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Operating a kennel and dog boarding facility, just like operating a cattery, is a satisfying income-generating venture. Nonetheless, accommodating pets for a night or an extended period has risks.
A dog can fall sick under your care or escape its kennel and bite one of your staff members. It’s even possible for a dog groomer you hired to injure or steal one of the pets. All these incidents can lead to costly lawsuits.
Therefore, it would be best to have insurance for dog boarding business to protect yourself and your business. Dog boarding and kennel insurance can offer you peace of mind.
Any individual or entity operating a dog boarding business-whether a small home-based operation or a large commercial boarding facility-needs insurance to protect their businesses, employees, assets, and long-term viability.
In fact, local authorities require kennel owners to have dog boarding insurance before being licensed. Obtaining dog boarding business insurance has several benefits. With this policy you can protect dog boarding businesses against various risks, including:
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.
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
This dog daycare business insurance covers the legal expenses and the amount you must pay to reimburse the client’s losses due to your negligence or failure to perform.
| 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 |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
This coverage 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:
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.
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.
| 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 |
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.
| 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 |
Bite wounds are common when dealing with dogs. 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.
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:
| 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 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 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.
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.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
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.
Average cost: $25 per month
Our rating: 10/10
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.
Average cost: $27 per month
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 to allow you to compare quotes over the phone.
Average cost: $28 per month
Though you can avail only three policies, comprehensive coverage is still ensured because Thimble offers numerous endorsements.
Average cost: $34 per month
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.
Average cost: $30 per month
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
9.4 / 10
Fastest ever online insurance quote and purchase! Also, great rates and professional customer reps that helps with whatever you need, if you need. Nice company!
2.8 / 10
Embroker sells a product that it doesn't honor. We purchased a combination D&O and EPLI policy. However, when it came to renewal, it told us that we only had D&O coverage even through our ACCORD certificate clearly mentions we have both. Basically they refused to honor the EPLI coverage and will leave you hanging with the bag. At time of renewal, they more than doubled our quote to get similar coverage. Basically BAIT & SWITCH. Unacceptable tactics. Easy to buy and pay but you may not be... Read More
2.8 / 10
Great platform. Terrible policy. There is no teeth behind it. No coverage. It's a fake policy that they sell. Sold us an EPLI policy that later we came to find out had no EPLI coverage. Amazing that they can get away with outright fraud. Check the positive reviews. They are all 'Anonymous' posted by Emroker staff. Stay away and find a real policy that will actually provide you coverage. We've been bitten by them and hope to find restitution via a lawsuit.
Paul Burns Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
It has been 70 days since I made a claim on the roof of my building. No one from the company will return calls. We are in hurricane season and located in Louisiana. My building is tarped to secure it.
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
They are the worst, my truck was hit in January 23 and the claim adjuster has not been out to this very day! They have every excuse in the book as to why. They have not been to the collision shop. PLEASE AVOID THESE SCAM ARTIST!
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Avoid these SCAM ARTISTS! They don’t pay claims!!! Save yourself the trouble and money!
Kasey Arey Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
This company gives you a price that was in place for a year and when you have to use it there is fine print were they can go back and charge you more. Would not recommend them to any one. Crooks
John Murphy Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Worst insurance comapny I have ever dealt with. A commercial vehicle represented by GUARD t boned my wife and daughters family vehicle in the middle of the day. Driver was cited and insurance claim insued. Fast forward 4 months and refusal of full amount of claim is still happening. Driver was found guilty, repairs started on my vehicle and when it comes to the final bill and diminished value we cannot get any help. I am out a family car, have an injured and traumatized wife and children,... Read More
Harshadray Patel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Extremely bad service, when you call , will make you wait on the phone for ever (over an Hour) and still no one to answer , so you end up hanging up. To cancel the policy, bounce you from one department to the other. They are supposed to refund from the date other insurance started and after sending the proof of other insurance policy, still they did not refund based on that actual date instead they use the date i managed to get hold of them. They charged me $7000.00 for a year's insurance on... Read More
Aaron Wensel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Guard Insurance is terrible. They were so bad I cancelled them because them couldn't figure out why I would never get a paper copy of the bill . Verified my address with them and still intermittent billing. I cancelled them in March through my local broker. Today 6/27 I get a letter in the mail from a collections company saying I owe 87.97. This was the first myself or my broker heard of owing this money. Here is some advice for this failure of a company send me a god damn bill and I will pay.... Read More
Michael Swink Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
My employer had to have workers compensation by law. He obtained a policy through this Berkshire Hathaway GUARD and they failed me. I fell from a ladder and fractured my spine in 7 different places, my clavicle in 4 places, and the base of my skull. Going to my Dr visits I was prescribed medication for pain and the insurance company placed a pre-authorization hold on me picking up the medication from Walgreens. The hold lasted 5 days! My weekly benefits have never been on time, right now... Read More
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual is one of the more simple companies to deal with. I had to file a claim for my business owner policy after I caught one of my employees stealing a large amount of products from my business. Liberty mutual paid the claim fast and with no efforts. I wish the legal process was as easy…
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
9.4 / 10
Very pleased with Hiscox - their small business insurance rates are very good and they specialize in small business which gives me a peace of mind as a small business owner. So far so good!
10 / 10
Their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Very patient, knowledgable and provided excellent explanation of the purchased policy. I would highly recommend this insurance company to anyone that's looking to protect their business from unexpected expense. Thank you Hiscox for doing a great job for my business!
0.6 / 10
STAY AWAY! I wouldn't recommend hiscox small business liability insurance to anyone. Better not waste both your money and your time. Hiscox customer service is extremely unpleasant, not organized and not professional. It is the worst company we have dealt with in almost 25 years in business!
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Extremely fast and simple. Wasted a lot of time and money until I found these guys! I feel like my business is in good hands now.
10 / 10
Hiscox's the best! My business is insured with them for over 12 years and am not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Excellent experience with Hiscox BOP for my coffee shop. They provided all it needed.
10 / 10
My HI barbershop is well covered with their great BOP product for 5 years already! not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
10 / 10
Great experience
6 / 10
Didn't relate to the concept much, but it makes sense if you need insurance to go
0 / 10
It doesn't really feel sustainable to me and doesn't offer business interruption, product liability and commercial property insurance. They have no local agents and despite their technology first approach you cannot file claims online. Additionally, product manufacturers are not covered by Thimble and they don't provide enterprise solutions.
10 / 10
As a contractor that works 3 times a week for a few hours, Thimble gets really handy for me and saves me money. I have no use for these massive business insurance coverages offered by traditional insurance companies.
10 / 10
Excellent concept which is useful to many small businesses!
10 / 10
Been waiting for this type of solution for a long time!
10 / 10
Love their business insurance solutions for freelancers! Great app!
Not all those who wander are lost.
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