Dog Trainer Insurance

Dog Trainer Insurance That’s Best in Show

Whether it’s getting a Shih Tzu to sit or a husky to heel, you have a knack for helping man’s best friend become man’s better-trained friend.

At Simply Business, we understand that running a small business doesn’t always leave you a lot of time to search through various sites trying to find dog training business insurance. So like a Labrador Retriever going after a tennis ball, we find policies from leading national insurers and bring the quotes right back to you.

Plus, with just a phone call or a single online visit, we can usually get all that done in about 10 minutes. So you can get covered in less time than a training walk around the block.

Ready to get covered?

Here are three types of business insurance available for dog trainers:

• General liability insurance
• Professional liability insurance
• Workers compensation insurance

Each type of policy covers different scenarios, but all insurance offers the benefit that:

• It can protect your business from certain claims.
• It can cover damages caused by your negligence.
• Proof of insurance can help clients feel good about your work.
• It may be required where you’re located.

What Type of Insurance Do I Need as a Dog Trainer?

To get comprehensive coverage, your dog training business insurance may require more than one type of policy. Just as there are a lot of different dogs out there, there are a lot of different risks as well.

Our goal is to find the right coverage to protect you from the biggest risks that you may typically face.

Dog Trainer Liability Insurance

As a dog trainer, you likely cover the basics with each animal: sit, stay, down, and heel. Dog trainer liability insurance, or general liability insurance, covers a lot of the basic risks associated with your business. These can include third-party accidents, property damage, and bodily injury.

Here’s an example. A six-month-old Golden Retriever is with her owner during a training session. The dog sees a squirrel and suddenly bolts to chase it, pulling the owner with her. The owner releases the leash, but not in time to keep from tripping over the ramp of an agility course you set up for other dogs.

The owner falls, breaks their wrist, and sues the trainer for damages, claiming that the course should have been set up in a different location.

Having general liability insurance could help cover the medical costs and the legal expenses.

General liability coverage can do even more. While even the best-trained dog can have a slip-up or an accident, the same can be true for your business. And those mishaps can be costly to clean up. The average small business claim for property damage is $30,000.

Here’s what general liability insurance usually covers for a dog training business:

• Third-party property damage (aka clients or vendors)
• Third-party bodily injury
• Medical expenses
• Personal and advertising injury
• And more

General liability insurance usually does not cover:

• Personal property damage
• Professional services
• Employee injury and workers compensation
• Damage to your work
• Motor vehicles during business use
• Intentional injury or damage
• And more

Professional Liability Insurance

Sometimes you may feel that you’ve done everything right, but a customer might see it differently and sue you.

That’s where professional liability insurance can come to your rescue like a St. Bernard on an alpine slope. Professional liability insurance can provide coverage if your client claims that you were negligent in performing your services.

Imagine this. You’ve trained your client’s Dalmatian to sit, stay, lie down, and wait before going in or out through a door. The dog has passed all tests with flying colors.

A week after training, the Dalmatian runs out of the back door at the client’s home and straight into the woods, getting seriously injured, which results in an expensive vet visit. In response, the dog’s owner sues you for negligence, claiming you passed the Dalmatian in obedience training although he wasn’t ready.

You’re not only facing a hefty vet bill, you also could be looking at substantial legal defense costs. With professional liability coverage, those costs could be covered, along with any claims against you, up to your policy limit.

Here's what professional liability insurance generally covers:

• Legal defense costs
• Omissions or alleged omissions
• Negligence or alleged negligence
• Claims and damages
• And more

Having professional liability insurance does not usually protect you from:

• Property damage
• Intentional acts and omissions
• Bodily injury
• Medical expenses
• And more

Workers Compensation Insurance

Dog training often requires a lot of one-on-one time with your furry clients. So to handle more canine customers, you may need to bring on more human help.

With a few exceptions, workers compensation insurance is generally required if you have full- or part-time employees. This type of insurance covers medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs associated with an employee who gets hurt or sick on the job.

