In the classic comedy, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Inspector Clouseau asks the innkeeper at the desk “Does your dog bite?” to which the man replies “No.” Inspector Clouseau then reaches down to pet the dog, which immediately attacks and bites him.

“I thought you said your dog does not bite?” Clouseau asks, turning to the man.  “That is not my dog,” the man replies. So begins our discussion of one of the hot buttons in the industry: dogs. Are the risks breed-specific? How does new industry exclusion handle breed exclusions?

We can all agree that people keep pets, many of which are dogs and beloved family members. However, dogs can bite, enough to warrant the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to keep records of such occurrences. According to the CDC, 4.7 million people are bitten every year. Because of these bites and resultant injuries, over the years many carriers developed breed-specific exclusions. Breeds often listed were pit bulls, Dobermans, German shepherds, chows, and other breeds that were larger and seen as having a propensity for biting or aggression.

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