In the UK and virtually every other country, most people do not own a pedigree dog. Largely because they are so expensive to buy. Plus, there are simply more mixed breed or mongrel dogs out there.
After all, dogs will be dogs. If your beautiful bull terrier bitch runs off one day, while she is on heat and comes back looking particularly pleased with herself, there is a fair chance she is pregnant. And, the chances are, it will be another local mutt that has had his wicked way with her.
Whether you become the accidental owner of a mongrel or dog of indeterminate lineage or you simply fall in love with the slightly crazy-looking pup you see at the shelter, one thing is for sure, you will want to buy pet insurance.
Mixed breed dogs are less prone to the inherited health-issues some pedigrees are. But they can and do, still get sick. Plus, of course, they can get lost, have accidents, or end up causing one.
In any of those situations, the bill can be eye-watering. Here are just a few examples:
None of those is a small figure and if you are living hand to mouth, which many of us are doing right now, facing bills like that can change your life, and not in a good way. When money is tight, the last thing you need is to have to take out an expensive, high-interest loan to pay a large vet´s fee.
One of the incidents above only has to happen once for your pet insurance policy to pay for itself. But it must be the right policy. If you buy vet insurance that does not offer a good level of coverage, you could end up wishing you had never bought it.
Here are the main things you need to consider when buying your policy.
Most pet insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions. This is understandable. But the fact that your pet already has a health condition is not a reason not to buy a policy. Currently there is one pet insurance provider that will cover some pre-existing medical conditions and they are called Scratch & Patch.
If your dog is a true mongrel, the chances are you will not have a clue which breeds have come together to make him or her. But, often, you will have a good idea. Perhaps you got them from a friend whose 2 dogs have bred or a breeder that specializes in mixed-breed dogs. In that case, you can check out whether there are any health conditions that your pet is prone to.
For example, if one of the parents is a Labrador you would want to buy a policy that provides a good level of coverage for joint and eye issues. Both of which this breed of dog is prone to developing.
Every dog has its own character traits. If yours is nervous and barely leaves your side, the chances of them running off and getting lost are slim. Whereas one with a skittish character is more likely to do so. In which case, you will want to make sure that you buy a policy that offers you financial assistance to find and bring your dog back home.
If your mongrel tends to jump up, run off on walks and not listen to you, it is important to buy a policy that offers a good level of accident coverage. That way should they cause an accident or inadvertently hurt someone you can claim from your insurer, should you be sued.
Provided of course you buy a policy that offers a high enough level of coverage and you are not contravening any of the terms and conditions. You can find out about how to check your policy to make sure it really does offer a decent amount of third-party liability coverage, by reading our pet insurance review articles.
Once you have narrowed down your options, just double-check how payments are made. If the arrangement is you pay the vet then claim back the money from the provider, you can go ahead and buy the policy. But make sure that this is how the payment is made. If the insurance company pays vets direct you will need to make sure that the vet you like to use is willing to work with that particular insurer.
Regardless of the type of insurance policy you are buying, it is important, to be honest on the application form. Not doing so can easily invalidate your insurance.
If your pet has remarkable likeness to a Pitbull for example, but the puppy´s owner is telling you it is a mixed breed, ask your vet for their opinion. Should they categorize it as a specific breed, or crossed with a specific breed it is probably best to state that on the policy as some Insurers may not cover you for particular breeds. Unless you have bought it from a breeder, and they have provided you with paperwork that says it is a mixed breed dog.
Virtually all pet insurance providers sell policies that are suitable for mongrels of all shapes and sizes.
Our research indicates that most owners of mixed-breed dogs can expect to pay between £100 and £300 (based upon a 5 year old mixed breed dog) for an annual dog insurance policy. Of course, exactly how much you will pay depends on the age, size, type and amount of cover, where you live and of course how much you paid for your pet.
The graph below illustrates the market average premium charged, based on a five year medium size mixed breed dog, for the three different types of cover Time Limited, Maximum Benefit, and Lifetime. If you are not sure, what each of these policies cover, we have produced a Comprehensive Buyers Guide to Dog Insurance.
In most cases it costs less to insure a mongrel or cross-bred dog than a pedigree. This is mainly because they are not expensive to buy. Plus, there is a general understanding that mongrels have fewer inherited health conditions than some pedigree dogs do.
Mongrels are normally sorted into three size bands for insurance purposes. These are small (0-10kg) medium (10-20kg) and large (20+kg). The graph below highlights the difference in pet insurance annual premiums between a small, medium and large size mongrel, when compared to various other breeds. All quotes are an average of the market premium based on a Lifetime policy and each dog aged 5 years.
Mixed breed dogs or mongrels will on average live until they are 14 years of age. In 2019 a study found that mixed breeds live on average 1.2 years longer than purebreds and that there was a correlation between mortality and size. They found the heavier the dog, the lower it's lifespan. This is a very good reason to find the right cover at an early age and also look for a policy that will continue offering competitive cover throughout your dogs life.
Pet Insurance premiums vary depending on your dog’s age, health, size, and the type of policy you are looking for.
We have analysed the the whole market (not just the policies on comparison websites) for the best dog insurance in respect of mixed breed dogs. The Pet Insurers listed below represent insurance policies we feel provide a good level of cover for a reasonable price.
The search criteria we used was based upon a medium sized dog (Any dog weighing between 10 - 20kg is considered medium sized) from unknown mixed breeds costing £150, living in the home counties area of the UK. Quotes were based on a one year old, a six year old and a ten year old male and show the best policies that we rated 3 stars or higher.
