Does Pet Insurance Cover Training?

Have you ever marveled at pet owners whose dogs are impressively obedient? You know, the dogs who sit and roll over on command or actually stay still when their owners tell them to?

But dog training isn't just a matter of teaching your pet some cool tricks. It can also help with behavioral issues like barking, leash pulling, and even separation anxiety.

Whether it's a private trainer or a puppy obedience class, there are different options for pet training you can explore. And some types of training go beyond basic commands. There are certain types of behavioral training your dog can undergo to address actual medical issues.

Now you may be wondering: Does pet insurance cover training?

Most of the time, standard pet insurance policies do not cover the cost of obedience training. But there may be exceptions for behavioral treatment, depending on the diagnosis and policy type.

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What Standard Pet Insurance Typically Covers

Most pet insurance policies are accident and illness policies. That means they'll generally pick up the tab for things like:

Pet training and obedience classes are generally considered non-medical and are therefore excluded from standard pet insurance coverage.

Is Dog Training Covered by Insurance?

Most pet insurance policies will not cover basic obedience training. That includes crate training, leash walking, and puppy classes.


The reason? Training is usually considered a lifestyle expense rather than a medical one.

If your dog pulls on a leash, that might make your walks less pleasant for you. But leash pulling is not a medical condition.

The only time you may be eligible to have pet insurance pay for training is if it's to treat behavior that is medically diagnosed. Your pet insurer might also pay for training if you have a wellness or preventive care add-on.

Pet Insurance for Behavioral Issues

Is there pet behavioral treatment coverage?

Although pet insurance typically does not cover pet training, there are some situations where behavioral training may be covered. These include:

Pet insurers usually require a formal diagnosis and treatment plan from a vet to consider covering the cost of behavioral training.

Behavioral Therapy vs. Training Classes

While pet insurance may not cover the cost of training classes, it could pay for behavioral therapy. So, it's important to know the difference.

Training usually teaches pets obedience and different commands. Behavioral training or therapy is designed to address a specific, diagnosed behavioral issue.

To put it another way, your vet may or may not recommend training, but you don't need a vet's go-ahead to sign your pet up for obedience classes. Behavioral therapy is typically overseen and prescribed by a vet.

What Pet Insurance Behavioral Coverage May Include

If your pet needs behavioral therapy, your pet insurance policy may cover:

Coverage for behavioral therapy, however, can vary from one pet insurance company to another. You may, depending on your plan, be subject to an annual limit on reimbursement for treatment. It's also common for insurers to only cover a certain percentage of the cost of care (for example, 70%, 80% or 90%).

Common Exclusions and Limitations

Most pet insurance plans will only cover training that is medically necessary. This means obedience or agility training is generally not covered.

Even if the training your pet is getting is behavioral and eligible for reimbursement, your plan may have certain exclusions or restrictions, including:

Plus, your insurer may not approve every medication or type of therapy. It's important to read your plan documents carefully to know what to expect.

Are Pet Insurance Behavioral Add-Ons Worth It?

While some insurers include behavioral therapy in standard plans, others may require an optional add-on to have behavioral therapy covered. A behavioral add-on may be worth it if:

However, a behavioral add-on may be a waste of money if the only type of training your pet needs is basic obedience training. That's because your insurer likely won't cover the cost, even with a behavioral add-on.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Plan

If you're in the process of shopping for pet insurance, it's important to ask the right questions. If you think your pet will need training, make sure to ask:

Also make sure you understand your plan's:

Also remember that with pet insurance, you typically have to pay for your pet's care up front, submit a claim, and wait to get reimbursed. It's important to have savings to bridge the gap between when you have to pay your vet bills and when your reimbursement checks arrive from your insurer.

The Bottom Line

If you're wondering if pet insurance covers the cost of training, the answer is usually no. However, some plans may cover behavioral therapy when it's medically necessary and an actual condition is diagnosed by a vet.

It's important to read your pet insurance policy carefully so you know what coverage to expect. It's also important to understand the difference between basic obedience training and behavioral therapy so you'll know which costs of yours are eligible for reimbursement and which aren't.