Liability Insurance for Dog Boarding & Kennels

Any business requires a form of insurance coverage before it can be allowed to provide its services. Liability insurance is the basic coverage a service provider can have. Kennel and dog boarding liability insurance protects your business from financial losses due to lawsuits that third parties file.

Liability insurance for dog boarding & kennels can be classified as a general liability policy, professional liability policy, and public liability policy. Let’s take a look at the functions of each.

General Liability Insurance for Dog Boarding Facilities and Kennels

	CoverWallet	NEXT (Best)	Thimble	Hiscox	Pet Care
Per occurrence limit	$1,000,000	$500,000/$1,000,000	$1,000,000/$2,000,000	$300,000/$2,000,000	$1,000,000
Aggregate limit	$2,000,000	$1,000,000/$2,000,000	$1,000,000/$2,000,000	$300,000/$2,000,000	$2,000,000
Products and completed operations aggregate limit	$2,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit	$100,000	$100,000	$5,000	$100,000	$100,000
Waiver of subrogation included?	Yes	No	Included	Can be included	No
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included?	Yes	No	Excluded	Can be included	No
Equipment breakdown floater included?	No	Yes	Yes	Can be included	Yes
Can you get a certificate of insurance online?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Name additional insureds?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deductible	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

This insurance for dog boarding business and kennels protects you if your clients suffer injuries from accidents while at your facility. It may be a slip, trip, fall, or dog bite. In such a case, your general liability insurance will cover the medical costs, legal fees, and any compensation awarded to the claimant by the court.

Your pet boarding facility may also sell products, such as dog food treats, toys, and other items; if any of these products harm a pet, their owner can hold you liable. With general liability insurance, you can access the funds you need to defend yourself against the resulting lawsuit.

General liability insurance, which is also included in pet sitting insurance programs, doesn’t only cover your liability for bodily injuries, property damage, or harmful products. This type of kennel and dog daycare insurance comes with add-ons that cover other risks:

Advertising injury coverage-Takes care of claims for slander, libel, invasion of privacy, and copyright infringement
Rented premises liability coverage-Covers the claim filed by the landlord or property custodian of the building you’re leasing or renting

Professional Liability Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities

	CoverWallet	NEXT	Thimble (Best)	Hiscox
Per occurrence limit	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000/$2,000,000	$1,000,000
Aggregate limit	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	$1,000,000/$2,000,000	$2,000,000
Name additional insureds?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Waiver of subrogation included?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
License defense coverage included?	No	No	No	No
Deductible	$500	$500	$500	$500

Owners expect you to employ a high level of care while attending to their pets. They also trust that you pay full attention in ensuring that pets are secure and safe.

Your negligence and failure to perform the duties that any other experienced kennel and dog boarding facility will do is a ground for a lawsuit.

Professional liability insurance, which you can also find in pet boarding insurance programs, takes care of this exposure. You can use this insurance when a client files a claim because:

You failed to take a client’s dog to the vet when it suddenly got sick
Your employee lost a client’s dog during a walk
A dog escaped from your kennel or dog boarding facility

This dog daycare business insurance doesn’t grant coverage against medical treatments or property damage. Instead, what it covers are the legal expenses and the amount you must pay to reimburse the client’s losses due to your negligence or failure to perform.

Does My Kennel and Dog Boarding Facility’s Professional Liability Insurance Cover Vet Malpractice?

Most likely not. Veterinary care activities aren't typically included in the professional liability policy of your kennel and dog boarding facility, even if an in-house veterinarian is employed. You’ll need to invest in veterinary insurance to cover the veterinarian working for you.

Public Liability Insurance for Dog Home Boarding

Public liability insurance for dog boarding is a type of insurance coverage that protects your business from any claims filed by members of the public. This dog kennel insurance policy covers the expenses of legal defense and any damages awarded if they suffer an injury or their property gets damaged during their visit to your facility.

Some circumstances in which public liability insurance for dog home boarding comes in handy include when:

A customer gets bitten by a dog in your kennel
A customer slips and falls in your facility
A dog under your watch damages a property owned by a third party

So how much coverage can you receive from public liability insurance? This type of dog home boarding insurance has a $1 million-$2 million per occurrence and aggregate limit. Limits can be customized so that you can enjoy lower or higher amounts of coverage.

