Does Dog Breed Affect Pet Insurance Rates? 

Yes! Your dog’s breed can have a big effect on what you’ll pay for pet insurance. 

Keep in mind, all insurance rates — not just those for your furry friend — are based on a perception of future risk. That is, the underwriters calculate premiums after predicting how much their companies might have to pay out to the policyholder for their valid claims. 

In the case of pet insurance, this prediction is based on factors such as the likelihood of your dog contracting a major illness or injury due, in part, to its breed. Before you learn more about the impact of breed on the rate you’ll pay, consider why you should have pet protection in the first place. 

The Importance of Insuring Your Four-Legged Friend 

Why do you and your human family have health insurance? For the same reason you should carry pet insurance. In both cases, loved ones can get injured or contract serious illnesses that will cost a lot to treat or cure. 

There are many reasons to get pet insurance. Your dog can get sick or injured, just like you. Leading canine illnesses include cancer, influenza, heartworm, ear infections, arthritis, and dental and heart disease. Sprains, bone fractures, torn ligaments, and even ACL injuries can strike active dogs. 

These conditions can range from uncomfortable to highly painful and even fatal if left untreated. Some ailments can be cured fairly easily with prescription medication, while other conditions might require surgery or long-term care. 

Whatever your pet’s health issue, vet bills aren’t cheap. The more serious the illness or injury, the higher the cost to treat it. In other words, pet medical care works much the same as human medicine. 

But how does the breed of your pet impact the premium you’ll pay for coverage? 

Why Breed Matters in Pet Insurance 

Have you ever wondered, “Does a dog’s breed impact pet insurance costs?” The answer is yes. Some dog breeds are more susceptible to certain serious medical conditions or more injury-prone than others. And there’s a difference in coverage cost between purebred dogs and mixed breeds. Your pet’s expected lifespan — again, based on its breed — is another determining factor when the pet insurance underwriter sets rates. 

High-Risk Breeds and Potential Health Issues 

In general, larger and heavier dogs will cost more to insure than smaller ones. For example, a Cane Corso, which can weigh more than 100 pounds, is likely to cost much more than a dachshund. That’s because the bigger animal is putting more weight on their joints and is, therefore, more prone to sprains, fractures, and ligament tears. 

In addition, larger dogs require larger medical devices and equipment when being treated, which boosts the cost of care. 

Other large dogs that are more expensive to insure include St. Bernards, Labrador retrievers, and French and English bulldogs. 

Large, active dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, pit bulls, and those that herd livestock or otherwise engage in labor, are much more likely to experience injuries than less active or largely inactive breeds. 

Among smaller dogs, cheaper-to-insure breeds include chihuahuas, dachshunds, and Yorkshire terriers. The least costly purebred is the English springer spaniel. 

How Your Dog’s Lifespan Affects Pet Insurance Premiums 

Larger dogs typically don’t live as long as smaller breeds. While it might sound counterintuitive, a shorter lifespan might actually increase pet insurance premiums. That’s because many of those shorter-living breeds experience their medical conditions earlier in life, and you’ll be paying premiums for a shorter period of time. 

To put it another way, when you have a larger dog with a shorter lifespan, your insurer will have fewer mostly claim-free years before it has to start paying for your filed claims. So you’ll be charged more than what a smaller breed might cost you. 

The Impact of Heredity on Your Dog’s Health (and Insurance Premiums) 

Some dog breeds have congenital health problems that can range from allergies and respiratory conditions to cancer, hip or elbow dysplasia to intervertebral disc disease. 

Many of these medical disorders can be extremely expensive to treat, so you’ll pay more to insure such breeds even before they’ve exhibited any symptoms of a condition they might never experience. But the likelihood of such disorders is higher, based on breed. 

Consider using a dog DNA test to better understand your dog’s breed and potential hereditary health risks. These tests can provide valuable insights into your pet’s genetic background, helping you anticipate potential medical conditions and make informed decisions about coverage. 

How Purebreds and Mixed Breeds Stack Up Financially 

If your furry friend is a mutt, it might actually be healthier, live longer — and be less expensive to insure — than a high-priced purebred. That’s because a purebred is more likely to inherit diseases and maladies from its narrower family tree. 

A mixed-breed dog, on the other hand, has a family tree with more branches and is less likely to have inherited these medical conditions. 

Pet insurance underwriters take your dog’s family history through its breed into consideration when setting rates. So you’ll pay more to cover a purebred pet than a mixed-breed mutt. 

Typical Cost of Pet Insurance 

So, how much will it cost to insure your furry family member? Other factors will be considered in addition to your pet’s breed, including its age, medical history, and the level of coverage you seek. But, in general, you’ll likely pay somewhere between $20 and $50 per month. A higher-risk animal can cost $100 monthly or more. 

Keep in mind that a smaller animal that is less active and injury-prone and has low heredity risk will be at the low end of the cost scale, while a larger, more active animal or one with a high heredity risk will cost you more for pet insurance. 

Strategies for Reducing Premiums for High-Risk Breeds 

If your dog’s breed or other factors puts you on the upper end of the cost scale for coverage, you’ve got options. Here are some strategies that can help hold your premiums down. 

Consider Level of Coverage 

Many pet protection plans allow owners to file claims for all vet bills, from preventive care appointments to emergencies, surgeries, and long-term care. Of course, this will cost you more than if you have a plan that only covers emergency care for injuries. 

This is known as reactive versus proactive coverage. A reactive coverage plan will cover less but also cost less. 

Raise Your Deductible 

Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay before your insurer assumes the rest of the cost. If you take a $100 deductible, that’s the amount you’ll pay out of your own pocket. 

If you instead assume a $500 deductible, you’ll agree to pay that higher amount before your insurer starts to pay the bills. The upside is that by taking on a higher deductible, your monthly insurance premiums will be lower. 

Deductibles can be assigned on an annual or a per-visit basis. Ask your agent for details. 

Find the Right Policy for Your Pooch Through Acceptance Insurance 

At Acceptance, we partner with ASPCA pet health insurance. We can offer you the right plan to cover your dog regardless of its age, medical history, breed, and other factors. We’ll also show you other strategies to reduce coverage rates if you have a breed that’s more expensive to insure. 

Simply call Acceptance Insurance at (877) 405-7102 to speak with a knowledgeable agent. You can also get a quick pet insurance quote online or find an Acceptance agent near you.