Dog Insurance  Puppy Insurance

Puppy insurance

Provided by Pinnacle Insurance plc

The excitement is real; you’re getting a puppy. Or at least thinking about welcoming one into the family home. When you do, it’s not all cuddles and puppy-pad mishaps, you have to think about new puppy insurance too.

And that’s where Argos puppy insurance can help. We can provide insurance for a puppy from 8 weeks old, and whenever you have even the slightest little worry about them, don’t panic. Argos Vet Assistance is here for you 24/7. Whether you’re looking for Lifetime Pet Insurance or Time Limited Pet Insurance, we have a number of puppy insurance policies to discover (puppy insurance is covered under our dog policy).

Get a quick puppy insurance quote today and help protect yourself from any unexpected vet bills that may come your way.

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Collage image that includes close-up images of puppies along with the quote 'Puppy cover limits from £2000'

Why choose Argos puppy insurance?

  • Puppy pet insurance cover from 8 weeks old
  • Choose from 3 types of puppy insurance plans: Lifetime, Max Benefit and Time Limited
  • 24/7 access to a qualified vet team with Argos Vet Assistance
  • Full range of benefits and features (see them here)
  • We pay 99% of claims in 5 working days (Based on Argos Pet Insurance claims data from July 2022 to June 2023)

See terms and conditions for full details of offer.

A well-behaved Spaniel puppy sitting down

When to get pet insurance for a puppy

As soon as the thought of buying a pup has crossed your mind, you should begin to think about puppy cover and start getting your puppy insurance quotes. Or at least have it high on your list – after you’ve bought a doggy bed and all the treats and toys. Basically, you should think about having your puppy covered for the first day you bring them home.

Though your pup may not be allowed out of the house, they can still get up to plenty of mischief. Their playful and inquisitive nature can lead to accidents or eating something they shouldn’t.

What pet insurance should I get for my puppy?

You have the bed and the toys and thought about insurance, but what is the best puppy insurance for your new best friend? You do need to think about your puppy’s needs but don’t forget about your needs too. Make sure they have the right level of cover to look after their needs whilst being affordable for you now, and as they grow up. You need to know your puppy’s premiums can go up considerably as they get older.

We have three types of pet insurance:

  • Lifetime Pet Insurance covers treatment up to a vet fee limit, a limit which resets for every year of cover
  • Maximum Benefit covers new conditions up to a vet fee limit, reach it, and the condition is no longer covered
  • Time Limited covers new conditions up to a set vet fee limit for 12 months. After 12 months from the start of treatment, or if you reach the limit first, the condition is no longer covered

So, now you know where you and your pup stand, we’ve put together this puppy insurance comparison so you can see our cover levels and compare benefits.

Time Limited
Lifetime
Maximum Benefit
Cover for 12 months, or up to max amount, whichever occurs first…
Policy Documents
Benefits
£2.5k £4k
Veterinary Fees
Up to £2.5k
per condition
for 12 months
Up to £4k
per condition
for 12 months
Argos Vet Assistance
Argos Pet Portal
Death from illness
Up to £250 Up to £750
Death from Accident
Up to £250 Up to £750
Finding your Dog
Up to £250 Up to £750
Loss by theft or straying
Up to £250 Up to £750
Third party liability and legal costs
Up to £2m Up to £2m
Cremation & burial costs
Up to £200 Up to £200
Your Hospitalisation / Kennel fees
Up to £150 Up to £500
Holiday cancellation
Up to £250 Up to £1.5k
Emergency Expenses Abroad
Up to £150 Up to £500
Excesses Payable
£99 per condition £99 per condition
Covers up to max amount each year…
Policy Documents
Benefits
£2k £4.5k £7k
Veterinary Fees
Up to £2k
per year
Up to £4.5k
per year
Up to £7k
per year
Argos Vet Assistance
Argos Pet Portal
Death from illness
Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k
Death from Accident
Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k
Finding your Dog
Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k
Loss by theft or straying
Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k
Third party liability and legal costs
Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m
Cremation & burial costs
Up to £200 Up to £200 Up to £200
Your Hospitalisation / Kennel fees
Up to £500 Up to £500 Up to £1k
Holiday cancellation
Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £3k
Emergency Expenses Abroad
Up to £500 Up to £500 Up to £1k
Excesses Payable
£99 per condition
per year
£99 per condition
per year
£99 per condition
per year
Covers up to a max amount per condition…
Policy Documents
Benefits
£2k £5k
Veterinary Fees
Up to £2k
per condition
Up to £5k
per condition
Argos Vet Assistance
Argos Pet Portal
Death from illness
Up to £750 Up to £750
Death from Accident
Up to £750 Up to £750
Finding your Dog
Up to £750 Up to £750
Loss by theft or straying
Up to £750 Up to £750
Third party liability and legal costs
Up to £2m Up to £2m
Cremation & burial costs
Up to £200 Up to £200
Your Hospitalisation / Kennel fees
Up to £500 Up to £500
Holiday cancellation
Up to £750 Up to £750
Emergency Expenses Abroad
Up to £500 Up to £500
Excesses Payable
£99 per condition £99 per condition

