What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is an insurance product purchased to cover unexpected and non-routine veterinary expenses related to the health of your pet. This product is similar to human health insurance: you pay a monthly premium in order to avoid the financial burden of expensive doctor visits and hospital bills. Pet insurance is simply the pet version.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

After you enroll in a pet insurance plan, you will be required to take your vet to a licensed veterinarian to receive a physical examination. The vet will confirm your pet is in perfect health and identify any pre-existing conditions. There will also be a waiting period once you enroll before claims are covered. Typically this waiting period is 5 days for injuries and 15 days for illnesses. After the vet exam and waiting period are fulfilled, your pet is covered.

Unfortunately many pet insurance companies do not pay for your pet’s unexpected medical expenses up front like some human health insurance policies do. The owner of the pet is expected to pay the full bill at the time of service. Once the bill is paid, the owner immediately files a claim online for reimbursement from the insurance company. Pet insurance companies reimburse the portion of the bill that is agreed upon at enrollment, which is typically 70% -90% depending on the plan.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Pet insurance companies will reimburse you for a portion of the bill for many types of non-routine pet health related expenses. Every insurance company has different policies, however, most reputable insurance companies carry at least the following:

• Illnesses
• Injuries
• Hereditary & Congenital Diseases
• Cancer
• Surgery
• Diagnostic Tests
• Hospital Stays
• Medications
• Accidents/injuries

What Doesn’t Pet Insurance Cover

Coverage will depend on the policy, however, most insurance companies will not reimburse you for the expenses below:

• Annual Physical Exams
• Routine Expenses (Vaccinations, Heartworm Medication, etc.)
• Spaying and Neutering
• Pre-Existing Conditions
• Dental Care
• Euthanasia or Burial
• Property Damage or Personal Liability

Comparing Insurance Companies

Three of the top pet insurance companies are: Trupanion, Healthy Paws, and Pet Plan. In this post, we’ll examine these three popular companies. Pet insurance is an insurance product, so it’s essential to do your research prior to enrolling. If you’d like to learn more about Lemonade, Embrace, Pumpkin, and other pet insurance companies, head over to this post.

While many aspects of Trupanion, Healthy Paws, and Pet Plan policies are very similar, there are two key differences you should notice:

1. Monthly Premiums

Note: these rates are for goldendoodles in Cincinnati, OH. Rates may differ based on location, age, breed, etc. Trupanion, Healthy Paws & Pet Plan will all provide you with an instant free quote on their respective websites.

As you work to establish the perfect policy for your pet, you may have a set monthly budget that you need to work within. Pet Plan gives pet owners the most flexibility in adjusting monthly premium amounts. Pet Plan allows you to choose a deductible, percent of reimbursement, and maximum payout that you feel best suits you and your pet. All Trupanion policies, on the other hand, automatically have an unlimited maximum payout and 90% reimbursement. The deductible is the only part of the plan that can be adjusted to lower monthly premium costs.

When you establish a pet insurance policy, you lock in the rate for that year. You do not, however, lock in the rate for your pet’s lifetime. Each year when you renew your pets policy, the monthly premium may increase. While your pet’s increasing age and moving to a new area do impact the premium change, a new diagnosis or previously filed claims do not. Learn more about how coverage premium changes are calculated in Trupanion’s article.  Because pre-existing medical conditions are not covered,it is advantageous to enroll your pet when she is younger before any medical conditions have been identified. This will allow your pet to get the most coverage out of her insurance plan.

2. Per Condition Deductible Vs. Annual Deductible

Healthy Paws and Pet Plan both offer annual policies, which operate like most human insurance policies. All claims filed within a calendar year go towards the deductible. Once the deductible is reached, the insurance company reimburses the policy holder the agreed upon amount (i.e. pays 90% of expenses) for claims filed during the remainder of that calendar year. When the next year begins, the policy holder must again meet the deductible before reimbursement begins. Annual deductibles are best for dogs that are generally healthy and don’t have chronic healthcare needs. If your dog requires medication for an ear infection, has a tooth abscess, and needs stitches in the same calendar year, expenses for all of those go towards the deductible and then, once the deductible is reached, remaining expenses are reimbursed.

