Although dogs are considered man's best friend, they're also a significant source of insurance claims, especially for homeowners. In 2016 alone, dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claim dollars, costing more than $600 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) and State Farm, the largest writer of homeowners insurance in the United States.

The category of “other” dog-related injuries generally includes dogs knocking down children, cyclists, and the elderly, for example, all of which can result in fractures and other blunt force trauma injuries. The category also includes U.S. Post Office worker attacks, many of which take place while mail is being delivered to a dog owner's residence.

I.I.I.'s analysis of homeowners insurance data found that the number of dog bite claims nationwide increased to 18,123 in 2016, compared to 15,352 in 2015 — an 18 percent increase. The average cost per claim, however, decreased by more than 10 percent. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims was $33,230 in 2016, I.I.I. found, compared with $37,214 in 2015 and $32,072 in 2014.