Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
Dog Insurance for Popular Breeds, and Why Premiums Can Vary So Much
By Victor Rosario MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Pet insurance can help you pay for the out-of-pocket medical expenses for your dog, but the cost of a policy can vary based on factors that include your dog’s breed. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to hereditary health or behavioral conditions that require medical treatment. Those tendencies, in turn, tend to boost your premiums to insure these animals.
The extra costs you’ll pay for a trouble-prone breed aren’t the same across the marketplace, needless to say, just as coverage provisions vary by insurer. Here is what you need to know about dog breeds and dog insurance, including what you might expect to pay to insure some of the most popular breeds.
Regardless of your pet’s breed, it’s wise to consider one of the best pet insurance companies. These are more likely to offer short waiting periods and a wide range of covered services. They also tend to offer flexibility in the deductible, reimbursement level, and annual limits you choose, all of which affect the cost of coverage.
Table of Contents
- How does your dog’s breed affect pet insurance rates?
- Average dog insurance costs for popular breeds
- What to look for when buying dog insurance
- How can you get dog insurance?
- Dog insurance for popular breeds FAQs
- Summary of our guide to dog insurance for popular breeds
How does your dog’s breed affect pet insurance rates?
Pet insurance costs vary by several factors, including your dog’s breed. Certain breeds — including some of the most popular breeds like German shepherds or French bulldogs — are more susceptible to hereditary health conditions that can lead to pricey vet bills.
Your dog’s breed allows your insurance company to predict how costly it may be to insure. That, in turn, can cause owners of breeds prone to particular illnesses or conditions to be charged higher pet insurance premiums. For example, the congenital condition Brachycephalic syndrome is common in bulldogs and other breeds with short snouts. The condition is caused by anatomic flaws and can lead to breathing troubles that require surgery.
Purebred dogs of some breeds may also have higher pet insurance costs because there’s a high incidence of inbreeding (when offspring are produced from two related dogs). Inbreeding can even further lead to the passing on of complicated inherited diseases.
Finally, as a rule, smaller dog breeds tend to cost less to insure, because smaller pooches are less prone to medical problems in general than larger ones.
Average dog insurance costs for popular breeds
The table below includes examples from four companies of the monthly cost of dog insurance as of November 2022 for various breeds of a two-year-old male dog with a New York zip code. (Note that your rate will likely vary, as location and the pet’s age both affect premiums.) The quotes are for an accident and illness plan with a 70% reimbursement rate and a $500 deductible — both fairly typical choices.
| Breed | Spot | ASPCA | Fetch | Healthy Paws |
| Labrador retriever | $49.88 | $49.48 | $51.63 | $67.15 |
| French bulldog | $42.18 | $53.60 | $86.78 | $101.57 |
| Golden retriever | $42.18 | $53.60 | $52.05 | $67.15 |
| Poodle | $42.18 | $53.60 | $38.54 | $58.97 |
| English bulldog | $51.96 | $51.54 | $86.78 | $138.80 |
| Beagle | $45.73 | $45.36 | $45.86 | $51.78 |
| German shepherd | $45.73 | $45.36 | $53.64 | $67.15 |
| Husky | $41.57 | $41.23 | $45.86 | $45.46 |
| Yorkshire terrier | $33.26 | $32.99 | $39.66 | $35.42 |
This data shows the marked effect of breed on insurance costs. For all companies, the small and relatively healthy Yorkshire terrier breed was the least costly to insure. By contrast, coverage for bulldogs (French and English), with their breathing and other issues, was generally more expensive, at least with most companies.
What to look for when buying dog insurance.
Before choosing a pet insurance policy, make sure you figure out what coverage you need and what the policy’s restrictions are. What pet insurance covers depends on the plan you choose, and most standard dog insurance policies don’t cover spaying and neutering, routine care or vaccinations. Plans usually come in two main varieties:
- Accident-only plans: These cover emergency care — such as broken bones — in case of an accident.
- Accident and illness plans: These cover accidents and sudden illnesses that aren’t pre-existing conditions. Some of these plans may also cover exam fees as part of the illness coverage.
For an additional cost, many companies offer preventive care and wellness coverage add-ons or standalone policies. This option covers things like vaccinations, microchipping, spaying and neutering, deworming, annual checkups and more. All pet insurance companies have restrictions on what the policy covers. Before purchasing a policy, make sure you understand what would and wouldn’t be covered. Other things to consider are waiting periods, deductibles, prescription coverage and coverage limits. Shop around for your policy and compare coverage options and terms from various companies.
How can you get dog insurance?
To get a dog insurance policy, start by getting quotes. Most pet insurance providers offer free quotes online, allowing you to compare policies and edit annual coverage options and deductibles. See what rates each company offers for your particular dog, and find one that’s reasonable for the coverage you want. Look for pet insurance discounts, For example, some providers offer multi-pet discounts if you insure more than one pet, or bundling discounts if you have other insurance policies with the company.
Dog insurance for popular breeds FAQs
Summary of our guide to dog insurance for popular breeds.
Dog insurance premiums vary by breed, and usually favor lower costs for smaller and younger dogs. Some breeds are susceptible to hereditary conditions that put them at a higher risk of needing expensive veterinary care, causing insurance companies to charge higher rates.
However, it’s important to shop around. The rates for the same breed are far from uniform across the market. For example, in the chart of sample costs above, premiums for some breeds — such as Huskies, Beagles and Yorkies — were comparable across all the companies we surveyed. Yet some insurers charged more than twice as much to insure certain breeds (such as both nationalities of Bulldog) than others. The differences in premiums could easily amount to $500 a year.
All in all, then, pet owners should compare pricing and offerings for their specific dog’s breed and request free quotes from multiple providers before making a decision. Costs also depend on the type of coverage you want for your dog. You can reduce rates by opting for higher deductibles and lesser coverage, among other variables.