Trupanion offers per condition policies. This means that all claims filed for a specific medical condition go towards the deductible for that condition and then, once the deductible is met, all future expenses for that specific condition are reimbursed for the remainder of the dog’s life. This type of policy is best for dogs that have a chronic medical condition. The owner of a dog who develops diabetes, for instance, may appreciate only having to pay $250 towards insulin one time and then being reimbursed for all diabetes related expenses the rest of the dog’s life. If your dog requires medication for an ear infection, has a tooth abscess, and needs stitches in the same calendar year, you must pay for all of those medical needs out of pocket and none of those expenses contribute towards a deductible since they are all one time conditions.

Trupanion’s “per condition” policy is pretty self explanatory when it comes to a chronic medical condition, but how does “per condition” work in relation to an accident? All injuries related to a specific accident are considered the same condition. If your dog is attacked at a dog park and requires wound care, stitches, a topical antibiotic, an oral antibiotic, and follow up appointments, all of that care is considered one condition and falls under a single deductible. If you dog is later attacked at a dog park a second time, that new incident is a new condition (even if both injuries happen in the same calendar year).

Which Insurance Company Has the Best Policy?

Just as there are many auto insurance carriers and many homeowners insurance carriers, there are also many pet insurance carriers. The best insurance company for an individual will depend on a variety of factors and will probably not be the same for every pet. There are a number of subtle differences between carriers that will benefit different individuals. All of the pet insurance companies I researched have a comparison page on their website showing how they distinguish themselves from the competition. I found this information to be very helpful. Anyone looking to purchase pet insurance should get quotes from multiple companies and dig down into the policy and declarations to determine which policy is the best for their needs and the needs of their pet.

Because pre-existing conditions are not covered by insurance, pet owners are required to do a bit of guess work. An annual deductible might be best for a dog who is at risk for an injury while a per condition policy might be best for a dog at risk for chronic medication conditions. As you work through scenarios to determine which type of policy is best for your pet, ask yourself questions such as:

• Should I paying for a DNA test? With a simple, painless cheek swab done at home, Embark screens your dog for 165 different diseases to let you know what your dog is at risk for developing. Embark can be purchased through Amazon or directly through Embark’s website. (Unfortunately, insurance companies do not offer a discount for health tested dogs.) Save $20 on Embark’s website with the code winter20
• What health problems are common for your dog’s particular breed(s)? The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals regularly publishes disease statistics for each breed, which helps you learn the medical conditions for which your dog is most at risk. If you’re not sure what breeds are in your dog’s ancestry, Embark’s test will identify them for you.
• If you purchased your dog from a breeder, did your dog’s parents receive health testing? Do either of your dog’s parents have health problems? What about any of your dog’s siblings?
• What preventative measures have you taken to help enure your dog’s health (i.e. dogs who regularly receive heart worm preventative are a lower risk for acquiring heart worms, overweight dogs are at increased risk for joint problems, girls spayed before the third heat are at a decrease the risk of mammary cancer, etc.)?
• Does your dog have any personality traits that might put her at higher risk for an injury (i.e. aggression towards other dogs, a tendency to run away, an inclination towards chasing cars, etc.)?
• Does your dog accompany you on any activities that might be her at a higher risk for an injury (i.e. running through the woods, jumping from a boat, hiking over rough terrain, etc.)?

A Closer Look At The Top Three

Let’s look at a few of the key differences and then walk through an emergency scenario to see what coverage actually looks like with each insurance company.

Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws seems to have the highest customer ratings out of the insurance companies we looked at. Customers appreciate that 99% of claims get processed within 2 business days of filing. Another benefit of Healthy Paws is their adjustable reimbursement rate to fit your budget. One disadvantage of Healthy Paws is they do not cover hip dysplasia on dogs who begin enrollment after six years of age.

