Isn't it satisfying to see a pet owner smiling and cheering their dog because it has finally completed its training course? However, not all training sessions will go as planned and anything can happen.
A dog may get injured, requiring an emergency visit to a licensed veterinarian in your primary care facility. A dog can run away from you and pass by someone, causing them to fall and dislocate a wrist. If not an injury, then the person’s expensive watch might have its pricey bezel cracked. It's better to be safe than sorry. You need pet and dog trainer insurance to protect your business from financial losses when the unexpected occurs. Read this guide to know the cost of premiums, the policies included, and the best companies.
Pet and dog trainer insurance is a tailored insurance package that’s made up of insurance policies that allow you to cover the medical treatment of a client’s dog, pay for its search, and even cover ongoing veterinary expenses. Insurance programs related to this are pet boarding and pet sitting insurance.
Note that since pet training isn’t only limited to dogs but also other animals such as cats, it automatically provides cat trainer insurance coverage for feline behaviorists.
You’re eligible since the training activities involving household dogs and guard dogs are closely the same. But note that there might be coverage gaps. And so, what you want to do is to get a tailored protection dog training insurance that offers professional liability insurance, general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and animal bailee insurance with higher limits.
Dog training is different from dog walking. Dog walking is more about taking your client’s dog to different places. Compared to dog training, there’s a higher chance of the dog getting lost. And so, pet and dog training insurance might exclude dog walking activities. You can solve this problem by investing in dog walking insurance.
Pet and dog trainer insurance is recommended for any professional who handles and works with animals on a regular basis, teaching them good etiquette. That includes:
Personal pet trainers
Pet trainers hired by pet schools and boarding facilities
Pet training schools
Online pet trainers
Protection from unexpected costs and liability are only two reasons why pet trainers invest in insurance for their businesses. By purchasing insurance, you actually do yourself and your business more good. Here are other benefits of buying dog trainer business coverage:
Professional credibility–Having training insurance demonstrates to pet owners that you're an expert trainer who takes his business seriously, and you're willing to meet the cost of protecting your business, your clients, their pets, and their property
Compliance–Some states and municipalities require pet trainers to have insurance as one of the requirements for doing business in their jurisdictions
Peace of mind–Having insurance also provides peace of mind, alleviating the worry and anxiety of operating without knowing how you'll cover financial losses in case of an accident
Getting big clients-Kennels and dog boarding facilities have their own dog boarding insurance. However, they'll require you to get your own coverage as an additional layer of protection
Pet and dog trainer liability insurance can be classified as a general liability policy, professional liability policy, and public liability policy. Let’s first discuss how these work.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | Pet Care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $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 |
A general liability policy is the first liability insurance that every pet and dog trainer must not skip. It's your first line of defense from the general and common risks your business faces.
This type of dog training insurance protects you from the financial costs due to third-party bodily injuries and property damages that you're legally responsible for. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best general liability policy.
You can approach the insurance company and file a request to use a general liability policy to cover costs if:
A client’s dog escapes and attacks someone
The client slips and falls while visiting your office
The dog gets hurt during the training and the client demands compensation
The client’s dog runs away, attacks a car parked nearby, and leaves ugly marks
General liability insurance for pet and dog trainers can take care of the following costs if a third party files a claim for bodily injuries or property damage:
Medical treatment
Reimbursement for the damaged property
Legal defense
Court judgments
Yes. This is covered due to two reasons. The first is that it can be treated as property damage if ever the client decides to sue for the death of their pet. Secondly, there’s the products and completed operations coverage of general liability insurance, which takes care of costs if your services caused property damage or bodily injuries.
Public liability insurance works the same way as general liability insurance. It grants coverage against claims for bodily injuries and property damage that third parties file. Look for a public liability insurance policy if you become ineligible for a general liability policy.
| 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 |
Clients expect your experience and expertise to bring the best out of their pets. At the same time, they also expect you to employ a high level of care while their pets are in your custody for a training session.
The failure to perform what clients hope from you can be a ground for a lawsuit. Granting protection against this is professional liability insurance. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers this type of dog training business insurance best.
