have just been looking at pet insurance and after a general conversation with insurance companies by chance discovered that should one unfortunately have a claim against you if for example your dog causes an accident you are not covered to employ a solicitor to fight your corner

I am amazed I was told my home insurance should cover that but no same there they pay out to 3rd party but will not pay to employe a solicitor to defend the case

I had a very interesting conversation once with a lady who worked in the industry. Most home policies will NOT pay out. I phoned my own (Halifax) and she was quite correct. They would pay out for a "pet" dog but not if you are a breeder. they were quite sure about that, and knowing how small print would be looked at in the case of a big claim you can bet they would try and get out of it! The fact that you breed at all makes you a breeder....by their definition if a pup was "sold" you are commercial. Also, as the original lady pointed out the term "assured breeder" defines you as a breeder. No good proudly displaying the certificate on your wall and then denying you are a breeder in the next breath !!
I was so concerned about this I contacted the KC.  As far as this lady was aware each and every AB was at risk, all thinking they were covered (as I did). The KC said they would speak to their own experts and get back to me.............I'm still waiting!! Ever since it has niggled at me and I have tried to get third party cover but can't find it anywhere.
I went to a meeting at the KC when their puppy insurance first came in and asked why they weren't doing third party cover for breeders (the same company offers this on the continent) as so many people want it.again no reply. The ideal is to have proper insurance on each dog which includes third party but if, like me, you have a lot of dogs, this is impossible. I put away £1000 a year for unexpected health bills but am still looking for third party. It is one of those things, like the house insurance, you hope you will never need but I would sleep easier knowing I had it!

I am not a breeder and have thrid party on my pet ins and home ins but neither would cover my costs if I hired a solicitor to defend a case against me and my dog. They would pay out if somone claimed against me but not for me to defend myself. I thinks that awful it means if god forbidyour dog injured someone you couldn't defend it umless you have money yourself. I think that's a real worry and one I hadn't realised I wasn't covered for$ can't find out. How you get that cover

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/giving/membership/faq/default.aspx#faq269985

Come free with a Dogs Trust membership..

> Come free with a Dogs Trust membership..

>"No, as a member, all your dogs are automatically covered, provided they are all pets (this does not cover businesses or working dogs)."

Looks like breeders would be excluded again.

The problem isn't getting public liability oits being able to engage your own defense and having those costs paid for.  As far as I can find out none covers you for that bit. I will ring dog trust and ask though. I would beawful if someone claimed againt you and yopu had no money to defend

It looks, from the quote I have given, they may not even give you the Public Liability aspect if you are breeder.

I am not but not sure if that comment was for me :)

When this was first brought to my attention I spent weeks looking into this as I thought it was a matter that affected all AB's and something the KC should be advising AB's about. What is the point of becomeing one if it will void your household insurance? Perhaps people would have to weigh this up, but needed to be told.It has been completely swept under the carpet. That said if the insurance company would deem anyobe who had had a litter and sold a puppy as a "breeder" and the dog no longer a pet dog perhaps everyone, not just AB's is at risk. We all like to think it will never happen to us but just imagine a dog getting out (and it happens to us all) onto a road and causing a crash. We can be sued for thousands if not millions if there was a loss of life. It would only take this to happen once to someone and them lose their home for people to realise the seriousness of not being covered!
I looked at the Dogs Trust but the number of dogs one is allowed is quite small and we have a few.
I think I may have found a company to give me third party at £100-odd a year which will be money well spent for peace of mind but to urge everyone to run it past their insurers to see what would happen if they needed to claim. If anyone has a company that will pay out let me know as changing insurance company may be a better option!

> I looked at the Dogs Trust but the number of dogs one is allowed is quite small and we have a few.
> I think I may have found a company to give me third party at £100-odd a year which will be money well spent for peace of mind

I am with Dogs Trust but the pet or breeding animal bit is the sticking point.  I would argue that a bitch is only a breeding animal for four months for each litter she has, and a pet the rest of the time, and especially the spayed ones can only be Pets, once retired from breeding.

They do cover up to 10 dogs so fine for many of us.

Can you let me know where you have found 3rd Party only Insurance, as I don't (can't afford to) Insure my dogs individually.

> What is the point of becomeing one if it will void your household insurance?

It would be voided anyway if you breed surely.  Being an Assured Breeder may make it easier to identify you as such but so would having a website or advertising a litter or just answering the question honestly.

> if you breed surely. 

Surely the frequency of breeding makes a difference.  If it's a full time occupation rather than 3 months once a year or so.  What about fluffy having a misalliance, it's rare to see accidental litters pf puppies or kittens go free to new homes, and some are deliberately bred.

Even if you manage to get 3rd party public liability remenber as far as I can see it doesnt pay for you to engage anyone to defend you case. Therefore  if it was claimed that your dog was dangerous you would not be able to defend the case unless you have personal money the insurance will not pay for defense> Nither household or pet insurance

As Summer says, the fact that you have ever sold a pup would probably be enough for an insurance company.  It would certainly be best to clarify it with them before relying on the fact that they would pay out if they found out at the point of a claim.