Just been on Marks and Spencers site to insure Libby and noticed this comment-

<<<To apply, your pet must meet the following conditions:
Is not a sharpei, pit bull terrier, wolf hybrid and any dog registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (and subsequent amendments) >>>

Just wanted to ask - why the shar pei ? Are they prone to excessive health problems ?

Not that I know of, just another strange insurance company quirk, love to knwo if you can be bother to ask what their reason is.

Well the only reason i could think of for the exclusion was for health reasons but there are other breeds with well recognised health problems.
I think i will mail and ask as i have applied on line :)
Will let you know if they reply

Just to let you know of the reply I received today regarding why Shar peis are excluded from this particular Pet insurance

<<Thank you for your enquiry.

We do not offer insurance cover for Shar-Peis as they are pre-disposed to
numerous medical conditions and our underwriters will not take on the risk .>>

I can imagine poorly bred ones having maybe skin conditions etc - but what else do they suffer from ?

Shar Pei Health Problems

As you state, will not be all of them, but sure some of these problems are very expensive when they occur - and we all know insurers only like to cover things people aren't going to claim for ;)

M.

Thanks M :)

although some of those conditions are not just to be found in this breed but as you say it all comes down to money :rolleyes:

Insurance companies who try to exclude all risks worry me some what, thought the whole idea of insuring something was you pay them the money and they take the risk now it would seem you pay the money and they will do their best not to take any risk - then argue like mad if you have the temerity to ask them to pay up.

To be honest, I'm surprised there aren't more breeds appearing on there.  Before I'm shot down in flames, am NOT claiming knowledge, just stating perception :D

I'd expect to see Dogues, Neopolitans and the like on there too, the breeds that suffer from sudden popularity and indiscriminate breeding, and would seem likely to have pre-dispositions to hip/elbow, skin, eye problems etc. and have a high purchase value.

Not saying I agree with it, you understand, just discussing.

Marina

I wondered why some "select" breeds have higher costs on our insurance too. The breeds include greyhounds,dobermans, ridgebacks,leonbergers, weimeraners, viszlas, bullmastiffs, german shepherds, to name a few and not all have health or "social" issues due to breeding/owners irresponsibility. I imagine different insurance policies are designed for working dogs like guard/gun/guide dogs so dont understand this.

Wonder why Greyhounds, perhaps they get burnt because getting them off the hearth is not easy, canine lounge lizards without a doubt. Sometimes wonder where actuaries get their figures from.

:D :D Canine Lounge Lizard is our local greyhound to a T. Maybe the actuaries just list their least favourite dog breeds under select breeds.

I would imagine Pet Greyhounds to be pretty trouble free, it would be those raving, or those with old racing injuries that might be at greater risk for5 Insurance companies.  For example their Hip status is second to none.

Possibly (again, just speculating :D) more open to third party claims on ex-racers?

M.