Unfortunately, workplace accidents happen. In fact, the annual recorded workplace injury rate is 2.8 accidents per 100 full-time employees.

With the average cost of workers comp claims in recent years being $42,000, investing in workers compensation insurance could make sense for you. Here’s what it generally covers:

• Medical Payments
• Lost Wages
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Death Benefits

Why Get Dog Trainer Insurance

You know that without good training, a dog owner is leaving themselves open to problems down the road. It’s a similar story with dog trainer insurance. Not having it could cost you quite a bit.

Think about this. Based on a study from the Small Business Administration, it was estimated that 36%-53% of small businesses are involved in a lawsuit in a given year.

Just defending yourself in a lawsuit can be expensive. Legal costs for a small business can range anywhere from $3,000 to $150,000.

Along with covering legal fees, dog trainer liability insurance can help your business in other ways as well. If you want to rent space for your growing dog training business, proof of insurance may be one of the landlord’s requirements.

Having insurance also can make your human clients feel more comfortable about you handling their canine family members. It shows you care about your business, which to them, is caring about their dogs.

Dog Trainer Liability Insurance FAQs

• Is dog trainer business insurance required by law?

  In most cases, states require you to have workers compensation insurance if you have any full- or part-time employees. And depending on where you live, your state also may require you to carry general liability insurance.

  If you rent space for your dog training business, there also may be requirements to have business insurance from the state, town, and your landlord.

• Is business insurance tax-deductible?

  In most cases, yes. Your insurance premiums can qualify as a business tax deduction. We recommend that you check with an accountant or tax professional who can better assess your specific business situation.

• How much insurance will I need?

  The amount of coverage you’ll need will largely depend on several factors, like:

  • The size of your business
  • Your business’s location
  • Your annual revenue
  • And more

  But don't let that faze you. Our quote form is designed to gather just enough information to get your business properly covered. Plus, if you have questions, our licensed insurance agents are happy to assist!

• What should I consider before buying insurance?

  To get your dog trainer liability insurance quote as quickly as possible, it’s a good idea to have the following information handy:

  • Annual revenue estimates
  • Information on any previous claims
• Does dog training insurance differ by state?

  It could. Some states may have different insurance requirements for dog trainers than other states. Our online quote process and our friendly, licensed insurance pros can make sure you’re covered the right way for the state where you work.

• What does dog trainer liability insurance cover?

  A comprehensive solution that includes general liability and workers compensation can cover:

  • Bodily injury
  • Accidents and damages
  • Employee injuries
  • Unintentional mistakes
  • And more
• How much does dog training insurance cost?

  This is a similar question to “How much training will my dog need?” It often depends on a number of factors. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect your policy costs to be determined by:

  • Your revenue

  • Your payroll

  • Number of employees

  • Your business location

  • The type of services you provide

  • And more

    Curious to see how much your general liability coverage may cost? Just click here to answer a few easy questions and get free quotes to compare policies.

• What if I offer multiple services as a business?

  If you offer other services, like boarding dogs or doggie daycare, our licensed agents can help you find the right insurance policy that offers comprehensive coverage.

Why Choose Simply Business?

As a dog trainer, you know that it’s just as important to train the owner as it is to train the dog. Part of that is understanding what motivates dogs and what’s important to them.

At Simply Business, we make it a priority to understand small business owners. Whether you get a quote online or talk with one of our licensed insurance agents, you’ll find that we’re focusing the process of getting business insurance around you.

We’re fast and affordable. Our policies are fast, affordable, and ready when you are. Say goodbye to stressing about having the right coverage.

We’re flexible with coverage. Regardless of what changes you need to make to your policy, we’re here to help.

We get your business. Your business is unique, so shouldn’t your insurance policy be too? We understand what your business needs, and we’ll make sure you’re covered.

Your business is about taking care of our canine best friends. We’re here to help take care of your business.

This content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting, investment, or any other form of professional advice.