Professional liability insurance will cover the cost of legal defense, settlements, and court judgments if a client accuses you of committing malpractice or negligence while training their pet. Here are some situations where professional liability insurance can help:
Your training methods proved to be too much and accidentally injured a client’s pet
You lost a client’s pet during a training session
A client accused you of falsifying your experience and license as a dog trainer
You failed to successfully calm down a client’s pet. It attacked other pets and caused injuries
Invasion of privacy is considered malpractice. However, this isn’t normally covered under the policy wording of professional liability insurance. But note that, you can use general liability insurance instead because invasion of privacy is a covered peril under its advertising injury coverage add-on.
Yes. Provided that the people you’re working with are considered part-time or full-time employees. However, if they’re just occasional help, then coverage won’t apply.
The professional liability policy of their pet boarding insurance might not cover you since you’re not considered as an employee. Nonetheless, coverage can apply if you ask the pet boarding facility to name you as an additional insured. In return, you must name them as additional insureds in your professional liability insurance too.
A limited dog training professional liability endorsement grants protection against alleged claims of not training the dog well. This grants a $10,000-$25,000 coverage separate from the base limits of your professional liability policy.
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| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $220,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $15,000 | $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 |
Commercial property insurance is useful if you use a commercial space (e.g. a condo, a dedicated building, a small office space) as a pet and dog training facility. With this insurance, you can recover lost investments if damage or destruction happens. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best commercial property insurance for pet and dog trainers.
Commercial property insurance will recover the actual cash value or replacement cost of your pet and dog training facility in case it’s damaged or destroyed by:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Civil commotion
Riot
Sinkhole collapse
Volcanic action
Lightning
Weather
Aircraft
Falling objects
Vehicle impact
Sprinkler leakage
Yes. Commercial property insurance is still useful in this case. Insuring a building you use is just the first function of this policy. You can also utilize commercial property insurance to cover leashes, harnesses, headcollars, trainer pads, muzzles, wooden stairs, and other pet and dog training equipment.
On a further note, you can also use commercial property insurance to insure your house, provided that you're using it as a pet and dog training facility.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | Thimble | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $220,000 | $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 |
As a small business owner, you can save money on pet trainer insurance by purchasing a business owner's policy (BOP) – a prepackaged policy that includes the policies that matter to you the most.
Because several coverages are bundled up in a single policy, there's only one policy to review, and it comes at a lower cost than purchasing each coverage separately. The core insurance policies in a standard BOP are:
General liability insurance
Commercial property insurance
It's crucial to note that a BOP doesn't cover all the risks associated with running a pet training business. Therefore, you can tailor the policy to meet your unique business needs. Some pet trainer insurance options you can have in your BOP as add-ons include:
Professional liability insurance
Commercial auto coverage
Employment practices liability insurance
Workers' compensation
Cyber liability insurance
| 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 solely covers the muzzles, leash, crates, training pads, clickers, and other dog training equipment.
You can use this to cover repair or replacement expenses in case damage or loss occurs due to fire, theft, vandalism, mysterious disappearance, and other covered perils. Coverage applies regardless if these exposures happened within your business premises or at another location.
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best tools and equipment insurance for dog trainers.
This policy is recommended if you have a business vehicle or use your personal car for commercial purposes. Remember, your personal auto liability insurance doesn't cover your vehicle when used for a business operation. If you're involved in a collision, your business may be held liable for third-party injuries and property damages. With commercial auto insurance, you can cover the medical costs, as well as repairs and replacement expenses of the damaged property.
When a new pet is brought to your pet training facility, its behavior can be unpredictable because they are in a new environment. They may bite, scratch, or injure one of your employees. Workers' compensation covers the medical costs, medications, and the employee's lost wages.
Employment practices liability insurance will help cover expenses if a full-time or part-time employee files a claim and accuse you of sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, wrongful termination and other violations. You can get this as a stand-alone policy or as an endorsement to an existing insurance.
