First home

Liability insurance for dog owners.

This insurance protects you against damages caused by your four-legged friend.

Sven Gueissaz, Expert Product Manager Non Life

Sven Gueissaz

Sven is in charge of our non-life insurance products, such as household insurance and travel insurance. His tasks include undertaking market observation, analysing the competition and defining and implementing product adaptations and innovations. Sven already has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.

01.06.2025,
reading time 4 minutes

Pets are a joy, but also a responsibility. Private third-party liability insurance protects you from financial loss if your pet causes damage. Often, dog owners are even required to have this insurance, as protection for yourself and others.

What is third-party liability insurance for dogs?

Damages can happen in the blink of an eye – whether you are on a walk or at home. If your dog damages property, you, the owner, are liable for those damages. Third-party liability insurance for damages caused by dogs and other animals pays for the damages and protects you from financial claims.

It is usually available as a supplement to personal liability insurance. When taking out this insurance, make sure it explicitly states that dogs are covered, or contact your insurance to register your dog with them.

What animals should I take out third-party liability insurance for?

It is particularly important that you have third-party liability insurance for your dog; in many cantons, it’s a legal requirement. For example in Geneva, Zurich or Fribourg. The rules differ from canton to canton. It’s best to contact your cantonal authority to find out what is required before you even pick up your new furry friend. Sometimes, only certain breeds require insurance.

Dogs
It is particularly important that you have third-party liability insurance for your dog; in many cantons, it’s a legal requirement. For example in Geneva, Zurich or Fribourg. The rules differ from canton to canton. It’s best to contact your cantonal authority to find out what is required before you even pick up your new furry friend. Sometimes, only certain breeds require insurance.
Horses
Horses can also cause a great deal of damage, for example by kicking or running away. That’s why having third-party liability insurance for horses is important.
Small animals and other pets
There is generally no need to have extra insurance for cats, rabbits or fish. Any damages they cause are covered by your regular personal liability insurance.

One moment of inattention and the dog has broken something. Third party liability insurance covers these damages and protects dog owners from the financial fallout, which is often underestimated.

Sven Gueissaz

Third-party liability insurance for dogs: what is insured?

Third-party liability insurance for damages caused by dogs protects you, the owner, in many everyday situations. It pays for damages caused by your dog – to property, rental homes or people. However, there are some exceptions and important prerequisites to take into account.

Benefits of third-party liability insurance

Third-party liability insurance for dogs covers all the typical risks that might occur during the course of life:

Property damage
Your dog causes an accident, damages furniture belonging to friends or destroys a smartphone owned by somebody else? In that case, the damage is covered by third-party liability insurance for caused by dogs. If your dog hurts another animal, this is also considered property damage.
Damage caused by tenants
If, for example, your dog damages the doors or floors of your rental apartment in a one-off accident, damages.
Personal injury
If your dog bites someone or jumps on them, causing them to fall, the insurance will cover the costs of health care, lost earnings and pain and suffering.

The following damages are not covered

Not all damages caused by dogs damages caused by dogs, including:

Damages to your own property, such as a scratched sofa
Damages caused on purpose or through gross negligence, for example if an unleashed dog with a hunting instinct hunts game
Damages caused by unregistered dogs you own

Requirements for insurance coverage

To ensure that your third-party liability insurance for damages caused by dogs is valid, you must register your dog properly with your insurance company and obey all rules for dogs, such as the leash and muzzle requirements in some cantons.

Who is covered by third-party liability insurance for dogs?

Third-party liability insurance for by dogs does not only protect you, the owner. People who live in the same household as you are co-insured. This might include your partner or your children. It means that everyone is protected in the event that your dog causes damages.

Is third-party liability insurance for dogs mandatory?

Many cantons legally require dog owners to have third-party liability insurance for by dogs.

Examples:

In the canton of Zurich, third-party liability insurance for dogs with a minimum coverage amount of CHF 1 million is legally required.
In Geneva, too, all dog owners must have third-party liability insurance, regardless of the size or breed of the dog.
Fribourg also requires third-party liability insurance for dogs with coverage starting at CHF 1 million.

Even in cantons where insurance is not mandatory, experts specifically recommend it, because even minor damages can end up costing a lot of money. Third-party liability insurance for dogs provides you with reliable protection from financial fallout.

Insurance questions about owning pets

Small animals such as guinea pigs or birds are usually covered by this insurance. Dogs and horses, in contrast, have to be registered separately and in some cases will require supplementary insurance.

Dogs are usually covered automatically; however you have to inform your insurance company that you have a dog. Before you take out an insurance policy, it is very important to check if it covers your dog.

If you ride a horse belonging to someone else and cause damages, this supplementary insurance will cover the costs. Generali offers an additional option of in their personal liability insurance.

Fundamentally, the rider is liable for any damages caused by a riding accident, unless the owner has made a mistake or there is an equipment failure.

Costs for third-party liability insurance for damages caused by dogs vary based on the provider, scope of protection and deductible. As a general rule, premiums start at around CHF 100 per year.

Good to know: At Generali, dogs are included in your personal liability insurance.

Negligence is when you have allowed damage to happen due to inattention, for example if you were distracted and your dog caused damages. Third-party liability insurance usually covers these damages. Gross negligence means that you have ignored known risks, such as when a dog with a strong hunting drive is left unleashed. In these cases, the insurance company may reduce or refuse to pay out benefits.

As a general rule, the dog’s owner is liable for damages caused by the dog – even if the dog is currently being looked after by someone who does not belong to their household. Many third-party liability insurance policies cover private care for dogs that do not belong to you, for example during holidays. However, you often still need to inform your insurance company that you are looking after the dog temporarily. It is different if the owner is paying for care of the dog, either by a dog-sitter or a pet boarding house, and there is therefore a contract requiring supervision of the dog. In that case, those looking after the dog are liable and need to ensure that they have the proper insurance.