Dog show insurance

What is dog show insurance?

Dog show insurance is a type of event insurance used for competitions involving man’s best friends. There’s grooming, the talent portion, and the grand prize to worry about, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. We’re talking about insurance, not just dogs. Essentially, this type of insurance policy is designed to protect event organizers from the costs associated with liability claims such as bodily injury, property damage, and more. It's important to note that each personal dog insurance policy won’t apply to events.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an organization or an individual. If you’re hosting an event, you need to buy insurance to protect you from various scenarios. Because of this, you should be prepared for anything by purchasing a couple of types of coverage for your dog show. If you ask a broker for help, you can find the types of coverage you need for your dog show. We will review each one and what they do in the following section.

What types of insurance coverage can dog shows have?

Animal clubs and non-profit dog shows are fairly common. Both require dog show insurance, but that’s only a vague term to describe it. Actually, there are many types of insurance coverage available for these types of events. Let’s learn about each type of insurance coverage before you start adding them to your policy below:

Commercial general liability insurance

Commercial general liability insurance will provide coverage if third-party property damage or bodily injury occurs during the dog show. The competition can be fierce at dog shows, and sometimes it gets the better of contestants. For example, if one dog attacks another and injures it, this type of insurance will help pay for veterinary bills. Keep the liability that comes with a dog biting in mind.

Professional liability insurance

Sometimes called errors and omissions insurance, professional liability insurance provides compensation in the event of negligence allegations and lawsuits brought against you. For example, at a dog show, you might forget something you need for the show to go on. If this has physical or financial repercussions for the participants, they might seek compensation, and this type of insurance coverage helps pay for it.

Product liability insurance

At dog shows, it’s not uncommon to sell things like souvenirs, dog treats and more. However, if you plan to do this at your event, you’ll need product liability insurance. It will cover if a third party gets injured or has their property damaged as a result of using your products. Those who manufacture, distribute or sell such products can be subject to financial repercussions without proper coverage.

Commercial property insurance

Animal clubs or non-profits often have their own spaces used for events. These may be owned, rented or leased. Regardless of the scenario you find yourself in, you’ll want to opt into commercial property insurance to protect yourself. That’s because this type of coverage will cover the costs associated with insured perils, including fire, water, natural disasters, theft and vandalism.

Cyber liability insurance

If you are hosting an event like a dog show, you store information about the event on your computer. This includes that of the owners and their furry friends. If someone were to hack into the system, all of this information would no longer be private, including financial information used for entry fees. Cyber liability insurance protects you from having to pay everyone back for the losses on your own.

There are several types of insurance coverage available for dog shows. By weighing the pros and cons of each one and reaching out to a BrokerLink broker, you can create a policy that’s right for your event. However, it’s important to note that this takes time and should be done a decent amount ahead of time to have time to review it.

Why should animal clubs and other organizations ask an insurance company about dog show insurance?

Whether you’re an animal club hosting a non-profit dog show or hosting a high-end competition, you might wonder why you need dog insurance at all. Well, for the low cost, you might be surprised about all the benefits it comes with. In fact, making a small financial sacrifice can make a difference when it comes to protecting you and everyone’s pet participating in your show. Here are the many advantages of purchasing dog show insurance for your next event:

Protects against liability claims

Liability claims come with serious financial repercussions. It doesn’t matter whether you injure a human or animal or damage someone else’s property. When this occurs, you can face a lawsuit that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars if something happens during your event. In fact, this event type is even more risky because you could get stuck paying medical and veterinary bills. Having a valid insurance policy will help pay for the potential legal costs that come with third-party liability claims.

Keeps you safe from the costs of loss and theft

If a dog that’s supposed to be in your show gets lost or stolen, you may be in trouble. This is because it’s someone’s loyal companion who they’ve put years of care into. Additionally, if this is one of the top dogs in the competition, you will suffer financial losses from people refusing to stay and watch the show. Insurance can provide compensation to the owner in their time of need while their furry friend is being tracked down.

Even when you’re hosting a non-profit dog show, people are still bringing their pets to participate in your event. Because of this, there is still a certain level of risk. You should think about purchasing an insurance policy for this reason and a couple of others. If you overlook it, you could end up paying a large chunk of money out of pocket, which can add up if you aren’t profiting. Speaking of price, we will discuss the costs of dog show insurance next.

How much does dog show insurance cost?

The costs of dog show insurance coverage will vary depending on a number of factors. Since you will be held personally liable if something happens to another person’s pet, you have to be careful. Insurance providers take this into account when calculating the rate for insuring your event. Let’s discuss the many aspects that affect the price of dog show insurance below:

Where you’re hosting the competition

Location is everything when you’re buying a home, and things aren’t any different when it’s time to purchase insurance. Where you host your dog show has an impact when it’s time for your insurance company to calculate your premium. For example, an indoor enclosed field is considerably safer for dogs than a park without any fencing.

Number of participants

Having a small charity event isn’t the same as hosting a large-scale competition. Depending on how many dogs are participating in your dog show, the price of insurance protection will vary. Think about how many people are going to enter their pets in your contest. Your insurance company will ask you for a number before issuing you any type of event insurance.

Dog breeds in the competition

It’s a fact that there are dog breed restrictions when entering competitions and adopting pets. Some dog breeds are known to be more aggressive than others. That’s why if you have them in your dog show, there is an increased general liability risk. In order to avoid higher premiums and keep everyone’s pets safe, restrict the dog breeds that can enter your show.

The costs of hosting the event

Knowing how much it costs to host your event is essential when you’re an organizer. You have to have enough money put away to cover all of your expenses. However, a dog show with plenty of participants in a massive venue isn’t cheap. As a result, there’s more to lose. Because of this, you have to pay more insurance in case something does happen to avoid suffering a large financial loss.

Amount of money being made

Although the money isn’t going back to the organization directly for hosting a charity event, it is still making a profit for its cause. An insurance company will take this into account. When more cash is involved, there is a higher risk of loss. As a result, dog shows with hefty entrance fees should expect to pay more for insurance.

Overall, having dog show insurance is a wise decision. Although you might not have heard of it before, it can make a difference since when something happens, the event organizer is the one who’s held accountable. It’s not worth taking a chance on because you are risking people’s pets and best friends. Luckily, purchasing dog show insurance is easier than ever when you have an insurance broker by your side. Speak with a BrokerLink broker to learn more about how dog show insurance can benefit you.

Contact BrokerLink today!

Dog show insurance encompasses elements of event insurance and pet insurance but is not the same thing. It’s intended for an event but is treated more like a form of business insurance. By offering general liability coverage and other common forms of protection, it keeps event organizers safe from financial repercussions. Because of this, it’s becoming a more common option for those hosting one-off events for animals.

Do you own an animal club or plan on hosting a non-profit dog show? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you need dog show insurance. However, you probably don’t know where to start if it’s your first time purchasing an insurance policy. You’ll need the help of a BrokerLink broker. Working with a broker allows you to get personalized quotes for dog show insurance from various companies without calling everywhere in the area. Call, use our online quote tool or visit one of our community branches to get started today.

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