Commercial Property Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities

	CoverWallet	NEXT (Best)	Thimble	Hiscox
Building coverage limit (minimum)	$50,000	$25,000	$25,000/$500,000	$25,000
Contents coverage limit (minimum)	$50,000	$25,000	$25,000/$500,000	$15,000
Outdoor signs	Excluded	$2,500	Excluded	Included
Accounts receivable	Excluded	Excluded	$5,000/$10,000	Included
Money and securities	Excluded	$2,500	$1,000	Included
Lock and keys	Excluded	$2,500	Excluded	Included
Business interruption floater	Excluded	Included	Included	Included
Equipment breakdown floater	Excluded	Included	Excluded	Included
Inland marine insurance floater	Excluded	Excluded	$10,000	Excluded
Employee dishonesty floater	Excluded	$5,000	$2,500	Excluded

You can’t run a kennel and dog boarding facility without owning, leasing, or renting a building. The thing is, the building you’re using can get damaged or destroyed. And so, it’s important to include a commercial property policy in your dog boarding kennel insurance package.

Commercial property insurance will reimburse losses if your kennel and dog boarding facility is damaged by fire, theft, vandalism, lightning, civil commotion, volcanic action, and other covered perils. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best commercial property insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities.

Does Commercial Property Insurance Cover the Valuables Inside My Kennel and Dog Boarding Facility?

Yes. Provided that they got damaged or destroyed because of a covered peril while on the premises of your business. Commercial property insurance can reimburse the estimated value of crates, toys, supplies, furniture, computers, and other valuables.

Some Clients Leave Their Crates in My Custody. Are These Covered Too?

No. The dog crates of clients that are left in your custody aren't covered. This is because commercial property insurance has a care, custody, and control exclusion. But note that this coverage gap can be solved through an endorsement that your insurance company may provide.

Animal Bailee Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities

This might not have dawned on you but if something happens to your kennel and dog boarding facility then it’s likely for the dogs inside to get hurt.

Animal bailee insurance is a coverage that’s exclusive to businesses and professionals in the pet care industry. This covers vet expenses or reimburses the value of a pet that died or got hurt while in your custody.

The usual amount of coverage you can get from animal bailee insurance is between $10,000-$150,000, subject to which insurance company you decide to work with.

Business Owner’s Policy for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities

	CoverWallet	NEXT (Best)	Hiscox	Thimble
General liability aggregate limit	$2,000,000	$500,000/$2,000,000	$300,000/$2,000,000	$1,000,000/$2,000,000
Commercial property coverage limit	$50,000	$25,000	$25,000	$25,000/$500,000
Optional policies can be added?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Name additional insureds for free?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
BOP discount?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Running a kennel and dog boarding facility can be very pricey, and the last thing you want is to spend more than you should on dog grooming and boarding insurance. Purchasing a business owner's policy (BOP) offers significant money-saving opportunities.

A BOP combines general liability and commercial property insurance into one policy. It provides comprehensive coverage to small and mid-sized pet boarding facilities at a lower cost than buying each policy separately.

The policy covers customer and pet injuries and property damage, as well as structural damage to your dog care property. That said, this acts as a casualty and property insurance at the same time.

Tools and Equipment Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities

	NEXT (Best)	Thimble	Pet Care	Hiscox
Aggregate limit	$3,000/$10,000	$2,500/$5,000	$50,000	$15,000/$25,000
Covers hired and borrowed equipment?	$3,000/$10,000	$2,500/$5,000	$50,000	No
Miscellaneous equipment also covered?	$5,000/$10,000	No	Yes	Yes
Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deductible	$500	$500	$0	$0

Tools and equipment insurance will cover the repair or replacement of toys, crates, cages, computers, and other equipment that’s essential for the smooth operations of your kennel and dog boarding facility.

Coverage applies when damage or loss is caused by theft, vandalism, fire, electrical surge, electrical shorts, and mechanical breakdown. Natural wear and tear as well as animal damage are excluded.

You avail tools and equipment insurance as an endorsement to commercial property, general liability, or public liability insurance for dog boarding. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best tools and equipment insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities.

