Home Insurance and Pit Bulls: What You’re Not Being Told

If you own a pit bull, you already know the stigma. Walk your dog in the park, and people switch sidewalks. Apply for homeowners insurance—and suddenly you’re a “risk.” Even if your dog has never shown an ounce of aggression, just the word “pit bull” can cause problems.

So what do you do when you're a responsible dog owner but your insurance company doesn’t care? Or worse, they flat-out deny coverage?

Let’s talk about pitbulls and homeowners insurance in 2025—what’s really happening, what you can do, and where things stand now.

Breed Discrimination in Insurance Is Still Very Real

Despite growing public awareness and changing attitudes, many insurance companies still flag pit bulls as high-risk animals. Some will flat-out deny homeowners insurance for pitbull owners. Others will impose higher premiums or restrict liability coverage.

To be clear, most of this isn’t based on your dog’s behavior—just the breed label.

Some homeowners try to navigate around this:

• They list their dog as a “mixed breed” or “rescue”
• They avoid bringing up the breed unless specifically asked
• They rely on older paperwork from shelters that used vague descriptors

And while we’re not recommending dishonesty, the reality is: many pet owners feel forced to work around breed profiling just to secure insurance for pitbulls.

Different Carriers, Different Attitudes

Some insurance companies are more flexible than others. For example, companies like State Farm are known for not asking about breed at all. Their position is simple: behavior matters more than breed. If you tell them you have a dog, they’ll ask, “Any history of biting?”—not “Is it a pit bull?”

Others, like Liberty Mutual or Safeco, may have looser guidelines, but they’ll still ask questions—and if the answers raise red flags, the conversation ends there.

Then there are companies that enforce hard restrictions. They may allow only one dog, no children in the home, mandatory muzzling, or require that the dog never be outside without supervision—even in your own fenced yard.

If you’ve called around for coverage with your pit bull and hit a wall, it’s not you—it’s the system.

Current News: 2025 Legislation Pushes Back Against Breed-Based Policies

In 2025, lawmakers in several states—including California—are reevaluating the legality of breed-specific insurance rules. A new wave of consumer protection bills is being introduced, aimed at preventing insurance companies from denying homeowners coverage solely based on the breed of their dog.

This comes as pressure builds from advocacy groups and pet owners alike. Nationwide, there’s a growing consensus: judging pets based on breed rather than individual behavior is outdated and discriminatory.

If these bills pass, they could reshape how insurance companies approach pet liability. But until then, breed bias is still very real—and pit bull owners need to be prepared.

What You Can Do If You’re Getting Denied for Owning a Pit Bull

Be Honest—but Strategic

If the application asks what breed your dog is, don’t lie. But you can emphasize that your pet is mixed or a rescue, and highlight their temperament, training, and positive behavior.

Highlight Certifications and Training

Dogs that have Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification or have passed obedience training should be viewed differently. Share that documentation. Some carriers will take it into account.

Provide a Vet Letter or Trainer Evaluation

A written letter from your vet or trainer confirming your dog’s behavior, health, and socialization can be powerful—especially if your dog has no history of aggression or incidents.

Ask About Liability Add-Ons

Some policies allow you to purchase separate liability coverage for dogs deemed “risky” by insurers. While not ideal, it’s a possible workaround.

Don’t Accept the First ‘No’

Insurance agents often work with specific carriers. If one says no, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Keep calling around. Each company has different underwriting guidelines—and they change all the time.

The Reality of the California FAIR Plan

If you’re a homeowner in California and your current company drops you—or refuses to write a policy because of your dog—you may be told your only option is the California FAIR Plan.

This plan is designed for high-risk homes and hard-to-insure situations, including those with fire exposure or aggressive breed restrictions. But there’s a tradeoff:

• It's more expensive—often double or triple what you'd pay elsewhere.
• It doesn’t include liability protection unless you buy it separately.
• It doesn’t always cover things like theft or water damage unless you stack policies.

In short: it’s a fallback, not a first choice.

So What’s Our Take as a Local Insurance Agency?

We believe:

• No one should be denied protection because of the type of dog they love.
• Breed shouldn’t be the default risk indicator—behavior should be.
• Insurance decisions should be based on facts, not fear.

If you’ve been turned away by other carriers, we want to help you explore your options. We can’t promise that every policy will be available—but we can promise you’ll get real answers and real effort.

We also encourage all homeowners—dog owners or not—to review their policy every year. Things change. Underwriting guidelines shift. You may have more (or fewer) options than you think.

What We Offer

Our agency provides:

• Homeowners Insurance (including high-risk and breed-restricted scenarios)
• Auto, Life, and Business Insurance
• Workers Comp and Contractor Policies
• Medicare and Business Property Coverage

Looking for coverage and own a pit bull or another restricted breed? Get a Farmers home insurance quote today.

We’ll review your situation, discuss available options, and help you build a plan that protects your home, your pet, and your peace of mind.

Responsible Dog Owners Deserve Responsible Coverage

Your dog is family. And if you’ve trained them, cared for them, and raised them right, you shouldn’t have to fight for basic insurance coverage. The system may not be fair yet—but you can still find protection that works.

You just need the right team in your corner.