If you own a dog, you may feel that your pet increases the security of your home. You might even be under the impression that owning a protective, territorial dog could help you to get a cheap home insurance quote. However, contrary to what you might think, a threatening dog can make it far more difficult to make a claim on your home insurance.

The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 made it illegal to own these four breeds of dog (unless they are on an exemption register): Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinas and Fila Brazilieros. However these are not the only breeds that can complicate your home insurance; many companies have an extensive list of aggressive dog breeds so it’s worth checking with your insurance provider if you think your dog could be on the list.

A lot of the breeds specified in home insurance policies are those that have been bred specifically for fighting, like the Pit Bull Terrier. Whilst other pedigrees are bred for the quality of their coat, their good nature or their speed, these dogs are deliberately bred to make them territorial and aggressive.

Some owners feel that territorial aggression has advantages for their home, as these dogs help to keep intruders away from their property. Unfortunately, aggressive tendencies in animals can have extreme consequences. Last year 3,400 people were hospitalised after dog attacks; that’s a rise of 25% over the last five years.

Whilst aggressive breeds can pose a threat to the public, they can also damage their owners’ property, not to mention the owners themselves. Almost any breed of dog can display destructive behaviour, whether it is by chewing shoes or clawing at carpets, however the breeds mentioned here are more likely to take their aggression out on their environment in an extreme way. A large, aggressive dog can smash up wooden furniture, destroy mattresses and tear carpets, curtains and upholstery to shreds. For this reason, some home insurance companies do not insure a home which might be exposed to this dangerous behaviour from the family pet.

Needless to say a dog is not defined by its breed and there are plenty of well-trained, friendly and obedient Pit Bull Terriers. Sadly home insurance cannot judge each member of a breed individually, so bear this in mind before you purchase a pedigree guard dog – or else you might want to consider a burglar alarm!