Pet and dog trainers nowadays all have a personal website where clients can book schedules and pay for the services received. Hackers can use your site to access sensitive information. And so, it’s important to have cyber liability insurance that will take care of the cost for:
Data breach containment
Legal defense if affected parties decide to sue
Credit and fraud monitoring
Public relations
Other risks lurk around your business operations, and it's crucial to have the right coverage to better protect your pet and dog training business. These policies include:
Animal bailee coverage–Pet owners leave their dogs in your custody and they entrust you to care for and have control over them. This insurance protects your business if you're held legally responsible for the injuries, damages, and even the death of a customer's pet
Business interruption insurance–Also referred to as business income and extra expenses insurance, this policy reimburses you for lost income and business if you can't continue operating because of fire damage, theft, or damages due to bad weather
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $30 | $360 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $50 | $600 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $60 | $720 | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Business owner's policy | $80 | $960 | $1,500 |
| Animal bailee insurance | $40 | $480 | $500 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $45 | $540 | $500 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $90 | $1,080 | $2,500 |
| Cyber liability insurance | $70 | $840 | $1,000 |
The average dog training insurance cost is $30 per month or $360 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. Some factors that insurance companies use to decide the cost of premiums are:
Business size
Business location
Number of employees
Your claims history
Deductible
Policy limits
Premiums will be also determined by your choice of insurance company. And to ensure that you don’t end up with pricey carriers, here’s a table that shows the cost of a $1 million general liability policy from companies that offer the best insurance for dog trainers:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $21 | $252 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for dog trainers |
| Thimble | $22 | $262 | On-demand coverage for pet trainers |
| CoverWallet | $24 | $288 | Comparing insurance quotes for dog trainers online |
| Tivly | $25 | $300 | Comparing dog training insurance quotes over the phone |
| Hiscox | $29 | $348 | Pet training insurance with automatic policy renewal |
| Pet Care | $35 | $420 | Dog trainers wanting to work with an insurance company that’s exclusive to pet service professionals |
| BIC | $37 | $444 | Pet trainers in North Carolina and South Carolina |
| APDT | APDT doesn’t state how much is the insurance for its members | APDT doesn’t state how much is the insurance for its members | Membership-based coverage |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
Since your pet training business faces unique risks, it would be best to partner with insurance providers that offer business-specific policies. The following are the best dog trainer insurance companies. Read to know their pros, cons, and rate of a $1 million general liability insurance.
Best overall
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Fastest general liability insurance for dog trainers
Great customer service and reputation
Excellent rates
Outstanding value for money
Get a 10% discount if you buy two or more policies
Couldn’t find any
NEXT specializes in insuring small businesses and independent professionals. What makes this company good is that it allows you to get covered online as soon as possible.
You purchase this company’s pet and dog trainer insurance as a pre-made coverage that’s available as a basic, deluxe, or premiere plan. Here’s a quick summary of how each differ:
The basic pet and dog trainer insurance plan only offers a $1 million general liability insurance
The premiere plan allows you to enjoy a $2 million general liability insurance, $1 million professional liability insurance, and $220,000 commercial property insurance
Deluxe grants the most extensive protection. You get a $2 million general liability insurance, $1 million professional liability insurance, $10,000 utility services interruption insurance, equipment breakdown insurance, and workers compensation insurance from this
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for dog trainers
Average cost: $21 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare quotes online
You can quickly seek the help of representatives
Cancel your policy anytime
Easy online policy management
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
CoverWallet covers dog trainers through its pet services insurance program. Note that your insurance package is made out of policies that come from CoverWallet’s partners. This is because this company is an insurance broker and not a carrier.
Getting back to the topic, here’s quick summary of the policies included in CoverWallet’s insurance package for dog trainers:
$1 million-$2 million general liability insurance
$1 million professional liability insurance
Workers compensation insurance
Business owner’s policy
Note that if you proceed to talk to a representative before purchasing a coverage online, it's possible to further avail commercial auto, business interruption, cyber liability, and employment practices liability insurance.
Best for: Comparing insurance quotes for dog trainers online
Average cost: $24 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Responsive customer service
Compare quotes over the phone
A partner of many insurance companies
You need to call to get a quote
Tivly (formerly CommercialInsurance.NET) is a partner of many insurance companies. That said, it can hook you up with an insurance company that grants tailored coverage. Call a Tivly representative to find and compare quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing dog training insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $25 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Sells a short-term coverage for pet trainers
On-demand coverage
Quickly issues a quote and the estimate of your premiums
Add-ons are reasonably priced
Doesn’t sell workers compensation insurance to pet trainers
Thimble’s pet trainer insurance is available as a business owner’s policy or as a stand-alone general liability policy.