Time Limited

Cover for 12 months, or up to max amount, whichever occurs first…

Lifetime

Covers up to max amount each year…

Maximum Benefit

Covers up to a max amount per condition…

Benefits Benefits Benefits
£2.5k £4k £2k £4.5k £7k £2k £5k
Veterinary Fees Veterinary Fees Veterinary Fees
Up to £2.5k
per condition
for 12 months
Up to £4k
per condition
for 12 months
Up to £2k
per year
Up to £4.5k
per year
Up to £7k
per year
Up to £2k
per condition
Up to £5k
per condition
Argos Vet Assistance Argos Vet Assistance Argos Vet Assistance
Argos Pet Portal Argos Pet Portal Argos Pet Portal
Death from illness Death from illness Death from illness
Up to £250 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k Up to £750 Up to £750
Death from Accident Death from Accident Death from Accident
Up to £250 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k Up to £750 Up to £750
Finding your Dog Finding your Dog Finding your Dog
Up to £250 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k Up to £750 Up to £750
Loss by theft or straying Loss by theft or straying Loss by theft or straying
Up to £250 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £1.5k Up to £750 Up to £750
Third party liability and legal costs Third party liability and legal costs Third party liability and legal costs
Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m Up to £2m
Cremation & burial costs Cremation & burial costs Cremation & burial costs
Up to £200 Up to £200 Up to £200 Up to £200 Up to £200 Up to £200 Up to £200
Your Hospitalisation / Kennel fees Your Hospitalisation / Kennel fees Your Hospitalisation / Kennel fees
Up to £150 Up to £500 Up to £500 Up to £500 Up to £1k Up to £500 Up to £500
Holiday cancellation Holiday cancellation Holiday cancellation
Up to £250 Up to £1.5k Up to £750 Up to £750 Up to £3k Up to £750 Up to £750
Emergency Expenses Abroad Emergency Expenses Abroad Emergency Expenses Abroad
Up to £150 Up to £500 Up to £500 Up to £500 Up to £1k Up to £500 Up to £500
Excesses Payable Excesses Payable Excesses Payable
£99 per condition £99 per condition £99 per condition
per year
£99 per condition
per year
£99 per condition
per year
£99 per condition £99 per condition

Other excesses

When your dog reaches 8 years old (for restricted breeds of dog this is 5 years) your excess will change from £99 to the greater of £99 or 20% contribution toward each vet claim made. Also, you should note that there is a £100 excess for Third Party Liability. Please note these values are subject to change.

Please note that we won’t cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply. Please find further information on restricted breeds here. You can find out more about the terms of our cover in our policy documents.

Remember, we have an upper age limit for insurance policies. You can insure your pets from 8 weeks old but for cats you cannot take out a new policy after their 10th birthday, for dogs their 8th birthday (5 years for some breeds, please see FAQs) and rabbits their 5th birthday. However, once purchased, cover can continue up to any age if you renew the existing policy, without a break in cover.

Your puppy insurance policy: What’s not covered

Under 8 weeks old

Cover for your puppy can start from 8 weeks of age. If your puppy turns 8 weeks old within 30 days, you can take out a policy and set the start date for when they turn 8 weeks old. Puppies are eligible for any type of pet insurance and any cover level, as long as they’re a breed we insure.

Puppy microchipping costs

It is the law to microchip all puppies and dogs by the time they are 8 weeks old. You will need to make sure that all information on the chip is up to date including, names, addresses and phone numbers. Puppy insurance will not cover the cost of microchipping. If your dog is not microchipped we will not pay out for finding your dog or loss by theft or straying claims.