Workers Compensation Insurance for Kennels and Dog Boarding Facilities

Bite wounds are common when dealing with dogs. A study shows that one of the most common scenarios where this happens is during veterinary and kennel work. And so, it’s important to safeguard your kennel and dog boarding facility against the costs if an employee gets bitten.

Workers' compensation insurance allows you to provide the benefits an employee needs after sustaining a work-related injury or disease. This acts as a backup to health insurance and will also cover the cost of medical treatment, hospitalization, medication, and rehabilitation.

What makes workers' compensation insurance important is that it covers lost wages, which is never typically covered by your kennel and pet boarding facility’s health insurance for workers.

Other Insurance Policies to Consider Getting

Insurance companies might offer these additional policies depending on the activities and characteristics unique to your kennel and dog boarding business.

Commercial auto insurance-You need commercial auto insurance if your kennel and dog boarding facility uses a commercial vehicle in its daily operations. If an accident occurs, this will cover the medical treatment of injured third parties. You can also use commercial property insurance to cover the repair of the vehicle and attached trailers
Cyber liability insurance-Cyber liability insurance is useful if data breach occurs and leaks the sensitive information of customers stored in your business’s computer. With this insurance, you can cover the cost of data breach containment, customer notification, credit and fraud monitoring, and legal defense

Dog Kennel Insurance Cost

	Cost per Month	Cost per Year	Deductible
General liability insurance	$33	$396	$0-$500
Professional liability insurance	$40	$480	$500-$1,000
Commercial property insurance	$38	$456	$1,000-$2,000
Business owner's policy	$60	$720	$1,500
Animal bailee insurance	$90	$1,080	$500
Commercial auto insurance	$50	$600	$500-$1,000
Workers compensation insurance	$70	$840	$2,500
Cyber liability insurance	$42	$504	$1,000

The average dog kennel insurance cost is $33 per month or $396 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. The price dog kennels pay for their business insurance varies, depending on several factors. Some factors that impact your dog kennel insurance cost include:

The type of pet care services you offer (dog walking, pet grooming, pet sitting, etc.)
Facility location
Number of employees
Business property and equipment
Annual business income
Deductible levels
Types of insurance required
Policy limits

For further information, you might want to look at this table showing the $1 million general liability insurance of the best dog kennel insurance companies:

	Cost per Month	Cost per Year	Best for
NEXT	$25	$300	Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities
Pet Care	$26	$312	Insurance package that’s exclusive for pet businesses and professionals
CoverWallet	$27	$324	Comparing kennel and dog boarding insurance quotes online
Tivly	$28	$336	Comparing dog boarding and kennel insurance quotes over the phone
Hiscox	$30	$360	Dog boarding and kennel insurance with automatic policy renewal
Thimble	$34	$408	Dog boarding and kennel insurance with numerous endorsements
Kennel Pro	$40	$480	Dog kennel and boarding operators who rent or lease their business property
Kennel Pak	$45	$540	Hassle-free payments
American Kennel Club	AKC doesn’t insure dog boarding facilities and kennels. Instead, it’s a good option for clients looking for pet insurance	AKC doesn’t insure dog boarding facilities and kennels. Instead, it’s a good option for clients looking for pet insurance	Pet insurance for the client’s of dog boarding businesses

Dog Boarding Insurance Cost

The average dog boarding insurance cost is $37 per month or $468 per year for a $1 million general liability policy. Just like the premiums for dog kennels, factors that affect the premiums for dog boarding insurance are location, policy limits, deductibles, location, number of employees, etc.

Dog Daycare Insurance Cost

Dog care or dog daycare facilities offer pet owners a place where they can leave their pets during those long days at work or when running errands. They bring them to daycare in the morning and pick them up later in the day. These establishments feature outdoor fences and indoor play areas with obstacle courses and play toys and equipment, allowing your doggie to play and run all day. Pet daycare centers may also offer dog grooming, dog walking, and dog sitting services. The average dog daycare insurance cost is $45 per month or $540 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance.

Best Dog Boarding Insurance Companies

Your pet care and boarding business operates in a distinct industry. Considering the high number of companies offering business insurance, it's crucial to do your homework and find a carrier that provides insurance policies that meet your unique business needs. After reviewing various pet insurance plans, we've identified the following providers as the best dog boarding insurance companies. Read to know their pros, cons, and cost of a $1 million general liability insurance.

