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UK - The breed of your dog, as well as its age, can have a massive impact on the price of pet insurance in the UK.

But it is not just the 'aristocrats' of the dog world, or rare breeds, that send pet insurance premiums skywards - as the much-loved Labrador is also one of the costliest pets to cover.

"Pedigrees and rare breeds are the most expensive dogs to insure including Bernese Mountain dogs, Great Danes and St Bernards. But other dogs such as Labradors, Alsatians and Retriever are expensive to insure too," said Richard Mason from insuresupermarket.com.

"This is because these breeds typically have the most claims made against them."

And unfortunately, some of the more popular breeds of dog have traditionally caused the most problems for insurers and owners alike.

"Certain breeds of dog are more likely to have medical problems later in life such as Labradors," explained Mr Mason.

"They often suffer with arthritis and need to have lots of ongoing vet treatment. If you’re thinking of getting a Labrador or a similar breed, make sure you’ve got a good level of insurance. It will cost a bit more but for the peace of mind provided it’s really worth it."

He added: "If you’re looking for a dog that’s less of a dog to insure, why not try a Yorkshire terrier or a Welsh Springer Spaniel. These have the fewest claims and tend to be cheaper to insure. You can get insurance for one of these dogs for as little as £6.50 with insurer E&L."

Mintel found in a separate survey that 40 per cent of pet owners cannot easily afford vet the bills, as treatments become more expensive.

To repair a dog's torn ligament, for example, can cost £1,200, while help for arthritic cats and dogs comes it at around £3,000.

"Vets fees can run into the thousands and nobody wants to stop their animal from having the necessary treatment. For any dog that’s prone to disease in later life, take the maximum cover for vets fees — this is normally around £4,000," Mr Mason said.

"Whichever dog you go for in the end, make sure you take out pet insurance for them and that the minimum levels of cover for vets fees are £2,000 and for personal liability are £1 million. To avoid unnecessary costs, it’s vital to check your cover doesn’t have any exclusion such as particular medical conditions."

Insuresupermarket has provided a checklist to help devoted dog owners make the most of their pet insurance.

Questions about your pet insurance policy to make sure you get the best deal:

Is there an excess? Is it payable on each claim?

Does the policy pay out indefinitely for a particular condition?

Is there a cap on the maximum amount you can claim for a particular condition?

Is there a limit on the length of time you can claim for a particular condition?

Does the policy limit cover to pets under a certain age?

Does the policy limit the amount of claims you can make in one year?

Does the policy provide 'Third Party Liability' cover? (Particularly important for dogs)

Is my premium reviewable or can I get a guaranteed premium?

http://www.myfinances.co.uk/news/insurance/uk-pet-insurance/pricy-pedigrees-up-cost-pet-insurance-$314396.htm