Getting Insured With a Family Dog: Not That Easy.

About 40 percent of American households own a dog, according to The Humane Society of the United States, and many of those dog owners have homeowners insurance, too. But the two don't always mix well. As the costs of dog bites spiral, more than $1 billion in 1999 according to the Insurance Information Institute, some homeowners insurance companies are refusing to write coverage for owners of certain breeds.