Health insurance for working/security dog

chay22

My son has just picked up his security dog (German Shepard), he is not working at present but will be in the new year hopefully.

We have been looking for health insurance for the dog but have found out that the normal pet insurance companies don't/won't cover him.

I would appreciate any advice, help or information on where to go now.

Thanks in advance.

nothavingfun..

just googled so cant vouch for any of these

http://www.classiconweb.com/
http://www.lrmsliabilityplus.co.uk/Products_Working_Dogs_Insurance.aspx

pink_piggy17

If he wants to protect his premises he should install an alarm system, not condemn a living creature to a miserable life.

UKTigerlily

pink_piggy17 wrote: »

If he wants to protect his premises he should install an alarm system, not condemn a living creature to a miserable life.

1) The OP wasn't asking for opinions on the dogs living conditions (Which we know NOTHING about) but insurance for the dog
2) From what they said, it's not being used to protect the persons own place/home but for a job (Military/security/police etc all use working dogs)
3) What was said to show it will have a miserable life? Most working dogs I know live with the owner/handler & have a great life!

pink_piggy17

A lot of guard dogs that you see protecting a premises are generally left out in a yard 24/7 with no walks/attention or any normal life really. Not saying they are all like this but it seems the vast majority are.

nothavingfun..

No offence meant pink_piggy17, but the OP was asking for advice on insurance - we (the readers of MSE) have NO idea of how the dog is kept - as far as I can see this is an animal insurance thread.......... not an attack on peeps who keep guard dogs thread


like I said no hard feelings, but lets help find OP a good insurance company

chay22

pink_piggy17 wrote: »

If he wants to protect his premises he should install an alarm system, not condemn a living creature to a miserable life.

Excuse me, how can you judge the living conditions and reason for keeping a security dog when you know nothing about him/us. You could ask first!

Not that I have to justify it to you but the dog is used with my son (his handler) as a patrol dog not to protect my house as most people assume.
He is kenneled , as most working dog are, in a fully secure, large heated kennel with creature comforts like most pet dogs have eg, bedding toys etc.

If we were not interested in the welfare of the dog don't you think we wouldn't be interested in expensive health insurance for him!

Unfortunatley it is people's attitude to this subject that causes all the problems. Thanks to the other posters your comments were much appreciated.

SJC08

Have you tried Sainsbury's Pet Insurance? This link: http://www.compareandsave.com/blog/2008/12/5/sainsburys-pet-insurance-offer-extended-until-february-2009/ appears to imply they are quite flexible and it looks like a good deal to me?

chay22

Thanks for the infomation and link.

Chay

orlao

In your situation I would call and speak to your local NFU agent ( not the freefone call centre) and see if they could tailor a policy for you.

I would imagine that the standard insurance policies wouldn't want to cover your sons dog as there must be a much higher risk of a 3rd party public liability claim against a patrol/guard dog.

Just out of curiosity:o doesn't a guard dog have to be licensed? Or is it different if they only patrol with a handler? I remember being warned that I couldn't have a "caution" sign on my back gate only a sign saying "loose dogs".

HTH

DKLS

orlao wrote: »

Just out of curiosity:o doesn't a guard dog have to be licensed? Or is it different if they only patrol with a handler? I remember being warned that I couldn't have a "caution" sign on my back gate only a sign saying "loose dogs".HTH

Not sure about that, bit I was told by a Copper that I should have a "Beware of the Dogs" sign as otherwise I could be sued if my dog munched a burgler.