When Man’s Best Friend Bites: The Cost and Coverage of Canine Claims

What starts as a routine interaction with a dog can quickly become a complex and costly liability claim. Explore today’s dog-bite exposure by reviewing claim frequency, severity drivers, and post-COVID behavior shifts shaping losses. Examine how homeowners, renters, and umbrella policies respond to animal liability, including common exclusions and sublimits. Analyze legal frameworks, litigation trends, and breed-based underwriting restrictions influencing outcomes. Apply a practical claims playbook that guides effective action from first notice through resolution, while reinforcing underwriting and prevention strategies that reduce repeat incidents and escalating costs.