Companion Club benefits

Saigon a Spanish mastiff at Kenilworth

Got a question about Companion Club benefits? Find your answer below.

Your Companion Club benefits

Third party public liability insurance

Please note this benefit is only available to supporters with a renewal date up to and including 30th June 2026. These supporters will receive the insurance benefit for the one year of their subscription, until June 2027 at the latest. Anyone with a renewal date from 1st July 2026 will not have insurance included as a benefit in their next subscription.

Our insurer will provide cover to any Companion for accidental bodily injury to a 3rd party or damage to a 3rd party’s property including pets, subject to the insurer establishing that you are legally liable for the injury/damage. There is a limit of up to £1,000,000 per claim and an excess of £200 applies for the UK and £500 in the Republic of Ireland. This includes dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act that have been exempted, including American Bully XLs.

Any fines, compensation or penalties ordered by the Court following a criminal prosecution are not covered. This is because it is not possible to insure against criminal activity. Compensation resulting from a civil claim is covered, but please note compensation cannot be awarded for the same thing more than once. For example, if you are prosecuted and ordered to pay a 3rd party’s vet bills by the Court, this cost cannot be covered by insurance and the Claimant will not then be able to make a civil claim against you for the cost of the same vet bills. 

Please note that terms and conditions, including the available benefits and the price, are subject to change. You will be notified of any changes.

What are the new changes to the policy cover?

Companions will no longer be covered for the following specific circumstances:

  • Liability arising directly or indirectly from any dishonest, fraudulent, criminal or malicious acts.
  • Incidents involving any dog used for any trade or profession (not including personal service animals such as guide dogs which are still covered).
  • Incidents involving bodily injury to anyone who normally resides in a companion’s home, such as your family members or housemates.

These are standard exclusions commonly found in most third-party public liability insurance policies.

Third party public liability insurance for index dogs

If your dog is deemed by the police to be prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991, you can go to court to request an exemption. You will have to satisfy them that your dog is not dangerous and if successful, your dog will be exempt from the prohibition, and it will become legal. Then the court will impose conditions you must meet before you can register your dog on the Index of Exempted dogs (which is run by Defra) who will issue you with a Certificate of Exemption. 

In addition to rules about the handling of your dog, the conditions that the court will currenlty impose for your dog to be exempted and qualify for registration on the Index of Exempted dogs are: 

  • Dog must be microchipped
  • Dog must be neutered
  • Dogs must be on a lead and always muzzled in public
  • Owner must have third-party liability insurance.

The third party public liability insurance included within Companion Club currently meets the insurance needs within the conditions of exemption. It covers all dogs including banned dogs that have been exempted but this cover may be subject to change if government guidelines change or our insurers change their terms. Please be aware that if you own an exempted dog and make a claim, in order to make that claim valid, you will need to prove that you were also complying with the law.

You can find more about current rules for banned breed types on the Government’s website.

About Vetfone™

Vetfone™ is a telephone service offering unlimited access to veterinary advice. That means 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

Calls are charged at 5p/minute from a UK landline. The cost of calls from mobiles varies, please check with your service provider.

Calls are answered by RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) qualified vet nurses. Vetfone provides a triage service with the caller being advised as to what they can do to help their pet and whether a visit to the vet is necessary and if so, how quickly.

How does Vetfone™ benefit me and my pet?

Since launching our partnership with Vetfone™, hundreds of Dogs Trust supporters have called for advice.

After the consultation almost 50% of cases didn’t need to see a vet at all, and what’s more many late night callers have been advised that a vet visit can wait until normal practice hours, saving our members up to £175 on potentially wasted trips to the out-of-hours vet. 

Vetfone™ can provide peace of mind to owners worried about their pets any time of the day or night. You can call if you're concerned about the health of any of your pets, not just your dog.

Does Vetfone™ offer home visits?

No, all advice is given over the phone. They will tell you what you can do to help your pet or whether you need to go to the vet and, if so, how quickly.

Canine Care Card

The Canine Care Card is a free service that guarantees that Dogs Trust will take care of your dog in the event of your death. We will look after your dog until we can find him or her a loving home, no matter how long it takes. We will never put a healthy dog to sleep so dog owners can rest assured that their dog will be safe with us.

Register for a Canine Care Card

Unfortunately, we are unable to activate a Canine Care Card if your dog is a banned breed. Due to UK legislation, we are currently unable to take into our care any dog categorised as an index dog or any dog that has limitations imposed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Your other benefits

25% discount for behaviour and training

You can use your Companion Club discount for any paid for services that are recommended by our Behaviour Support Line team when you call them on 0303 003 6666.