Pet Plan

Pet Plan is another great provider. Pet plan policies cover dental diseases and exam fees, unlike Healthy Paws & Trupanion. Plus there’s no upper age limit, so geriatric pets are welcome to enroll. Pet Plan also offers variable reimbursement rate and deductible options for maximum flexibility in monthly premiums. Pet Plan policies do cover alternative treatments and medical specialist costs unlike some other insurance companies.

Trupanion

As breeders, it is advantageous for us to have our puppies insured with Trupanion because we can receive information about claims filed by the owners of the pets we breed. We can then use that information to improve our breeding program and the health of our future puppies. Trupanion also will pay some veterinary hospitals directly preventing owners from having to front the money for costly visits. Trupanion has a deductible per condition, unlike the annual deductibles of Health Paws & Pet Plan.

How Much Does Emergency Medical Care Cost?

It’s difficult to determine whether pet insurance is a economical decision without considering the cost of emergency veterinary care. Emergency care varies from case to case and medical care prices differ based on location. Even so, an example scenario is tremendously helpful. We’ll compare a $250 deductible with 90% reimbursement with all three companies for this scenario:

Emergency Stitches Scenario

Your dog cuts her paw on a piece of broken glass. It’s a deep cut, and you’re fairly certain she needs stitches so you head over to the Care Center, an emergency and critical care pet hospital. This particular facility charges $100 exam fee for seeing your pet. Additional fees are then charged based on your pet’s needs for that particular illness or injury. A simple laceration costs an additional $500-$700. (More extensive services cost more.)

Pet Plan

Pet Plan’s policy coverage kicks in beginning the exam fee. You pay the first $250 to reach your deductible and then Pet Plan begins reimbursing you for 90% of all additional expenses. The $600 trip to the emergency vet cost you $315 out of pocket ($250 + 10% of the remaining $350). Your pup’s deductible has been met for the calendar year, so you only pay 10% of any additional disease or injury related health care for your pet for the remainder of the calendar year.

Healthy Paws

While Pet Plan’s policy covers the exam fee Healthy Paws policies do not. In our scenario you are stuck paying the $100 exam fee. Once you pay the $250 deductible, your Healthy Paws policy kicks in and reimburses you for 90% of the remaining expenses. Your $600 trip to the emergency vet cost you $375 out of pocket ($100 exam fee + $250 deductible + 10% of the remaining $250). The good news: your pup’s deductible has been met for the year, so for the rest of the calendar year you only pay 10% of any additional disease or injury related health care for your pet.

Trupanion

Like Healthy Paws, Trupanion does not cover exam fees. In our scenario you are stuck paying the $100 exam fee. You must then pay the $250 deductible, and finally your Trupanion policy will begin reimbursing you for 90% of the remaining expenses. Your $600 trip to the emergency vet cost you $375 out of pocket ($100 exam fee + $250 deductible + 10% of the remaining $250). Trupanion has a “per condition” deductible, so the $250 deductible you met only applies to this injury. If your pup requires additional trips to the vet for wound care or bandage changes, those visits are covered under the same condition (you are still responsible for exam fees those). If you dog has additional disease or injury related health care needs in the upcoming year, you must again reach that $250 deductible for each of those separately.

Can Dogs That Aren’t Fixed Be Insured?

Yes! Pet Plan is happy to enroll breeding pets under their standard policy. A dog must be enrolled prior to becoming pregnancy for an emergency c-section to be covered. Trupanion will not cover breeding pets under the standard policy but does offer a breeding pet policy. Under this policy, emergency c-sections are covered. The dog MUST be classified as a “breeding pet” at the time of enrollment, and the policy does NOT cover a scheduled c-section or c-sections for a dog who has previously undergone a c-section prior to enrolling. Routine pregnancy care is not covered under Pet Plan or Trupanion’s policies.

The Bottom Line

Choosing a pet insurance company can be a very difficult decision to make. Unfortunately, like any type of insurance, attention to detail is critical to ensuring you maintain the appropriate policy for your pet. Thankfully every insurance provider I researched had an abundance of information on their websites including company comparisons and sample policies to view. Obtain a free quote from several providers and compare. As you consider what coverage to carry, ask yourself the suggested questions above and imagine a few example scenarios where you would utilize the insurance. Then compare the policy benefits and costs of multiple companies.