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
95
Per Condition Time Limited 3,500
Complimentary Treatment 3,500
Dental 3,500
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 650
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
75
Per Condition Time Limited 3,000
Complimentary Treatment 300
Dental 3,000
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
105
Per Condition Time Limited 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 5,000
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 700
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Per Condition Time Limited 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 250
Death from Illness 0
Theft or Straying 0
Advertising and Reward 0
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
95
Per Condition Time Limited 3,500
Complimentary Treatment 3,500
Dental 3,500
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 650
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
75
Per Condition Time Limited 3,000
Complimentary Treatment 300
Dental 3,000
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Per Condition Time Limited 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 250
Death from Illness 0
Theft or Straying 0
Advertising and Reward 0
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
105
Per Condition Time Limited 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 5,000
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 700
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
95
Per Condition Time Limited 3,500
Complimentary Treatment 3,500
Dental 3,500
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 650
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Per Condition Time Limited 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 250
Death from Illness 0
Theft or Straying 0
Advertising and Reward 0
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
105
Per Condition Time Limited 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 5,000
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 700
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Per Condition Time Limited
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
75
Per Condition Time Limited 3,000
Complimentary Treatment 300
Dental 3,000
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 4,250
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 4,250
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 500
Advertising and Reward 500
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 500
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 2,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 0
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 200
Third Party Liability 1,500,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
105
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 6,000
Complimentary Treatment 6,000
Dental 6,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 700
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 8,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 0
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 2,000
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 6,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 6,000
Death from Accident 1,500
Death from Illness 1,500
Theft or Straying 1,500
Advertising and Reward 1,500
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 4,250
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 4,250
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 500
Advertising and Reward 500
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 2,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 0
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 200
Third Party Liability 1,500,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 500
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
105
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 6,000
Complimentary Treatment 6,000
Dental 6,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 700
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 8,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 0
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 2,000
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 6,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 6,000
Death from Accident 1,500
Death from Illness 1,500
Theft or Straying 1,500
Advertising and Reward 1,500
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 2,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 0
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 200
Third Party Liability 1,500,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 4,250
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 4,250
Death from Accident 500
Death from Illness 500
Theft or Straying 500
Advertising and Reward 500
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
105
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 6,000
Complimentary Treatment 6,000
Dental 6,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 700
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Maximum Benefit Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Maximum Benefit Per Condition 8,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 0
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 2,000
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
95
Lifetime Per Condition 2,000
Complimentary Treatment 2,000
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 600
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 2,500
Complimentary Treatment 350
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 250
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
90
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 3,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 3,000
Death from Accident 0
Death from Illness 0
Theft or Straying 0
Advertising and Reward 200
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
75
Lifetime Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 2,000
Death from Illness 2,000
Theft or Straying 2,000
Advertising and Reward 1,000
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 12,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 2,000
Death from Illness 2,000
Theft or Straying 2,000
Advertising and Reward 2,000
Third Party Liability 3,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 1
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 7,500
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 7,500
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
95
Lifetime Per Condition 2,000
Complimentary Treatment 2,000
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 600
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 2,500
Complimentary Treatment 350
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 250
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 3,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 3,000
Death from Accident 0
Death from Illness 0
Theft or Straying 0
Advertising and Reward 200
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
90
Lifetime Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 4,000
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 1,000
Third Party Liability 2,500,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
90
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
75
Lifetime Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 2,000
Death from Illness 2,000
Theft or Straying 2,000
Advertising and Reward 1,000
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 7,500
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 7,500
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 6
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 12,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 2,000
Death from Illness 2,000
Theft or Straying 2,000
Advertising and Reward 2,000
Third Party Liability 3,000,000
Top Picks
Insurance Provider
Excess
Primary Cover
Guide Price
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
95
Lifetime Per Condition 2,000
Complimentary Treatment 2,000
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 600
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 5,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 5,000
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 1,000
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
99
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 3,000
Complimentary Treatment 500
Dental 3,000
Death from Accident 0
Death from Illness 0
Theft or Straying 0
Advertising and Reward 200
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 2,500
Complimentary Treatment 350
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 750
Death from Illness 750
Theft or Straying 750
Advertising and Reward 250
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
90
Lifetime Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 4,000
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 1,000
Third Party Liability 2,500,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
90
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 1,250
Death from Illness 1,250
Theft or Straying 1,250
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Per Condition
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
75
Lifetime Per Condition 4,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 4,000
Death from Accident 2,000
Death from Illness 2,000
Theft or Straying 2,000
Advertising and Reward 1,000
Third Party Liability 1,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 12,000
Complimentary Treatment 1,500
Dental 2,000
Death from Accident 2,000
Death from Illness 2,000
Theft or Straying 2,000
Advertising and Reward 2,000
Third Party Liability 3,000,000
Type:Dog
Cover:Lifetime Maximum Benefit
Age: 10
Breed: Medium
Group: Mongrel
100
Lifetime Maximum Benefit 7,500
Complimentary Treatment 1,000
Dental 7,500
Death from Accident 1,000
Death from Illness 1,000
Theft or Straying 1,000
Advertising and Reward 750
Third Party Liability 2,000,000
We hope you have found this article informative and feel free to share it with other dog owners. If you would like to read reviews on other Pet Insurers, that we have not mentioned above, you can find them in our "Pet Insurance reviews" section of the website to help you compare policies.
If you own a specific breed or pedigree dog, check out our other best pet insurance guides for other dog breeds.
Finally we welcome any feedback, or if you have any queries relating to pet insurance, or any other insurance matter please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help.
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