We recommend going for a business owner’s policy because this offers optional add-ons such as tools and equipment insurance, professional liability insurance, cyber liability insurance, and hired/non-owned auto liability insurance.
The general liability policy is also a great option because it’s available as a short-term coverage or long-term coverage. If you purchase Thimble’s general liability policy as a long-term coverage, you can further avail professional liability insurance, business equipment insurance, and cyber liability insurance.
Best for: On-demand coverage for pet trainers
Average cost: $22 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Worldwide coverage
Automatic policy renewal
5% discount
Customizable limits
Doesn’t sell a stand-alone commercial property and general liability insurance for pet trainers
Hiscox’s pet training insurance offers a business owner’s policy and cyber liability insurance. In case you want workers compensation insurance, professional liability insurance, and commercial auto insurance, Hiscox can hook you up with its partner-CyberPolicy.
Note that your coverage renews with Hiscox year after year. This means that you don’t risk yourself suddenly getting uninsured. Moreover, your liability coverage provides protection when you’re working in specific countries abroad.
Best for: Pet training insurance with automatic policy renewal
Average cost: $29 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Only caters to the needs of dog trainers and related professionals
Offers a vet expense coverage
Online quotes
Additional costs will be charged for those who train dogs beyond the basic behavioral commands
Pet care is an insurance company that only works with pet service businesses and professionals. For pet trainers, this company offers $2 million general liability insurance, $1 million professional liability insurance, vet care expense insurance, animal bailee insurance, and equipment insurance.
Best for: Dog trainers wanting to work with an insurance company that’s exclusive to pet service professionals
Average cost: $35 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Insurer positioned to provide coverage options for pet trainers
Highly resourceful website
Online quotes and claims reporting are available
Insurance may not include policies for all states
Other trainers may simply prefer nationally renowned insurers
Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC) has provided business insurance for dog trainers since 2001. Over the years, the company has worked directly with pet care associations and their members, so it understands the risks in the industry, the type of claims that occur, and the best policies to cover them.
A Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agency, BIC specializes in helping pet trainers find proper business coverage from top insurance companies. It boasts the broadest liability coverage available in the market, as well as other optional endorsements. Customers can purchase a range of policies, including:
General liability insurance
Care, custody, and control endorsement
Workers' compensation insurance
Commercial auto coverage
Commercial property insurance
Employment practices liability
Bonds
The company's website is highly detailed and provides customers with the opportunity to do virtually anything, from obtaining online insurance quotes and filing insurance claims to gathering in-depth insights into pet trainer insurance and how to mitigate risks. The only downside is that the company doesn't offer policies in other states.
Best for: Pet trainers in North Carolina and South Carolina
Average cost: $37 per month
Our rating: 8/10
APDT membership provides cost-saving opportunities for insurance
Provides continuing education to pet trainers
Sets industry insurance standards
Affordable insurance only available to APDT members
Courses may lack other training costs
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) was founded in 1993 by a renowned veterinarian, dog trainer, and animal behaviorist. As its name suggests, APDT is an inclusive forum for pet trainers to network and share ideas and provide educational and growth opportunities for dog trainers. The association also sets industry standards when it comes to pet trainer insurance.
For example, care, custody, and control is a must-have policy under the APDT insurance policy. The limit you choose determines the level of coverage you have for clients' property and their pets.
With APDT membership, pet trainers have bargaining power when it comes to insurance purchases. Typically, insurance providers provide liability policies as a group policy for active APDT members, with a $1 million per-occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit. These are the standard limits, and there are no lower limits because the policy encompasses several members.
Combining APDT membership and your pet trainer business insurance can elevate your business. One of the greatest benefits of joining the association is that they offer members continuing education and training courses to help them grow. The only caveat is that some types of training are excluded from APDT's Liability policy: Attack or fighting, protection and guard, and police work.
Many customers are constantly looking for a knowledgeable trainer who can deliver results, and APDT membership can be a huge bonus for them. Implementing APDT policies indicates that you've taken the extra step to distinguish yourself from non-registered competitors. When they compare pet training services, your business vaunts extra credentials that will win them over.
Best for: Membership-based coverage
Average cost: APDT doesn’t state how much is the insurance for its members
Our rating: 8/10
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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