Dog Trainer & Obedience School Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a dog trainer & obedience school business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for dog trainers and obedience schools, including board-and-train and behavior work. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the trainer's actual services.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Bailee (Care, Custody & Control) | Covers injury to, death of, or loss of a client's dog while in the trainer's care — general liability usually does not, because pets are legally property. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers bites and injuries a client's dog causes to people or other dogs during classes, and premises injuries. Confirm there is no dog-bite or breed exclusion. | Core | |
| Professional Liability | Covers claims that training methods or advice harmed a dog or failed to fix a behavior problem. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Trainers are bitten, knocked down, and pulled by dogs; required in most states with employees. | Prevalent | |
| Commercial Auto / Hired & Non-Owned | Needed when trainers transport client dogs or drive to in-home sessions. | Prevalent | |
| Commercial Property | Covers the training facility, kennels, agility equipment, and fencing. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Extends limits above GL — useful for trainers working with aggressive dogs or protection training. | Situational | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers client records and online booking data. | Situational | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims by trainers and kennel staff. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap that catches dog trainers most often is the care, custody, and control problem. General liability covers a client's dog biting someone, but it usually does not cover injury to or death of the client's own dog while the trainer has it — which is exactly what happens in board-and-train programs. Dogs have died in trainers' care in several reported cases, leading to lawsuits and criminal charges. Confirm animal bailee coverage is in place with a per-animal limit high enough for the dogs trained, and check its exclusions for neglect and unexplained disappearance.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your dog trainer & obedience school coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Dog Trainer & Obedience School Insurance · Dog Trainer & Obedience School Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a dog trainer & obedience school business need?
The core coverages for a dog trainer & obedience school business are Animal Bailee (Care, Custody & Control), Commercial General Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my dog trainer & obedience school coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.