Revealed – the most and least expensive dog breeds to insure in Australia
The boom was led by an increase in dog ownership, with more than a million additional canines brought to Australian homes since 2019. Overall, about a fifth of all pet dogs in the country have been procured during the pandemic, split equally between new and experienced owners, according to the triennial report.
However, contrary to popular belief that COVID-19 was the main reason for rising pet ownership, the study has found most owners had long been thinking of getting a pet even before the outbreak and the restrictions imposed during the pandemic had simply gave them an opportunity to do so.
“Our research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions may have created an opportunity for Australians to introduce a previously desired pet into the family, rather than the pandemic being the reason itself for acquiring a pet,” said AMA president Lance Williams. “For instance, working from home arrangements have provided the opportunity to spend time with a young pet.”
Read more: “We saw the market as being open and ripe for disruption”
The research also highlighted the positive impact pet ownership had on people’s lives. 70% of those who participated in the study said that being a pet owner has improved their lives during the pandemic.
“While the participants in both the focus groups and the survey struggled to pinpoint specific changes to behaviours in their pets or themselves, they were able to readily name overall benefits, including companionship, comfort, positive mental and physical health, and unconditional love,” the report noted.
The study also found that pet owners are spending $3,200 per dog each year, primarily on food, veterinary services, and healthcare products. Extrapolated across the country, dog owners have spent $20.5 billion in the past year.
Considering these figures, money-saving website Mozo said it would be wise for owners to treat their pets more of an “overall investment,” rather than just “best furry friends.”
Read more: Very few pet owners have pet insurance
“While you can’t put a price on a pet’s affection, most good investments do call for some level of insurance,” the website explained. “That’s where pet insurance comes in. The question is, how much exactly should you be paying to protect little Spot?”
How does pet insurance work?
Pet insurance plans are designed to protect pet owners from the financial impact of unexpected veterinary expenses. Most policies follow a reimbursement-based model, allowing policyholders to consult or get treatment from a specialist of their choosing, but there are also a few providers that offer the option to pay the veterinarian directly.
Policies vary between insurers but each outlines which conditions and expenses are covered, reimbursement rate, deductible, and maximum payout or annual limit. Each plan also has a waiting period before coverage kicks in. The time varies depending on the insurance company, but most require a waiting period of 14 days.
What factors impact the cost of dog insurance?
Mozo’s 2021 pet insurance report identified three major factors that affect the cost of pet insurance for dogs. These are:
1. The dog’s size
According to the report, bigger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans, meaning they are more prone to health issues associated with ageing, including canine cancer, development disorders, and tumours, which experts say may be linked to their accelerated growth.
The research has found that larger breeds such as mastiffs, French bulldogs, British bulldogs, and Bernese mountain dogs are among the most expensive to insure, while smaller breeds, including terriers, schnauzers and Pomeranians typically have lower pet insurance premiums.
2. The type of breed
The average cost to insure a purebred dog is $1,375, almost a third more expensive than it is for crossbreeds at $1,030, according to Mozo’s study. The reason is that the purer the breed, the greater risk the dog has of developing hereditary disorders.
“Bulldogs, for example, tend to suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome due to their short muzzles,” the report explained. “Even the best breeder can’t prevent the risks of this type of issue, so this dog is known for its numerous annual trips to the vet.”
Read more: Top claims for canine friends revealed
3. The pet’s location
Mozo also found that where a dog lives has a significant impact on pet insurance rates. In Western Australia, pet owners are paying 15% more on insurance than their counterparts in New South Wales. The group’s analysis was based on insuring a three-year-old border collie for accident and illness coverage. All other states had minor differences in average price when compared to NSW, according to the report.
“The reason for different policy prices in WA is hard to pinpoint,” the report noted. “However, it may be due to the potential dangers of a different habitat and how those risks are assessed: these include a variety of snakes, scorpions and even many more large animals such as kangaroos.”
The most and least expensive dog breeds to insure in Australia
To find out how much pet insurance costs for different dog breeds, the financial comparison website Finder compared and averaged the prices of accident and illness coverage, with $0 excess, from six different providers. The hypothetical pet was a 1-year-old male and desexed dog, with a 24-year-old owner residing in the 2010 postcode. These breeds came out with the most and least expensive annual rates. The figures are up to date as of November 2021.
Most expensive dog breeds to insure
Rank
Breed
Estimated annual premiums
(Accident & illness cover)
1
Australian Bulldog Miniature
$2,374
2
French Bulldog
$2,309
3
American Bulldog
$2,281
4=
Bordeaux Mastiff
$2,272
4=
Swiss Mountain Dog
$2,272
4=
Tosa Inu
$2,272
7
British Bulldog
$2,221
8
Dogue De Bordeaux
$2,218
9
Swiss Mountain Dog Cross
$2,216
10=
Bullmastiff
$2,180
10=
Neopolitan Mastiff
$2,180
12=
Newfoundland
$2,178
12=
Rottweiler
$2,178
14
American Pit Bull Terrier
$2,170
15
Greyhound Racing Dog
$2,165
16
Australian Bulldog
$2,164
17
Shar-Pei
$2,159
18
Staghound
$2,158
19
Brazilian Mastiff
$2,153
20
Bernese Mountain Dog
$2,140
21
Dobermann
$2,124
22=
Boerboel Cross
$2,113
22=
Bordeaux Mastiff Cross
$2,113
24
French Bulldog Cross
$2,111
25
Cane Corso
$2,096
26
Australian Bulldog Miniature Cross
$2,080
27=
American Bulldog Cross
$2,075
27=
St Bernard
$2,075
29
Shar-Pei Cross
$2,068
30
British Bulldog Cross
$2,062
Source: Finder.com.au
Cheapest dog breeds to insure
Rank
Breed
Estimated annual premiums
(Accident & illness cover)
1
Maltese Cross
$821
2=
Chihuahua Cross
$845
2=
Jack Russel Terrier Cross
$845
4
Havanese Cross
$849
5
Pomeranian Cross
$851
6
Miniature Fox Terrier Cross
$867
7
Poodle – Toy Cross
$872
8
Border Terrier Cross
$882
9=
Bichon Frise Cross
$885
9=
Cavoodle
$885
9=
West Highland White Terrier Cross
$885
12
Maltese
$891
13
Tibetan Spaniel Cross
$892
14
Fox Terrier Smooth Cross
$895
15
Yorkshire Terrier Cross
$897
16=
Fox Terrier Wire Cross
$901
16=
Tenterfield Terrier Cross
$901
18=
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cross
$902
18=
Chihuahua
$902
18=
Miniature Schnauzer Cross
$902
21
Spoodle/Cockapoo
$903
22
Japanese Spitz Cross
$910
23
Australian Shepherd Cross
$916
24
Papillon Cross
$917
25
Miniature Fox Terrier
$920
26
Schnoodle
$921
27
English Toy Terrier Cross
$926
28=
Dingo Cross
$930
28=
Havanese
$930
30
Australian Terrier Cross
$931
Source: Finder.com.au
