Proper Dog Training Can Impact Home Insurance Rates

People who fail to properly train and control their dogs may find that it results in much higher home insurance rates if a neighbor or somebody else ends up being bitten.

The Insurance Information Institute recently reported that dog bits account for about one-third of homeowner liability claims, reaching a total of more than $387 billion last year and marking an 8.7 percent increase from 2007.

The average cost of an individual claim was said to be $24,461, with the cost having increased almost 28 percent since 2003 along with a noticeable increase in the number of claims. Rising medical costs were cited as one reason for this trend.

With that in mind, the institute is reminding people that dog owners are responsible for any damage their pets cause, whether unprovoked or not, although this often does not apply if trespassing is involved.

With that in mind, pet owners are encouraged to take the proper steps to train their dogs and to keep them away from children and others who may be bitten. Taking some simple precautions now can avoid expensive lawsuits and high home insurance rates.