Breed Restrictions
What Are Breed Restrictions in Insurance?
Breed restrictions are rules in an insurance policy that exclude or limit coverage when you work with certain types of dogs.
Think of your insurance like an umbrella. Breed restrictions are holes in that umbrella for certain kinds of dogs. If something happens with one of those breeds, it falls on you. Knowing where those holes are helps you patch them up before a storm hits.
Why It Matters to You
PCI doesn’t refuse to cover any dog because of breed. Still, if you’re insured elsewhere or work with certain businesses, you may run into dog breed restrictions. Here’s why they matter:
- Denied claims get pricey: If a claim involves a restricted breed, policies may not pay
- Breed rules vary: Different insurers and states have their own restrictions
- You may have options: Some insurers cover restricted breeds if you have specific endorsements, higher limits, or follow safety rules
- Contracts can have breed requirements: Facilities, HOAs, and landlords may have breed restrictions, even if your insurance doesn’t
How Do Breed Restrictions Affect Your Policy?
Here are some common situations that can affect whether an insurance policy pays for a claim.
| Policies With Breed Restrictions | Policies Without Breed Restrictions | |
|---|---|---|
|
Injuries caused by certain breeds |
Often excluded unless you add a special endorsement |
Generally covered per your policy’s terms |
|
Mixes or “look-alike” dogs |
Frequently included in breed restrictions |
Typically not singled out |
|
Animals with a bite history or dangerous-dog designation |
May void coverage regardless of breed |
May still limit or exclude coverage if history exists |
Injuries caused by certain breeds
Policies With Breed Restrictions: Often excluded unless you add a special endorsement
Policies Without Breed Restrictions: Generally covered per your policy’s terms
Mixes or “look-alike” dogs
Policies With Breed Restrictions: Frequently included in breed restrictions
Policies Without Breed Restrictions: Typically not singled out
Animals with a bite history or dangerous-dog designation
Policies With Breed Restrictions: May void coverage regardless of breed
Policies Without Breed Restrictions: May still limit or exclude coverage if history exists
Bite history matters for every type of dog. If a pet with a pattern of aggression bites someone on your watch, it’s rarely covered by insurance, regardless of breed. In fact, many insurers look at weight, temperament testing, or past behavior instead of breed alone.
While PCI doesn’t have breed restrictions, we don’t cover individual dogs with a history of aggression. That’s why it’s crucial to gather basic info about the dogs you’ll care for ahead of time, including breed and bite history. It’s for their safety and yours.
Common Dogs on a Breed Restriction List
Lists of restricted dog breeds vary by insurer and state, but often include:
- Certain guarding, working, or “bully breeds”
- Wolf hybrids or similar mixes
- Any dog with a documented bite history
- Dogs identified as “dangerous” under local law
- Mixes that are visually similar to restricted breeds (if the policy says “looks like”)
What to Ask Your Insurer About Breed Restrictions
Here are some smart questions to ask while you shop for insurance or consider a contract:
- Does my liability policy exclude specific breeds or dogs with a bite history?
- Do restrictions apply to mixes or just purebreds? Who decides the breed?
- Can I buy an endorsement to cover restricted breeds?
- Are there safety rules to follow with specific breeds?
- Does my Animal Bailee Insurance (aka Pet Protection Coverage at PCI) cover injuries to a restricted breed while in my care? Are there any sublimits?
- Do any facilities or landlords I work with require breed restrictions in my insurance or on their premises?
Risk Controls That Can Unlock Coverage
Safety steps like these sometimes help insurers expand coverage to restricted breeds:
- Written temperament or intake forms and bite-history questions
- Client consent and a special handling plan with extra safety precautions
- Handler training and proof of experience with special behavioral needs
- Incident logs with notes, photos, and witness statements
- Transport rules, like separate zones, secure tethering, and safe loading protocols
Pro Tip: PCI provides a customer agreement template on the homepage of your user dashboard as an example of how to ask about bite history and limit your liability. An attorney can help you tailor waivers and contracts to your exact business needs or local laws.
Big Takeaway
Breed restrictions help insurers manage risks, and understanding them helps you avoid surprises. Check your policy for breed rules and be intentional about client questions for peace of mind during every walk, groom, and training session.
Keep Sniffing Around
- Animal Bailee Coverage
- Bite history
- Exclusions
- Endorsements
Kyle Jude | Program Manager
Kyle Jude is the Program Manager for PCI, where he helps design and maintain liability coverage specifically for pet professionals. With 10+ years of insurance industry experience, he works closely with carriers, underwriters, and compliance teams to ensure PCI coverage stays accurate, responsive, and relevant to real-world risks. At home, he puts that same expertise to use wrangling his four beloved dogs
Kyle Jude is the Program Manager for PCI, where he helps design and maintain liability coverage specifically for pet professionals. With 10+ years of insurance industry experience, he works closely with carriers, underwriters, and compliance teams to ensure PCI coverage stays accurate, responsive, and relevant to real-world risks. At home, he puts that same expertise to use wrangling his four beloved dogs