Dobies and Homeowners Insurance
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I think the 'Dobes at Play' sign is genius! I also like the 'I can reach the fence in 2.9 seconds - can you?', but for insurance/liability reasons, probably not the wisest choice. Maybe a 'dog in yard' sign is best to alert mailmen, etc. It's non-threatening and just gives them a heads up.
I remember one of the mailmen at our other house telling me that he is much more concerned about little dogs than big ones - they tend to be more high-strung and are more likely to bite. We ran across one such terrier this week. Java and I were walking back from downtown and a terrier came racing up and barking - if the wrought-iron fence hadn't been there, I am sure it would have attacked Java. It was trembling it was so furious. Thing is, she walked a bit closer and then ignored it, even though it followed us along the fence for a good 50 feet.
I remember one of the mailmen at our other house telling me that he is much more concerned about little dogs than big ones - they tend to be more high-strung and are more likely to bite. We ran across one such terrier this week. Java and I were walking back from downtown and a terrier came racing up and barking - if the wrought-iron fence hadn't been there, I am sure it would have attacked Java. It was trembling it was so furious. Thing is, she walked a bit closer and then ignored it, even though it followed us along the fence for a good 50 feet.
HA HA
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My first taste of insurance problems was before I bought my house, when I had renters insurance. The insurance agent asked what theft deterrants I had, and I said an alarm and a dog (I had one dog at the time). She asked what kind and like a fool I said pit/labrador retriever mix (this was about 6 years ago, all the pit madness had not started). She told me my insurance would go up $800 a year. I was shocked.
When I bought my house, I went with the company that did not ask me if I had dogs. I figured that if no one asked I would not be lying. Five other companies had asked and their lists included - bulldog (that one was a shocker - lol), akita, doberman, german shephard, chow chow, staffordshire terrier, boxer and a few others). I failed in every category. I mean, literally with two pit mixes and a doberman, I was screwed. I do have a sign that says "In case of emergency please save my - and then it has a space to check next to bird, cat, dog. That way if there is a fire or something my dogs will be saved, and it also lets people know there are animals on the property (in the event that the barking does not let them know - lol). People are sue happy and would just love to sue for a dog bite, yet any and all breeds can bite.
When I bought my house, I went with the company that did not ask me if I had dogs. I figured that if no one asked I would not be lying. Five other companies had asked and their lists included - bulldog (that one was a shocker - lol), akita, doberman, german shephard, chow chow, staffordshire terrier, boxer and a few others). I failed in every category. I mean, literally with two pit mixes and a doberman, I was screwed. I do have a sign that says "In case of emergency please save my - and then it has a space to check next to bird, cat, dog. That way if there is a fire or something my dogs will be saved, and it also lets people know there are animals on the property (in the event that the barking does not let them know - lol). People are sue happy and would just love to sue for a dog bite, yet any and all breeds can bite.
My insurance company never even asked if I had a dog, nor is it on the paperwork anywhere. So I never told them.
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I use Farmers and they don't use a list. They just want to know if you have a dog or cat and if it has ever bitten. If someone with a biting Yorkie admits the dog has bitten, they will not get insurance from Farmers. I just wonder how many owners actually admit their dog has a bite history.
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I have a sticker on the glass side light on my door as well - it has the Doberman head and "Doberman Pinscher Club of America" on it - came with my membership a few years ago
I also have a Doberman metal garden statue the sticks into the ground - it is in the flower bed by my front door.
They are all good subtle ways of letting people know what you have behind door #1
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This is a very informative thread. I didn't know some companies black list dobermans or boxers for that matter and I had no idea about the beware of dog sign. So why do they even make these signs if they are bad to have?? Wouldn't you get in more trouble for not having a sign and someone broke into your house and your dog bit them rather than having a sign that warns them?? This world is so sue happy, you have to be extra careful with everything you do these days.
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Signs on my gate
I never took down my sign says Bouvier we can make it to the gate in 3 seconds or something like that then have very old sign saying dogs are Tatooed.Most folks do not know what a Bouvier is after we got the eletric meter that is read by radio signals no one needs to come in the yard at all.The gate only opens from the inside so that is a big plus too.
Patches Mom
I never took down my sign says Bouvier we can make it to the gate in 3 seconds or something like that then have very old sign saying dogs are Tatooed.Most folks do not know what a Bouvier is after we got the eletric meter that is read by radio signals no one needs to come in the yard at all.The gate only opens from the inside so that is a big plus too.
Patches Mom
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It's good to have a sign of some sort. But not one that promotes your dog as being vicious. Because this just gives ppl a reason to whine and complain. I love the idea of the "Doberman's at play".
Plus if someone is bitten because they were breaking into your home, they don't need a beware of dog sign, lol. They shouldn't be breaking into your house in the first place and deserve what they get!!
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years ago there used to be an old farm house on our way to school that had a sign that read "Beware of the dog the bastard bites" how times have changed.
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Our insurance company takes into account that we keep dogs,by reducing the premium as i think most do in this country,i tend to think that if a thief can get through the multiple lock systems,the four by now screaming Dobes in the conservatory,the second set of multiple locks on the main part of the house,the alarm system,and carry away my tv set (which i can barely lift myself) THEN HE HAS BLOOMING WELL EARNED IT!!!!!!
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The major insurance companies by us don't have a bad dog list. Alot of the smaller ones do. I would hope if I ever have to pay a higher premium for a doberman, I would atleast get an additional discount for having a "remote anti-theft deterent". I think its only fair.
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LOL couldn't agree more!
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Our insurance (Allstate) never asked about dogs at all. Of course we had the house insurance before we had Orson or Phoebe.........hmmmmm, I wonder if I should check into it??
We did get a discount for having an ADT system, which by the way SUCKS! They were right on top of the smoke alarm/fire dept issues..........but several times the burgular alarm was set off and they NEVER once called us or the cops!! So we cancelled it 2 years ago (after keeping it for over 3 years)!! And they still kept taking payments for a few months until I blocked them at our bank!! Mini rant just to let you know NOT to use ADT!
We did get a discount for having an ADT system, which by the way SUCKS! They were right on top of the smoke alarm/fire dept issues..........but several times the burgular alarm was set off and they NEVER once called us or the cops!! So we cancelled it 2 years ago (after keeping it for over 3 years)!! And they still kept taking payments for a few months until I blocked them at our bank!! Mini rant just to let you know NOT to use ADT!
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Brum......that was funny! I can see the thief now...........sweating, fumbling thru each lock on the first door, getting past the dobies and then seeing that there are even more locks on the next door.........some twisted nightmare! I say you should just put a stack of money on the TV, so they can take the TV and the money......because like you said........HE HAS BLOOMING WELL EARNED IT!!!!! :rotate1:
I can't imagine how Java would react if someone broke in or we arrived home to find a stranger in the house. Two weeks ago I came home, opened the back door softly and was wearing sneakers as I walked through to the kitchen (where her crate is). I guess she had been sleeping and woke up to hear my footsteps. Still half-asleep Java let out the most vicious bark I have heard to date. As soon as I said her name, she immediately stopped and looked pretty sheepish when I let her out of the crate. Makes me realize that now that she's two I can start trusting her to be out of the crate when I'm out of the house.
I have to agree w/ Brum's post, but I think that anyone who continues to break in after hearing one, let alone FOUR Dobes barking, is either incredibly desperate or incredibly stupid.
I have to agree w/ Brum's post, but I think that anyone who continues to break in after hearing one, let alone FOUR Dobes barking, is either incredibly desperate or incredibly stupid.
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