If you have ever been in the position of having to choose a new four-legged friend to join the family, you will know that that is not an easy task at all! There are so many important things one has to think about when choosing a dog – particularly if you have young children to consider. Although dogs are known to be man’s best friend, you probably still don’t want your dog to scare away the neighbors and your children’s friends, and while most dogs can be trained (if you get them early enough!), some require more responsibility and training than others. Additionally, there is the matter of homeowners insurance which can go up significantly depending on your dog’s breed.
Dog Breeds That Could Dramatically Spike Your Homeowners Insurance
Chihuahua
These little dogs look undeniably cute. And many assume that due to their small size they will be perfect for kids too. However, they are actually one of the more tenacious and strong-willed dog breeds and are quite difficult to train, particularly if they sense weakness in the human trying to train them. Probably trying to overcompensate for their diminutive size, Chihuahuas tend to be quite aggressive and jealous of small children as they aim to assert their dominance over the smallest members of the pack.
Chihuahua
Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamutes were originally bred to survive the cold, harsh, and generally secluded, tundra environment. Meaning, they are not hard-wired to be around playful little ones. They are, however, hard-wired to be firm leaders of the pack, which means they can require socialization from other dogs as well as from humans. If anyone has asthma in the family their tendency to malt a lot can be problematic. That being said, they are also extremely loyal, so once trained properly they will protect your ‘pack’ to the very end.
Alaskan Malamute
Rottweiler
Always keep in mind when getting a puppy that, depending on the breed, dogs can sometimes grow up to ten times their original size, and the Rottweiler can grow very large. Often thought to be a dangerous breed (though not necessarily true!) they can up your homeowner’s insurance premium significantly depending on your deal. Initially bred for pulling small carts and herding livestock, they are extremely strong and sturdy and they usually have strong personalities to boot. They are also very playful but not always aware of their strength, and can quickly go from play to full attack mode if they mistake play for a real attack. However, with proper training and strong leadership, this loyal and courageous breed can definitely become one’s best friend.
Rottweiler
Bullmastiff
Bullmastiffs are another breed that can grow to be pretty large, and are often unaware of their size and strength. If they start running and you have small children around this can pose a potential risk as they could knock them down, and pretty hard, easily and without meaning to. They can also be pretty aggressive, more so than other breeds, but that can be managed if you train them early on. The older they are the harder they will be to train, even more so than other breeds, and they need strong leadership as they see their humans as the leaders of their pack.
Bullmastiff
Saint Bernard
This breed became famous thanks to the movie Beethoven. Saint Bernard looks like a big fluffy teddy bear, however, they are huge dogs and can be quite aggressive when they feel protective. They can also be trained, through their strong nature can make it difficult, and they tend to be instinctively protective over small children. However, their size can also be a problem for the little ones, as well as their aggression, when they become over-protective, also sometimes making your insurance policy more expensive.
Saint Bernard
Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is originally a hunting dog, so they love to run (and very fast!) and have huge amounts of energy that they need to release daily. They can get bored easily and their hunting instincts can get them excited if there are little ones around, especially if their exercise needs have not been fulfilled. So other than being very large dogs, they are also quite needy in terms of physical activity and space to run around in, so keep that in mind if you have little ones and smaller living space.
Weimaraner
Australian Shepard
Originally bred as rescue dogs and watchdogs, the Australian Shepard is known for being extremely courageous and loyal, while having tons of energy to expend. Bursting with energy, they need to have daily frequent physical activity otherwise they can develop behavioral problems, and they are also a little uneasy about first time meetings with new people, but if trained well they can be great pets for you and your children.
Australian Shepherd
Siberian Husky
Siberian Huskies were originally bred to pull sleds in the snow, making them a strong and energetic breed of dog. Strong pack members, they will be protective over the family but are not naturally guard dogs. They have strong personalities and require a lot of care and attention and can sometimes compete with children for the spotlight. However, if you have the patience, they can be trained well and will become an extremely loving pet.
Siberian Husky
Affenpinscher
The Affenpinscher is known to be mischievous and playful, as well as pretty stubborn and curious in nature, all making them pretty amusing to observe. However, if you have children around, the Affenpinscher’s fluffiness and small size can encourage children to think of them as playthings leading to a tendency to mishandle them. Usually, the dog will tolerate the children’s rough play, but if they begin to feel uncomfortable they will defend themselves. They can be trained, like almost any dog, but the minute you show any weakness they will become disobedient.
Affenpinscher
Chow Chow
This is another dog breed which looks just adorable, with their teddy bear faces and fluffy fur, making them easily mistaken for toys and playthings by children. Chow Chows may be cute and cuddly but there may be other breeds better suited to you if you have kids at home. They require strong leadership, and they can be extremely jealous of others approaching their human ‘parent’.
Chow Chow
Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is thought to be one of the oldest breeds of dogs, originally bred in the cold mountains of Afghanistan for hunting and guarding, they are inherently strong-willed meaning they require strong leadership at all times, they are also thought to be a breed which it takes longer to train as they don’t learn new commands quickly. Other than their huge size, they have a high prey drive, meaning they may not get along with smaller animals, which can also mean small children. This breed requires strong leadership, and calm, collected, kind, interaction, so unless you have the time and patience, and not too many little ones running about, you may want to consider another breed.
