Dog Breed Restrictions in Central New York Home and Renters Insurance

Owning a dog brings joy to your family, but it can also complicate your home and renters insurance search in Central New York. Many pet owners discover too late that their furry companion affects their ability to secure coverage or influences their premium costs.

The confusion deepens when you consider that New York recently changed its laws regarding breed restrictions, yet insurance companies still find ways to limit coverage.

At the Horan insurance agency, we assist Central New York homeowners and renters in exploring how their pets affect their insurance options. We work with multiple carriers to help identify coverage possibilities for pet owners throughout the region.

In this article, we'll examine which dog breeds commonly face restrictions, how New York's recent legislation affects coverage, and what steps you can take to explore suitable home and renters insurance when you own a restricted breed.

Understanding the Most Commonly Restricted Dog Breeds

Three specific breeds consistently appear on insurance company restriction lists: Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and Doberman Pinschers. These breeds face the most widespread restrictions across carriers, making it challenging for their owners to find standard home or renters insurance coverage.

When insurance companies encounter these breeds during the application process, they typically respond in one of two ways.

1. Some carriers will decline to write the policy entirely, stating that the applicant doesn't meet their underwriting criteria due to dog ownership.
2. Other companies might offer coverage but require you to sign a waiver acknowledging that they won't defend you legally or pay settlements related to dog bite claims.

Beyond these three primary breeds, many insurance companies expand their restricted lists to include additional breeds they consider high-risk. The extended list often includes:

• Akitas
• Chow Chows
• German Shepherds
• Huskies
• Mastiffs
• Presa Canarios
• Wolf breeds and wolf hybrids

For example, if you live in Liverpool and own a German Shepherd mix, some carriers might classify your pet as a restricted breed, while others might not. This inconsistency between carriers highlights why discussing your pet early in the application process proves crucial. 

How New York's 2021 Legislation Changed the Insurance Landscape

New York took a significant step in 2021 when Governor Kathy Hochul signed animal welfare legislation that prohibits insurance companies from rejecting or penalizing homeowners based solely on their dog's breed. This law represents a major shift in how insurers approach breed restrictions within the state.

However, insurance companies adapted to this new legal landscape by creating coverage limitations rather than outright denials. While they can't refuse to write your policy because you own a Rottweiler, they can limit the animal liability coverage within your policy.

These limitations often affect your ability to qualify for personal umbrella insurance. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability expenses up to limits ranging from $100,000 to $300,000.

For owners of previously restricted breeds, some New York insurers now place additional restrictions on animal liability coverage that can disqualify you from umbrella insurance eligibility.

This creates a complex situation where you might find basic home or renters insurance but discover yourself unable to access the additional liability coverage that umbrella insurance provides.

Learn more about personal umbrella insurance coverage.

Strategies for Exploring Coverage When You Own a Restricted Breed

The key to finding suitable coverage when you own a restricted breed lies in early communication and carrier comparison. Discuss your pet ownership with your insurance agent at the beginning of your coverage search, not after you've invested time in a particular application.

Provide specific details about your dog, including the exact breed, any mixed breeding, the number of pets you own, and your pet's history. Some carriers prove more accommodating to certain breeds or mixes than others, and this information helps guide your agent toward companies that might welcome your situation.

Consider the timing of this conversation carefully. If you're purchasing a home in Baldwinsville and own a Pit Bull mix, addressing this factor early in your insurance search prevents delays in your closing process and helps you budget accurately for insurance costs.

Some insurance companies offer coverage with breed-specific liability limitations rather than complete policy denials. While they can't exclude coverage for specific breeds under New York law, they can cap your overall liability limits at lower amounts.

This comprehensive liability cap affects all liability coverage on your policy, not just dog-related claims, making it less favorable for you as the policyholder since it reduces coverage across all potential liability scenarios.

Training and certification can sometimes help your case. Some insurers view dogs with Canine Good Citizen certification or similar training credentials more favorably, regardless of breed. Additionally, maintaining a clean claims history and demonstrating responsible pet ownership can influence an insurer's decision.