Schutzhund Training - Page 1

I am serious about these questions, so please do go all "ballistic" on me ..

Does Schutzhund Training drive up the cost of homeowner's insurance or prevent a homeowner from getting insurance?

When did the German Shepherd get on "the list" of insurance companies?   This was not the case years' ago.

Sorry I screwed up on posting this message previously  !!

GSD's are  not on the list here.

This article states the high risk dogs -- Rotts, Shepherds, Dobs, and Pit Bulls.    I was going to apply for a County Dog License, but now I'm afraid that it will put my dog on "the list" and will affect my insurance

http://personalinsure.about.com/od/fairtreatmentandfraud/a/a052305aa.htm

I wouldnt say that the average insurance agent that is writing a policy would even know what schutzhund training is.  Nor would it be on the application for the insurance policy questionaire.   I am in Alabama, when I have obtained insurance for my home - they do ask if I have a dog and what breed - but Schutzhund training has never been asked. 

So are you asking the question if they are "trained in schutzhund" if it effects cost of your insurance - or if it is just the GSD breed that will affect it?

 Holy cow!  Here's some of the advice from that article:

"1. Avoid the problem altogether and get a mutt! The local animal shelter has plenty of good dogs to choose from and with a mutt you should not have any problems getting insurance."

Now, I'm not saying that all "mutts" are bad or all dogs from shelters are bad, but, giving this advice to the general public who doesn't know much about how to evaluate dogs?  Dogs with behavioral problems often end up in shelters.  This implies that insurance companies think those dogs have a more stable temperament than a well-bred dog from certain breeds.

So I could have the sweetest, most predictable, trained purebred German shepherd, and be more of a risk than someone who doesn't know about how to handle a dog or evaluate temperament, and goes down to the animal shelter and picks up the cute puppy that was traumatized during a crucial development period and is some sort of pit/shepherd/lab mix and isn't given any training?

How can we find out about our particular policy in our particular state, without actually asking our insurance agent?  We had no dog when we first got our policy.

Jayne -- that does seem riduclous about the Shelter dogs -- you don't know what you are getting.   Then I read another article -- should have bookmarked it -- that most fatal bites are by Rotts, but there is MORE biting by GSD's.   I, too, would like to know about my Company's policy on this, but don't want to call them and ask.  

Are you talking about training on your property or owning a trained dog?