Timberidge Goldendoodles does receive commissions from insurance sales originating from this article. Consider using the links provided above to investigate insurance companies and enroll in dog insurance if you’ve found this information to be helpful and suitable to your needs. Thank you for your support!

There are so many nuances to dog breeding that the learning literally never ends. While the constant learning is an enjoyable aspect for some, new breeders can easily become overwhelmed. Here are links to various resources that will help aspiring and experienced breeders alike. (If you haven’t already done so, read our post about Getting Started Breeding Goldendoodles.)

Canine Anatomy & Locomotion

A cute face and a charming personality go a long way, but not every dog with a good temperament should be a mama or papa. Breeders should evaluate dogs for movement and structure before deciding to use the dog for breeding. A breed standard provides the written description detailing what ideal structure and movement should look like for each particular breed, based on that breed’s purpose. Correct balance and angulation are essential for every breed, even those with the sole purpose of being a companion or family dog. Dr. Battaglia, an AKC judge, wrote two very insightful articles entitled Breeding Better Dog’s Structure And Movement. Part 1 explains how to evaluate structure and movement in a standing dog and part two discusses how to evaluate a dog in motion.

• Breeding Better Dogs: Structure & Movement Part 1
• Breeding Better Dogs: Structure & Movement Part 2

Also read through the free sample pages of Helen King’s Picking Your Performance Puppy and read this blog post she wrote.

Looking to take a more in depth look at canine anatomy and locomotion? Here are a few resources available on Amazon that will be great assets to your library:

• Dog Locomotion & Gait Analysis by Curtis Brown
• Picking Your Performance Puppy and What’s Your Angle? by Helen King
• Dogsteps book and DVD by Rachel Page Elliot

Genetics

Looking for a basic understand of genetics? This canine genetic primer defines terms, explains different modes of inheritance, and other genetic concepts to help the average person make sense of genetics. Next head over the Paw Print Genetics and browse through the different diseases on the goldendoodle panel.

Shedding & Allergies

Shedding and allergies are a hot topic when it comes to doodles! After all, many puppy purchasers seek a doodle puppy for those two characteristics. Ashton Kent from Kent Family Farms does an excellent job explaining the roles different genes play in shedding and allergies in plain language.

The above table from Paw Print Genetics is a great visual way of explaining the collaborative nature of the furnishing locus and shed locus in determining the extent to which a specific dog sheds – and therefore how “hypoallergenic” that dog is. Read Paw Print Genetic’s detailed summary for more information. Some breeders choose to conduct genetic testing on all puppies in a litter to aid in matching puppies with F/F, sd/sd puppies with homes with severe allergies or asthma. Both shed and improper coat/ furnishings are included in Embark’s canine DNA test kit and are also available through Paw Print Genetics.

Goldendoodle Colors

As you’ve probably gathered by now, Paw Print Genetics is an AMAZING source of information for all things genetic! They even have a blog post explaining why it’s possible to breed two cream parent dogs and end up with a litter of black puppies. If you can’t find an answer on their website, their customer service team will happily have an answer for you within 24 hours. I regularly email them with questions.

Ashton Kent from Kent Family Farms also has a helpful explanation about goldendoodle colors. Curious about poodle colors specifically? Read about colors from a poodle breeder’s perspective on Bijou Poodle’s blog.

Be aware that certain physical traits can put puppies at an increased risk for blindness and deafness. Research indicates that blue eyes in piebald and merle dogs are associated with an increased risk for hearing loss. Double merle also puts puppies at increased risk for health problems.

Disease Prevalence & Health Testing

You purchased a puppy from two parents with “good” hip ratings and, much to your dismay, your dog’s hip ratings came back with dysplasia! How is this possible? Keller, Dziuk & Bell’s research article provides insight and the accompanying chart, shown below, provides a helpful visual explanation. The better the hip ratings of parents & grandparents, the lower the percentage of offspring with hip dysplasia.

As demonstrated above, it’s important research your dog’s pedigree. This involves doing a “depth of pedigree” analysis, examining the health testing for the siblings of each ancestor, looking particularly at hip testing and patella luxation. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses in your pedigree.

