only this time there’ s another dog on the other side who scoops it up, and runs away with it. And there is nothing you or anyone can do about it. Unfortunately, while your business may not have ever incurred an incident, several fellow trainers you collaborate with across the country may have suffered multiple claims, some of which were significant. And now your insurance company, and all insurance companies covering dog training and pet related services determine that based on the amounts paid out on claims, versus the amount of premium paid over a certain period, they must increase their rates across the board on all similar businesses going forward, or stop insuring trainers all together, similar to the many property insurers leaving Florida due hurricanes or California due to wildfires. While those states will provide relief in terms of property insurance, you won’ t find them doing so when it comes to liability coverage risk exposures.
The last reason or type of renewal increases are those that resemble when the ball or disc we threw for our dog( s) just simply disappeared, and neither you, nor your dog( s) have a clue as to where they ended up. And if you / your dog( s) are anything like me / mine, these scenarios leave us walking / running around the backyard searching for answers. These are the ones where the insurance industry opts to increase rates across the board, due to their belief that higher rates will be needed going forward, due to activity that has recently transpired, but the statistical data doesn’ t necessarily back it up.
I recently met with insurance representatives from two large national companies our agency works with, which specialize in the pet services industry, and posed the question … why their companies were continuing to increase rates on our clients in excess of 10-20 % in 2025. As both of these reps are based in North Carolina, it wasn’ t surprising to hear their response was the same: Hurricane Helene, which last August devastated Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas with flooding and mudslides, in some cases wiping out entire families in some of the poorest parts of our great state. While that answer might be sufficient for some, it didn’ t sit well with me then, nor does it sit with me now, after watching both of their companies take home record profits in 2024. I let each of them know what I am fairly certain they were already aware of, which is that flood and mudslides are excluded under their business owner and commercial property policies. Additionally, very few claims from Helene have been paid by either of their companies, and this trend will continue in the future when hurricanes produce more flooding as opposed to wind or hail damage.
David Pearsall is a licensed insurance agent and co-owner of Business Insurers of the Carolinas, an insurance agency specializing in business insurance for pet related services since 1992. David and his team have managed insurance programs for many national pet services associations, including the APDT Insurance Program since 2001. A licensed agent in all 50 states, he holds both the Certified Insurance Counselor( CIC) and the Certified Workers’ compensation Advisor( CWCA) designations. Contact David at DP @ Business-Insurers. com or visit Business Insurers on the web at www. DogTrainerInsurance. com
RECENT GENERAL LIABILITY CLAIMS:
• Two dogs were playing during a group training class. The playing escalated into a scuffle, and one of the dogs bit the other on the neck and torso. Total paid: $ 3,151.
• A client came to pick up his dog after a 6-week board and train course. While waiting for his dog to be brought to the front of the facility, another client entered the building with their dog to inquire about the various courses being offered. The waiting client attempted to pet / play with the other owner’ s dog and suffered a severe bite to his hand. As a result of the bite, the dog owner lost significant function of his hand. Total paid: $ 65,000.
• During a training class, a client’ s dog ran into a tree and suffered a cut on its right flank. The dog required emergency vet care as a result. Total paid: $ 4,405.
• A client’ s dog was being boarded at the trainer’ s home. During the night the dog began vomiting and was taken to the vet. Total paid: $ 1,460.
• During an agility class, a client’ s dog attempted a jump, but landed awkwardly, causing a fracture to its leg. Total paid: $ 5,400.
• Dog trainer was working with a new client’ s dog and took the dog on a hike. While on the hike, the dog was bitten by a rattlesnake and required emergency vet care. Total paid: $ 2,179.
• A client’ s dog was being boarded at trainer’ s home and was to receive training lessons for a few weeks. The dog ingested something in the home, which caused a blockage between its stomach and intestines. The blockage was so severe it caused aspirated pneumonia, which had to be treated before the dog could undergo surgery to remove the object. Total paid: $ 5,840.
• While the trainer was teaching a group class, one of the client’ s dogs bit another on its hip, which required stitches. Total paid: $ 702.
• A client’ s dog tore its ACL while running during a training session. Three weeks later, the dog owner went back to the vet for a check-up as it did not appear the surgery was improving. Unfortunately, the dog had suffered a second torn ACL on its opposite hind leg which also required surgery. Total paid: $ 7,985.
RECENT WORKER’ S COMPENSATION CLAIMS:
• Trainer’ s employee ran / fell into another employee and incidentally hit the other employee in the face, which required stitches on their forehead. Total paid: $ 2,365.
• During a grooming appointment, the client’ s dog bit the trainer’ s employee on the arm. Total paid: $ 1,202.
• An employee was attempting to pick up a water bowl at a board and train facility. As she was doing so, a large dog jumped towards her, causing her to fall and injure her leg, which required medical treatment. Total paid: $ 1,713.
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2025 41