Afghan Hound
English Toy Spaniel
Possibly because the English Toy Spaniel includes ‘toy’ in its name, as well as their extremely cute and cuddly appearance, this breed is often thought to be great for kids. However, this is not altogether true. They react violently if they feel mistreated – so rough play with kids can be a problem. They also need very strong leadership otherwise they can become dominant in the household, and a dominant Toy Spaniel can be very aggressive and territorial, and think of themselves as the masters of the domain. But if trained properly they can also be lovely pets.
The English Toy Spaniel
Greyhound
Greyhounds were bred for racing originally, they have tons of energy and are extremely fast runners. They need a lot of daily physical activity, so if you have children around and not a lot of time or space for them to run around in, this may be a problem. They also have a tendency to attack small animals and don’t like rough play, so they probably won’t tolerate little ones hovering or pulling at them.
Greyhound
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a very playful breed of dogs usually, but they are also rather demanding in terms of time and affection; if they don’t get enough attention, training, and love, they can feel unappreciated and ignored which can lead to aggressive or mischievous behavior. Because of the way they look they are sometimes considered a more dangerous breed (though not true) which can also up your homeowner’s insurance policy if you’re not careful. If you do decide to have a French Bulldog as your pet and you have children at home, make sure they understand how to display authority to avoid the disastrous consequences of this dog feeling they have free-reign in your home.
French Bulldog
Japanese Chin
The Japanese Chin was originally bred as companions for royalty. So although they are small in size they can be very demanding of their master’s time and affection, and if they feel neglected they can get extremely jealous. They require strong leadership, if they are pampered too much they can feel like they are the boss and they call all the shots, leading you to fulfill all their demands to avoid havoc at home. Basically just think of it like this, a Japanese Chin is like adding another small child to the family that will always have the needs of a demanding three-year-old.
Japanese Chin
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is one of the breeds least recommended for families with young children. When frightened their natural defense mechanism is to bite, and they can become easily overexcited and misjudge child’s play for attack. For this reason, the Shih Tzu would need constant supervision if small children are around, and they quickly develop separation anxiety – which in turn can create behavioral problems – if left alone too long, meaning they would need to be around their masters constantly.
Shih Tzu
Pekingese
Despite looking extremely cute and cuddly, Pekingese are independent and courageous dogs and do not like to be treated as toy-things, but because of their small size and fluffiness, this may be hard for young children to understand. Pekingese also need strong leadership, as if they sense any kind of weakness they can become extremely difficult to control. So if you do decide to care for a Pekingese and you have kids at home, just make sure your children know how to step up as pack leader and show authority, otherwise, we recommend you look for a different breed.
Pekingese
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is renowned for being energetic, and require lots of structured and consistent training. They also do not tolerate rough play very well, so may bite kids who pull and poke them in playfulness. If they don’t get the proper care – a lot of time and attention – they can easily develop behavioral problems, so add that to their high energy and low tolerance threshold, and consider if you have the right resources to care for this breed of dog alongside your own small children.
Jack Russell Terrier
Chinese Shar-Pei
The Shar-pei is another dog that looks extremely cute and cuddly with all their extra skin folds and docile nature, however, they may not be the best choice for a family with small children. Firstly, they have a tendency to be quite aggressive in nature which can make them quite difficult to train, especially around little ones, and secondly they have a tendency to suffer from health issues as well as their skin folds being an easy home for various pathogens, which can easily transfer to children who come in contact with them – so depending on the outdoor habitat of your home, it may not necessarily be a risk you want to take.
Chinese Shar Pei
Dachshund (Standard smooth)
The Dachshund was originally bred in Germany during the 17th century as a small dog breed used to hunt small game animals; this means that their strong hunting instincts do not go well with small pets like hamsters or kittens. They also have what many other small dogs have – the tendency to overcompensate for their small size by having a big attitude, which can often lead to behavior problems. Overall they are not particularly dangerous for children, but they don’t do well with rough play and tend to become aggressive if they feel they are being manhandled too much.
Dachshund (Standard Smooth)
Dalmatian
Dalmatians were originally bred for hunting game and small rodents, and have been used for guarding purposes in the past too. Despite being portrayed in films such as 101 Dalmatians as friendly and cute, they are generally quite reserved when it comes to other dogs; meaning they require constant socialization and affection from their owners. They also have tons of energy to release, so if you have small children and not a lot of time they may be difficult dogs to have in the family home.
Dalmatian
Neapolitan Mastiff
This breed of dog initially comes from Southern Italy and was originally used as guard dogs. They are gentle dogs despite their massive size, and can be very affectionate towards children. However, because of their size, the Neapolitan Mastiff can also be quite clumsy, so they can easily accidentally knock over, sit or step on small children by mistake. They also tend to drool a great deal, particularly after eating or drinking, which may add to the mess in the house already created by your children.
