Reviews Report
- Standard homeowners and renters policies generally cover your legal liability if your dog injures someone or damages another person’s property—on or off premises—but they do not cover your pet’s vet bills or damage to your own home. Many policies include no‑fault medical payments to others, commonly $1,000–$5,000, subject to state/insurer variations (NAIC).
- $300,000–$500,000 in personal liability is a widely recommended baseline for pet owners in 2025, with many households adding a $1 million umbrella for extra protection; umbrellas typically require about $300,000 of underlying home liability (Insurance Information Institute; Consumer Reports; III—Umbrella).
- Using crates and pet gates together with gradual alone‑time training and video monitoring can reduce separation‑related damage in the home; for vehicle travel, choose independently crash‑tested restraints or crates (AVMA; RSPCA; Center for Pet Safety).
Hybrid work is now the dominant model for U.S. remote‑capable workers, creating variable day‑to‑day routines for pets (Gallup 2024). With 38% of homes have at least one dog and 66% of U.S. households owning a pet overall (APPA), alone‑time tolerance matters more than ever. National shelter datasets show that after the early‑pandemic adoption surge, 2021–2024 brought intake rebounding faster than adoptions—especially for medium/large dogs—leaving many shelters at or over capacity (Shelter Animals Count; Best Friends). In population surveys, many dogs are regularly left for 5+ hours and about one in five show signs of distress when left alone (PLOS ONE), underscoring ongoing separation‑related risk as routines fluctuate.
Separation‑related problems (SRP) remain among the most frequently reported behavior complaints in dogs, and they are recognized in cats as well (AVMA). Feline surveys indicate roughly 13% of cats show at least one sign consistent with SRP when left by their owners (PLOS ONE). Evidence‑based management centers on graduated alone‑time training, environmental control, and—when indicated—veterinary‑prescribed medication alongside behavior modification (RSPCA; FDA Reconcile; FDA Clomicalm).
Concerns About Your Pet and Home
SRP can drive destructive behavior, distress vocalization, house‑soiling, drooling, and pacing focused around exits. Contemporary guidance notes SRP affects a substantial minority of dogs (often estimated from the mid‑teens to low‑twenties percent across studies), with population data showing around one in five dogs exhibiting distress when left alone; cats also experience SRP‑like signs (~13% reporting at least one sign) (AVMA; PDSA 2024; PLOS ONE).
As Dr. Chryle Bon, DVM and veterinary spokesperson for Doggie Designer, explains, anxiety is a “form of stress, so we often see the same types of stress responses that we do in people. Dogs may stop eating or become ravenous and eat everything in sight. They may pace or circle, bark incessantly, or turn to narcotic behaviors such as compulsive licking or self-mutilation” — signs that align with veterinary checklists for separation‑related distress (AVMA).
“Of course, they may also become destructive to household objects and sometimes aggressive towards other pets. You may notice your dog gets easily agitated or has excessive drooling as you’re getting ready to leave.” Dr. Bonk adds. These behaviors often concentrate at doors and windows and typically begin soon after departure; video monitoring helps confirm timing and severity (RSPCA).
If you suspect your pet is suffering from separation anxiety, start with an objective baseline (video your pet when alone) and a veterinary exam to rule out medical causes. For moderate‑to‑severe canine cases, first‑line daily medications such as fluoxetine (Reconcile) or clomipramine (Clomicalm) are FDA‑approved specifically for canine separation anxiety and should be used in conjunction with a behavior modification plan; timelines for improvement are commonly weeks to months, and punishment should be avoided (AVMA; RSPCA).
This could mean starting by taking short, frequent trips without them. Start with seconds to a couple of minutes at or below your pet’s calm‑alone threshold, then gradually increase duration only when they remain relaxed. Uncouple pre‑departure cues (keys, shoes) from actual exits, pair brief absences with high‑value, long‑duration enrichment, and use video to guide criteria; avoid over‑threshold events early in training (RSPCA; AVMA).
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pets In Your Home?
In 2025, a typical homeowners or renters policy covers third‑party bodily injury or property damage you’re legally responsible for if your dog injures someone or damages another person’s property—whether the incident happens at home, on a walk, or elsewhere. Your policy does not cover your pet’s injuries or damage your pet does to your own home; animals are generally not covered personal property under Coverage C (NAIC).