Puppy vaccinations

Your vet can advise when your puppy can have their first set of vaccinations, this should be at around 8 weeks and then at about 10 weeks. Their second set can be given around 2 to 4 four weeks later. When your puppy is a little bit older, they will need a booster.

Vaccinations are not covered by insurance. Be aware, conditions that your puppy should be vaccinated against are not covered if you’ve failed to vaccinate.

Neutering your puppy

If you choose to castrate or spay your puppy, the cost of the surgery isn’t covered by your insurance.

Flea and worming treatment

When it comes to flea and worming treatments, you should be aware that treatment will be ongoing throughout your puppy’s life . Flea and worming treatments are not covered as part of your insurance.

Injuries & illnesses in the first 14 days

Illnesses are not covered in the first 14 days of your puppy’s insurance. After 14 days have passed, you are then able to make claims for new conditions only, but it cannot be an illness that occurred in those first 14 days. Like illnesses, injuries aren’t covered from day 1 either. Only after day 3 can you claim for injuries and new injuries only.

Dogs and puppies we can’t insure

American Bull Dog, American Indian Dog, American Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bandogs, Boerboel, Bully Kutta, Canary Dog, Cane Corso, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Dingo, Dogo Argentino, Dogue Brasileros, Fila Brasilerio, Gull Dong, Husky Wolf Hybrid, Irish Blue Staffordshire Terrier, Irish Staffordshire Terrier, Saarlooswolfhound, Japanese Tosa, Tosa Inu, Pit Bull Crosses, Pit Bull Terrier, Wolfdog, Wolf Hybrid or any crosses involving these breeds. We do not cover Akita and Neapolitan Mastiff for Third Party Liability.

Got a question?

If you have any questions about puppy insurance or our policies in general, our FAQs and virtual assistant are there for you whenever you need support.

Visit our FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Why should I get puppy insurance?

Pet Insurance could help to look after your pocket and your puppy if they ever suffer an illness or injury.

How much is puppy insurance?

Puppy insurance cost is based on several different factors and will vary from breed to breed and provider to provider. To get an idea of puppy insurance prices, do a puppy insurance comparison across a range of different covers and cover levels. And don’t forget to get a quote to give you an idea of the cost of puppy insurance with us.

Before choosing, think about your dog’s welfare and the affordability in the long-term. The cost of dog ownership varies from breed to breed, dog to dog and their age, insurance is just one thing to consider.

What do I need to do when I bring a puppy home?

Preparing for puppy parenthood may be more overwhelming than you first think. On that first day you bring them home, you’ll need to have your place puppy-proofed and stocked with all their essentials – a puppy plan if you will.

In your puppy plan, you should check off:

  • A bed – think about their sleeping arrangements too
  • Food and water bowls
  • A collar and lead
  • Grooming brush (one for your breed’s coat)
  • Puppy pads and a good carpet and upholstery stain remover
  • All the toys
  • Treats
  • Puppy insurance

Now, this list isn’t exhaustive, for more information, read our Ultimate Guide to Getting A Puppy.

When can puppies go outside?

You may have got your puppy home, but you can’t take them out exploring on their own four paws just yet. You can’t take them out for walkies until they’re about 16 weeks old, basically after their second set of vaccinations’ waiting period.

If you can’t wait to introduce your pup to the wide world, you can always try a puppy papoose or carrier.

Our top We Talk Puppy posts

Get top tips and fun bits about looking after your puppy from our veterinary experts

Read our top 3 puppy posts below:

Dog Body Language: What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You Understanding dog body language is a valuable part of being a dog owner. Knowing what your d...

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What can’t cats eat? We know how much joy feeding human treats to our feline friends can bring us, but it is impo...

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Grooming a dog at home: Everything you need to know A good hygiene routine is essential for a dog to keep them clean and healthy, it also makes ...

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Terms and Conditions

Multi-pet discount is a minimum of £24 when insuring more than one pet as this is worked out at £1 per pet per month for each pet. Pets can have different cover levels. Discount deducted separately from any other offer.

Argos Limited is an Appointed Representative of Home Retail Group Insurance Services Limited (HIS). HIS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (register number 314050). Registered office: 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no 04109436). HIS act as an introducer to Pinnacle Insurance plc, who sell, administer and underwrite the policy and who are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered office: Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2XX (registered in England and Wales, no 01007798) . HIS and Pinnacle Insurance plc are not part of the same corporate group.