NEXT Dog Boarding Insurance

Pros

Best overall
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Fastest general liability insurance for dog boarding facilities and kennels
Great customer service and reputation
Excellent rates
Outstanding value for money
Get a 10% discount if you buy two or more policies

Cons

Couldn’t find any

NEXT covers kennels and dog boarding facilities through its pet boarding insurance program. You can purchase your insurance package online without the help of an agent. Policies you can avail are general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, and more.

Upon getting insured, NEXT creates an online account that you can access through its app or website. This online account allows you to name additional insureds, pay for premiums, and get a certificate of insurance anytime.

Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for kennels and dog boarding facilities

Average cost: $25 per month

Our rating: 10/10

CoverWallet Dog Boarding Insurance

Pros

Compare quotes online
Cancel your coverage anytime
Terrorism endorsement can be added to general liability or commercial property insurance
Waiver of subrogation may be automatically added to liability policies

Cons

Not an insurance company but an insurance broker

CoverWallet insures dog boarding facilities and kennels through its pet care services insurance program.

Similar to NEXT, this company allows you to purchase your coverage online without talking to an agent. But note that you might need to call to avail insurance options not available online.

Your online insurance quote will offer a $1 million general liability insurance, $1 million professional liability insurance, $50,000 commercial property insurance, business owner’s policy, and workers compensation insurance.

Best for: Comparing kennel and dog boarding insurance quotes online

Average cost: $27 per month

Our rating: 10/10

Tivly Dog Boarding Insurance

Pros

Compare quotes over the phone
A partner of many reputable insurance companies
Rarely leaves its customers uninsured
Responsive customer service

Cons

You need to call to get a quote

Tivly can hook you up with its partners that grant comprehensive coverage to kennels and dog boarding facilities. To get covered, you need to call a Tivly representative who will find the best coverage options and allow you to compare quotes over the phone.

Best for: Comparing dog boarding and kennel insurance quotes over the phone

Average cost: $28 per month

Our rating: 10/10

Thimble Dog Boarding and Kennel Insurance

Pros

Offers numerous endorsements
Quickly issues an estimate of your rates
Easy to get an online quote
On demand coverage

Cons

You can’t reach customer service by calling

Thimble covers kennels and dog boarding facilities through its pet services insurance package. Policies you can get are general liability, business owner’s policy, and workers compensation insurance. Though you can avail only three policies, comprehensive coverage is still ensured because Thimble offers numerous endorsements. And what makes things great is that endorsements aren’t very pricey.

Best for: Dog boarding and kennel insurance with numerous endorsements

Average cost: $34 per month

Our rating: 9/10

Hiscox Dog Boarding Insurance

Pros

Automatic policy renewal
Worldwide coverage
Customizable limits
Quick to process claims

Cons

You might need to talk with an agent to avail more types of insurance

Hiscox covers kennels and dog boarding businesses through its dog daycare, motel, and hotel insurance program. What you can avail from this are business owner’s policies and cyber liability policies. You can talk with a Hiscox agent to get other insurance products. Remember that your coverage from Hiscox renews automatically.

Best for: Dog boarding and kennel insurance with automatic policy renewal

Average cost: $30 per month

Our rating: 9/10

Pet Care Dog Boarding Insurance

Pros

Specializes in covering pet businesses
Online quotes available
You can access a live chat system when buying insurance online

Cons

Doesn’t cover kennels and dog boarding facilities that house more than 5 pets overnight

Pet Care grants coverage for dog boarding facilities and kennels. Policies you can get are general liability, animal bailee, tools and equipment, etc. If you service more than 6 dogs, Pet Care will refer you to CNA for a quote.

Best for: Insurance package that’s exclusive for pet businesses and professionals

Average cost: $26 per month

Our rating: 9/10

Kennel Pro Insurance

Pros

A wide range of insurance policies
Insurance offered by top carriers
Available in all 50 states
Provides multiple insurance packages

Cons

No option to purchase coverage directly from the carrier

Kennel Pro is a dog day care insurance broker operating under Mourer-Foster, Inc. – a full-service specialty insurance carrier established in 1933.