OFA provides disease statics by breed, which is helpful for learning about the prevalence of REPORTED health problems in your favorite breed.

When Are Those Puppies Coming?!

Dogs have a gestation period of 63 days, which means only 9 short weeks to prepare for those puppies. But how do you know whether your mama is overdue? Using a breeding date to determine a due date actually isn’t the most accurate practice. Avidog suggests that “whelping window” is a more correct terminology than “due date” and asserts that predicting whelping from the first day of diestrus is truly the best option.

Puppy Enrichment

Buy The Puppy Culture Bundle with the DVD set and workbook. Yes, you need both the DVDs and the workbook. I know it’s a bit expensive, but it’s worth every penny! If you really don’t want to spend the money on the whole bundle, start with the DVD and take copious notes. Puppy Culture takes you through each stage of puppy development step-by-step, explaining what to do, how to do it, and why you should do it. Puppy Culture also interviews a variety of experts. After you’ve watched the DVDs, join the Puppy Culture Discussion Group on Facebook.

The Neonatal Period

There are two main enrichment exercises you can do with neonatal puppies: early neurological stimulation (ENS) and ear scent introduction (ESI). ENS and ESI are done once daily from 3-16 days of age. Both of these exercises take very little time or effort on the part of the breeder and leave a lasting impact on the puppies.

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)

Also known as bio sensor and super dog program, early neurological stimulation is a widespread exercise done with neonatal puppies. It’s an excellent exercise, but it does NOT replace enrichment during the transitional and socialization periods. The goal of ENS is to slightly stress neonatal puppies in a controlled manners thereby improving the pups’ ability to handle stress throughout their lives. ENS should only be done on days when the litter has not undergone any other stresses. Learn the details of the five simple exercises pictured below by visiting Natural Rearing Breeder’s Association.

Early Scent Introduction (ESI)

Early scent introduction is a program developed by Gayle of Avidog and Gaylan Golden Retrievers. This simple exercise involves holding a new scent item about 1/2″ away from each puppy’s nose once daily. Find a new item to introduce each day from days 3-16. It’s not difficult to collect 14 different scent items. Check your fridge for fruits and veggies and collect bits of nature like pine cones, leaves, and dirt from your backyard. Avidog has a one page ESI explanation and even a free ESI record sheet in case you want to record each pup’s reaction to different scents.

The Transitional & Socialization Periods

The Adventure Box

Avidog emphasizes constructing an adventure box for your puppies. An adventure box is a cube structure built out of PVC pipes from which various items dangle down. The goal of an adventure box is to challenge puppies and providing learning opportunities, thereby improving their physical, psychological and emotional health. Puppies become accustomed to different sounds as objects clang together. They also become accustomed to pushing through objects with their noses because the only way to reach the center of the adventure box is to push through hanging items.

Default Behaviors, Manding & Manners

Dogs learn best the first 16 weeks of life. This puts breeders in the unique position to mold and form behaviors that can impact puppies and their owners for many years to come. Avidog points out that “Puppies are ALWAYS learning, whether you think you are teaching them or not” so we need to constantly be aware of what our puppies are learning. This means that you may be unintentionally teaching your puppies unwanted behaviors. Making a few intentional changes to how you raise your puppies could set them up for success the rest of their lives. Here Avidog discusses four behaviors breeders unintentionally teach their puppies and suggestions for remedying that by teaching wanted behaviors. Avidog asserts that you should begin teaching your puppies impulse control around 2.5 weeks of age and explains how to do so in this helpful post. Puppy Culture likewise discusses the importance of teaching puppies how to ask for things using a behavior that is socially acceptable to humans, so be sure to watch the videos and then introduce the famous “box exercise” to your puppies. as you begin clicker training them from a remarkably young age.

Crate Conditioning The Litter

Just as programing puppies to ask politely can save new families hours of training and frustration, introducing crate training can likewise go a long way in smoothing a puppy’s transition into their forever homes. Susanne Shelton’s post about how to incrementally introduce a litter of puppies to crates is an amazing resource. Crate conditioning begins at 4 weeks of age.

