

The Insurance Institute rated PBs at $3000. which means that for ever ONE dollar they paid out in claims for NORMAL dogs, they had to pay out $3000 dollars for Pit Bulls alone. And it's not all medical bills: dogs also do property damage as well.

Let the premiums tell the story Just like car insurance which is mandatory, if you drive an old car, you pay much lower rates so if you have a low risk dog, you pay lower rates. If you drive a Ferrari, you pay higher rates. You want a high risk dog, you pay higher rates.

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14 Dog Breeds Blacklisted by Insurance Companies

Homes containing certain breeds of dogs have been declared uninsurable

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