Unlike other pet insurance brokers (that work with just one provider), the insurer provides its KennelPro insurance policies through top-rated insurance companies. Therefore, customers can purchase a wide range of insurance policies, including:

Pet sitter insurance
Kennel insurance
Animal Rescue
Dog breeders insurance
Dog trainer insurance
Professional handlers insurance

Kennel Pro dog insurance through Mourer-Foster, Inc. is available in three comprehensive policy plans:

Silver Package-Designed for dog trainers, pet sitters, dog groomers, and dog kennels that are looking for insurance coverage, but don't own a commercial property.
Gold Package-This package is geared towards specialty dog trainers, animal rescue centers, and service dogs. It's also designed for customers who don't own business property.
Platinum Package-The Platinum package is tailored and structured to address the buyer's unique business and coverage needs. It includes the same insurance policies included in the Gold package but adds commercial property coverage.

While customers can purchase the Silver and Gold packages online, they can't apply for the Platinum plan over the internet because of the required underwriter review. Therefore, they must speak to a KennelPro insurance agent to buy the Platinum Package.

Kennel Pro's insurance program is available in all 50 states. The only disadvantage is that dog daycare and boarding businesses can't purchase insurance policies directly from the insurance carrier.

Best for: Dog kennel and boarding operators who rent or lease their business property

Average cost: $40 per month

Our rating: 8/10

Kennel Pak Insurance

Pros

Online quotes available
Local claims service
Hassle-free payment plan

Cons

Website lacks in-depth insights into the company's coverage options

Kennel Pak insurance provides an insurance program designed to protect commercial dog kennels, pet groomers, animal shelters, and vets from the exorbitant costs of public and professional liability insurance. The insurer's special all-risk insurance gives customers the best overall coverage at highly competitive rates.

With Kennel Pak's kennel insurance program, you can purchase a range of policies including general liability and professional liability (for you and your staff) each with up to $1 million in coverage. Other policies include:

Animal care, custody, and control insurance
Crime coverage (theft, burglary, employee dishonesty, depositor forgery, etc.)
Lost income for up to 12 months (due to business interruptions caused by fire, windstorm, etc.)
All-risk commercial property coverage

As a technology-first dog boarding insurance provider, Kennel Pak provides online insurance application forms for both for-profit and non-profit kennel facilities and animal shelters. Additionally, you will also enjoy the convenience of requesting insurance certificates online, which saves time and money.

Best for: Hassle-free payments

Average cost: $45

Our rating: 8/10

AKC Pet Insurance Review

Pros

Provides an unlimited annual coverage option
Offers a discount for insuring multiple pets
Available in all 50 states
Covers pre-existing conditions following a 12-month waiting period

Cons

Doesn't cover most dental procedures
Insurance may require extra coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions

The American Kennel Club (AKC) was established in 1884 and has since been the go-to insurance provider for dog owners. Its insurance products cover dogs (both purebred and mixed breed) and cats. AKC provides pet owners with insurance plans with unlimited annual coverage options at various reimbursement rates, and customers with membership can test AKC's Kennel Club insurance for a month for free.

AKC provides an insurance plan called CompanionCare, the primary accident and illness policy for dogs and cats. The plan offers a range of medical benefits, including:

Treatments, surgery, and medications
Prescription drugs
Hospitalization
Lab tests
X-rays, MRI scans, and other diagnostic procedures
Emergency treatment
Coverage for pre-existing conditions after a 12-month waiting period

CompanionCare also includes reimbursements. The insurance provider will reimburse you a certain percentage (usually 70%, 80%, or 90%) of your vet costs, minus your chosen deductible.

Under CompanionCare, customers can choose to include either a Defender or DefenderPlus plan. These wellness packages provide several benefits, from vaccinations and deworming to microchipping, heartworm and flea prevention, and wellness exam costs. The annual coverage limit ranges from $2,500-$20,000, although you can also choose an unlimited coverage option.

AKC insurance is available in all 50 states, including Washington, D.C., and customers receive a 5% discount for insuring multiple pets. The only drawback is that AKC's insurance plans don't cover dental procedures and customers may require add-on policies for hereditary and congenital conditions.

Best for: Pet insurance for the client’s of dog boarding businesses

Average cost: AKC doesn’t insure dog boarding facilities and kennels. Instead, it’s a good option for clients looking for pet insurance

Our rating: 8/10