Do I have to tell my homeowners' insurance company that I have a dog?

You may have to declare your dog when applying for a homeowners' insurance policy. Typically, the amount to which having a dog will affect your premium depends on the dog's size and breed. For example, a small dog under 30 pounds is typically very cheap to insure. By contrast, if you have an 80-pound dog, there is a greater chance it will destroy your property. Breed is an additional concern. Dogs with a record of attack may be costly to insure because they can create a liability if a neighbor, mailman or other party is bitten and sues.