Share Your Sources!

As you stumble across more great resources from which other breeders might benefit, please share them! We’re always looking to add to our compilation of breeder resources to help all be as educated as possible.

Did you know that a surprising number of dog toys sold in the United States contain carcinogens? I find this new terrifying, both for my dogs and for my toddlers! We recently started playing with Jolly Pet dog toys because they’re all non-toxic (and they’re fun!).

Jolly Pets was founded in 1994 as an offshoot of the parent company Horsemen’s Pride. Horsemen’s Pride has been designing and manufacturing horse toys for over

Horsemen’s Pride, the parent company of Jolly Pets, designed and manufactured the original Jolly Ball for horses over 40 years ago. As a result of the company’s good reputation and success creating horse toys, they started  designing durable dog toys under the name Jolly Pets in 1994. Jolly Pets now produces over 20 unique, long lasting dog chews, balls, animals, and discs. Best of all, Jolly Pets dog toys are non-toxic and many are made in the USA. Additionally all toys are backed by a manufacturer’s guarantee. Here are a few products you might want to try:

The Jolly Tuff Treader

As soon as the package arrived, our dogs somehow knew it was for them. Their obvious excitement even before we opened the box only increased when we pulled out the Jolly Tuff Treader and bounced it across the room. Jolly Pets makes some awesome dog products both dogs and their humans are sure to love.  Are you looking to spice up the game of fetch? Is your dog a tug-of-war fan? Does your dog enjoy tossing toys into the air? If so, the Jolly Tuff Treader might be your dream come true. Our dogs love playing with this toy. The bouncing nature makes for an entertaining game of fetch, especially on our hardwood floors. The tire’s haphazard bouncing delights our dogs. This uniquely designed tire with a handle is also perfect for dogs who like tug-of-war. Since it’s made out of tough rubber, the Tuff Treader has received raving reviews from many power chewers. In our experience though, the Tuff Treader is a great option for moderate chewers but may not stand up to power chewers. It also might not be the best toy choice for teething puppies.

The Jolly Tuff Tosser

If your dog loves tennis balls (and what doodle doesn’t?), you need the Jolly Tuff Tosser! Jolly Tuff Tosser is the favorite Jolly toy at our home. It’s friendly for power chewers yet perfect for fetch.  Every doodle parent should spare the $5 to give this ball a try! The Tuff Tosser is durable, it bounces, and it dispenses treats. We periodically stuff our dogs’ kibble inside, allowing them to exercise their brains while eating breakfast. Nosing the ball along allows causes the ball to easily dispense the kibble. While it’s not the most challenging treat dispenser on the market, it does make a great slow feeder. The 3” ball holds about ¾ cup of medium sized adult kibble and 1 cup of puppy. The Tuff Tosser is carefully designed with two holes so it won’t accidentally suction to your dog’s mouth. Note: this ball does not float

The Jolly Bounce-N-Play

Is your pup an Aussiedoodle, borderdoodle or sheepadoodle? Does your dog love playing soccer? For herding breeds and dogs that enjoy nudging objects with their noses, the Bounce-N-Play is a sure hit. This ball is designed for dogs to push around with their noses rather than carry it in their mouths. Since Bounce-N-Play balls are too large for most dogs to wrap their jaws around, they’re a great toy option for power chewers. If your dog manages to make a rough area on the ball with her teeth, sand it down and it’s ready for more fun. With 4.5 stars on Amazon, the Bounce-N-Play is a toy you want to try!

Which Jolly Pets Toy Will My Dog Like Best?

Because every dog is unique, Jolly Pets has a toy finder that helps you determine which Jolly toy is best for your individual dog based on her size, preferences, and tendencies. Here’s a quick comparison of the three Jolly Pets toys in our home:

This post contains affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This commission helps keep our site running. Thank you for your support!

Timberidge Farms may have received some of the reviewed products for free in exchange for an honest review.  Thoughts and opinions expressed here were not influenced by the manufacturing company in any way. All of the products we review we have personally used with our own dogs.