The liability portion of your homeowners policy also covers medical payments for others not in your household, like if someone is bitten by your dog and needs medical treatment, with common MedPay limits of about $1,000–$5,000 (NAIC). Whether the bite occurred to a non-household member inside your home, or while you’re out walking your dog, the liability coverage in your policy typically responds; industry data show dog‑related injury payouts exceed $1 billion annually, with average costs near record highs (Insurance Information Institute).
Where it becomes trickier is underwriting and exclusions. Some insurers apply animal‑liability exclusions or sublimits (e.g., $25,000–$50,000) unless you buy back coverage via endorsement; others have moved away from breed lists or are restricted by state law (IRMI). Several states now curb breed‑based underwriting—New York prohibits decisions based solely on breed and allows consideration of documented behavior (NY DFS) and Nevada restricts breed as the sole factor in homeowners/renters insurance (Nevada statutes); advocacy tracking also notes recent limitations in states like Connecticut (Best Friends). If your current policy limits or excludes animal liability, ask about endorsements or consider switching carriers.
Quentin Coolen, founder and CEO of Waffle, explains the difference between pet insurance and homeowners insurance.
“With pets there are two buckets of insurance: the health and well-being side, which pet insurance covers, and the homeowners and liability side, which is covered by your homeowners policy,” Coolen says. “People have to read the fine print. It depends on the provider, but some homeowners insurance providers exclude dogs or breeds — even dog biting — so you have to be careful about what your policy includes.” In some markets, insurers emphasize behavior‑based underwriting over breed lists (e.g., carriers that do not ask for breed), while others use animal‑liability endorsements or sublimits (State Farm; IRMI).
It’s also important to understand if you have a separate pet insurance policy, it “does not pick up and include dog bites or damage to your home,” explains Coolen. If your base homeowners policy excludes or caps animal liability, some consumers consider standalone canine liability options from specialty markets to fill gaps, subject to underwriting (example product overview).
For this reason, adequate liability coverage with a homeowners policy is critical, and make sure to read the fine print for dogs. At least $300,000 is the recommended liability coverage floor in 2025; many pet‑owning households raise limits to $500,000 and add a $1–$2 million umbrella for severe claims and legal defense. Consider increasing “medical payments to others” to $5,000–$10,000 for minor injuries (Consumer Reports; III—Umbrella; NAIC).
Tips for Pet Safety In the Home
Major routine shifts—like hybrid return‑to‑office—are the right moment to harden safety and plan behavior management. Evidence‑based steps include graduated alone‑time training with enrichment, consistent daily routines, avoidance of punishment, and use of remote video to guide criteria; for travel, choose independently crash‑tested restraints or crates and use parked‑car “pet modes” only as a supplementary layer (RSPCA; Center for Pet Safety; Rivian Pet Comfort Mode; Tesla Dog Mode).
- Crates: Crates limit the amount of space a pet can destroy. It provides a comfortable, safe environment for them and keeps them from wandering around unsupervised. For car travel, prefer crates or harnesses that have passed independent crash testing (CPS certified list).
- Pet gate: Another option for keeping your dog contained and limiting destruction is to use a durable pet gate. Prefer hardware‑mounted gates for high‑impact areas (e.g., top of stairs) and follow manufacturer mounting specs to withstand force.
- Leashes: Quality leashes are essential for daily walks and keeping dogs properly restrained. Look for the handle type, length, odor control, and reflective properties if walking at night. In vehicles, buckle crash‑tested harnesses via the approved seat‑belt path.
- Dangerous plants: It’s crucial to prevent accidental poisoning, especially when your pet is left alone, by removing dangerous houseplants. Common dangerous household plants include lilies, tulips and amaryllis, among others.
- Productive chew toys: Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs, so giving them a durable chew toy gives them something, besides your furniture and shoes, to focus on. During graduated departures, pair brief absences with long‑duration enrichment to counter‑condition calm (RSPCA).
- Wi‑Fi dog/nanny cams with audio: A pet camera not only helps you keep an eye on your pooch while you’re gone, but the audio function allows you to speak to your pet and provide additional comfort. Use video to measure onset of distress and adjust criteria; if you must leave longer than your pet’s threshold, arrange pet sitters/daycare while you continue training (AVMA).