Neapolitan Mastiff
Skye Terrier
Skye Terriers originated in the United Kingdom, and are even associated with the royal family. Known for being very loyal, they were originally bred for their hunting skills, and like most other Terrier breeds they can be quite aggressive towards other dogs and enjoy hunting smaller animals. Even though they definitely enjoy the outdoors and need a lot of exercising (though not recommended before they are around 8-10 months old), they actually prefer to live indoors. Like most pets, they need a lot of love and affection, and if they feel neglected they will express their irritation by chewing, barking, and digging.
Skye Terrier
Akita
The Akita is thought to have been used in Japan since ancient times, and have a strong reputation for being great household guard dogs, meaning they are extremely loyal and dedicated pets. But they are also aggressive pack leaders, so if you have other dogs or small children who have friends over to play, they may see them as intruders and become hostile in response. Like other dogs, the Akita can be trained to be better socialized, but it is important to make sure your kids know how to approach this breed safely and confidently.
Akita
Pitbull
Pitbulls are well-known for being aggressive guard dogs and extremely protective over their owners, but they also get a bad rep from the history of being bred for dogfighting purposes which train them to be ruthlessly vicious. This is probably because this breed can sometimes bite and clamp down, and refuse to let go. But bad rep aside, Pitbulls can be extremely loyal and loving pets, as long as they are trained and socialized well and get a lot of love and affection.
Pit Bull
Doberman Pinscher
Dobermans have often been used by the military, and often bred and trained to be aggressive, even being bred for dog fights at one time. There are a number of horror stories from the 1970s, when Dobermans became quite popular, about them attacking their owners for no apparent reason, except seeing them act aggressively towards strangers or intruders. Despite these occurrences becoming much more infrequent since then, insurance companies are often wary of this breed, and may spike your premium significantly.
Doberman Pinscher
German Shepherd
German Shepherds are thought to generally make great pets are they are obedient, intelligent, and loyal dogs, reasons they are often used in law enforcement. However, it is this intelligence which also makes them quite independent and strong-willed, so without the right training, they can be hard to handle. It is also through their use in law enforcement that their aggressive tendencies have also gotten attention, and being such large and powerful animals, some insurance companies will factor that into their price.
German Shepard
Great Dane
The Great Dane is one of the tallest breeds of dogs, lending them a regality of sorts. But other than the elegance and beauty of this beast it is also their size which can make them dangerous. Although attacks are rare, they need to be trained early on, and weighing in at over 100lbs. if they get out of control it can be near impossible to stop them, which makes insurance companies quite the opposite of fans of these great beauties.
Great Dane
Wolfdog
The beauty and majesty of these animals can hardly be denied, however, being ‘Wolfdogs’ their wild wolf tendencies are much higher than other domesticated dogs. Their instincts are more attuned to those that live in the wild, thus ready to kill if it wants to eat or if it feels threatened. And if this animal is kept in small, domesticated spaces for too long, problems may ensue. Insurance companies are well aware of these wild instincts with data to back it up, and so are often against people having them as pets.
Wolfdog
Staffordshire Terrier
Kind of a cousin to the Pitbull, the Staffordshire Terrier is a strong breed of dog that needs to be trained well from very early on in order to avoid aggressive tendencies, and as with the Pitbull, they were also bred for many years for brutal dog fights giving them a bad reputation with insurance companies. However, those in the know, know that they do have a long history of being good with humans, making them loving and loyal pets.
Staffordshire Terrier
Presa Canario
As implied by the name, this breed originated in the Canary Islands. But, unlike those who go to the islands to lie back and relax, the Presa Canario is in no way relaxed or laid back. This is a very large dog that has been bred to herd livestock, which has also given them the instincts to take out anything perceived as a threat. They need a lot of outdoor activity, so if you live in a small apartment or house, and don’t have a lot of time for outdoor activity, probably best to pick another breed. Most locales that have banned certain dog breeds, include the Presa Canario; inevitably making this dog a pet many insurance companies want to avoid.
Presa Canario
Japanese Tosa
This large dog, the Japanese Tosa, is a rare breed, and was originally bred as a fighting dog. However, unlike most other types of fighting dogs, the Tosa’s aggression is not always directed towards other dogs and has no problem being aggressive towards humans, including its owner. A number of countries have banned the breed, and it is not uncommon for insurance companies to deny insuring those with Japanese Tosas.
Japanese Tosa
Dogo Argentino
The Dogo Argentino was originally bred in Argentina with the intention of helping humans hunt large game, like wild boar. Since then it has also been trained for duties such as law enforcement and as guide dogs for the blind. However it’s toughness is well-known, and its aggressive side has also made it a viable fighting dog, leading it to be banned in a number of countries. These things make insurance companies reluctant to ensure homeowners who keep this breed of dog as pets.
Dogo Argentino
Rhodesian Ridgeback
As implied by the name, this dog was first bred in southern Africa, and was originally used by hunters to help them track lions – which should probably give you a clue as to the type of animal this is, if you are considering to have one as a pet. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a very large and strong dog which can be dangerous if they break free of their leash or jump a fence, if they see something they consider prey it will be hard to stop them, and if they feel threatened or protective they can become dangerous pretty quickly. Things to think about if thinking about getting one as a pet.
Rhodesian Ridgeback