The Five Most Expensive Dog Breeds to Insure in the U.S.

A new analysis highlighted by Beinsure, based on data from pet insurance marketplace Insurify and its partner Fletch, identifies the five dog breeds with the highest average pet insurance premiums in the United States. The report compares these breeds against a national average premium of $700 per year.

Mastiffs top the list, with an average annual premium of $2,546, or about $212 a month, which is 264 percent above the national average. The breed's relatively short lifespan of six to ten years is paired with a higher risk of hip dysplasia, cataracts and cancer, conditions that tend to push up expected veterinary costs and therefore premiums. Standard schnauzers rank second at $1,797 a year, linked to genetic risks such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders and a heart condition called pulmonic stenosis. Parson Jack Russell terriers follow at $1,610 annually, a breed prone to injury due to its high energy level as well as pulmonic stenosis and a knee disorder called patellar luxation. Rounding out the list are the Dogue de Bordeaux at $1,450 a year, associated with hip and elbow dysplasia and bloat, and the Pudelpointer at $1,442 a year, linked to epilepsy, hip dysplasia and injury risk from its active lifestyle. All five breeds carry average annual premiums above $1,400. The report also notes that because some of these breeds live well into their teens, lifetime insurance spending can be substantial, with estimates reaching over $20,000 for both Parson Jack Russell terriers and Pudelpointers.

For anyone comparing pet insurance providers, this kind of breed-level data is a useful reminder that premiums are rarely one-size-fits-all. Insurers price policies based on a breed's documented health risks, so owners of breeds with known hereditary or chronic conditions should expect to see that reflected in their quotes, regardless of which company they are shopping with. Rather than focusing only on the monthly premium, it is worth looking closely at what each policy actually covers: whether hereditary and congenital conditions are included or excluded, how any waiting periods are structured, what the annual or per-incident payout limits are, and what reimbursement percentage applies after the deductible.

The report also points out that premiums tend to rise as a dog ages, so enrolling a pet while it is young and healthy generally locks in a lower starting rate than waiting until later in life. When comparing quotes across providers, it helps to request pricing for the specific breed and age of the pet in question, since national averages can understate or overstate costs for an individual animal. Finally, a lower monthly premium does not automatically mean lower total costs if the policy's coverage limits or exclusions leave an owner facing larger out-of-pocket bills during a major illness or injury, so reviewing the full policy terms alongside the price remains an important step before choosing a plan.

This article was drafted with AI assistance as part of our editorial process.