Find out more about our behaviour and training programmes. 

Your discount code for behaviour and training programmes is in your welcome letter or renewal confirmation letter.

10% discount for Dogs Trust Shop

Receive a 10% discount for our Dogs Trust Shop when you use the discount code provided in your welcome letter or renewal confirmation letter at checkout.

10% discount for Dogs Trust Catalogue

Receive a 10% discount for our Dogs Trust Catalogue when you use the discount code provided in your welcome letter or renewal confirmation letter at checkout.

What else do I receive as a Companion?

You also receive opportunities to raise questions for our CEO and leadership team, as well as an exclusive invite to an annual Companions Event.

Frequently asked questions about insurance

What happens once I can no longer get third party public liability insurance through Companion Club?

Our priority is to continue to work closely with the UK Government and the devolved nations to support them in developing an alternative solution ahead of the end of the insurance benefit. Any solution proposed will be in place and communicated before 30 June 2026. The respective Government will contact exempted dog owners to let them know what they need to do. You do not need to take any action right now.

Read our frequently asked questions and up to date information about this change.

To save you an unnecessary journey or a wait on the line, we recommend checking this webpage for answers to any questions you have. We will be keeping this up to date and our team won't be able to provide any further information at this stage.

The policy does not cover the dog in my own home so what if an accident happens then? 

Changes to the policy mean you will no longer be covered if there is accidental damage or injury to anyone who lives in your household. If anyone who visits your home, but does not live there, is injured on a visit to your home this would still be covered.

Can I claim if a member of my household is injured in my home / what do I do?

You will be unable to claim if a member of your household is injured by your dog, in your home. This is a standard exemption clause for most public or third-party liability insurance policies.

Do the new T&Cs cover me for taking me dog into my workplace?

The policy will no longer cover dogs that are used for any trade or profession. They would still be covered if you wish to take them to your place of work. Examples of this would be taking your dog into your dog friendly office, or emotional support animals accompanying their owners into their workplaces.

Do I have to register the dogs I want covered?

To ensure we can continue to provide the best support for you and your dog(s), we do now require some essential information, of how many dogs do you own, and if any have an exemption certificate. We do not need to know information such as the name or age of any of your dog(s).

Please note we’re unable to offer our benefits for any businesses or working dogs.

Does insurance cover start immediately?

Insurance cover begins from when Companion Club subscription payment clears. Paying by card is the quickest way, however, please note that payments are not processed immediately and it could take more than 24 hours before insurance cover is in place. A Companion Club pack will be sent immediately, and although we will also try to contact you in the event of a payment failing, it is your responsibility to ensure your payment has cleared.

Do I need a certificate of insurance for my exempted dog?

We are not directly affiliated with DEFRA, however we are aware that proof of third party public liability insurance is currently a requirement of their exemption policy. Therefore in any instances you are requested by DEFRA or the police to provide proof, you can provide confirmation of your Companion Club subscription as proof of your third party public liability insurance cover.

DEFRA confirmed to the police, and to Dogs Trust that certificates of insurance are no longer required to be sent to all owners of exempted dogs and that if you are asked for proof of insurance, your Companion Club renewal confirmation letter or email from Dogs Trust should be sufficient. However, if they do request a certificate, please ask the police to contact DEFRA.

As our third party public liability insurance extends to cover you as a private individual and any dogs that are your pets, we do not need the name or age of your dog for them to be covered. Your confirmation letter confirms that you are covered through our third party public liability insurance, and your policy number and policy start date. This is all that you are required to prove as an owner of an exempted dog.

Is there an insurance excess to pay?

Yes, there is an excess of £200 per claim in the UK and £500 in Republic of Ireland. Please note the terms and conditions of the insurance, including the excess amount are subject to change.

How do I make an insurance claim?

Please call 020 7837 0006 Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm to speak to the legal department.

Please note: do not accept liability as this will affect your claim.

Is the insurance cover worldwide?

Yes. The insurance only applies to members who live in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, however, any incident elsewhere in the world other than offshore (defined below) would be covered, but only if the trip was a holiday (i.e temporary, up to six months) by any member normally resident in the territories described above.

'Offshore' means any offshore installation in the sea or tidal waters used or intended for the drilling, exploration, production, storage or recovery of gas or oil, or any support or accommodation vessel used or intended for use in connection with such installation.

I have an assistance dog, is it covered by the third-party insurance?

Our insurer does not distinguish between an assistance dog and a pet dog, therefore assistance dogs are covered under our Companion Club. However, please note that whilst the assistance dog is actively being trained by Guide Dogs UK or any other organisation, the expectation is that this organisation would hold the appropriate insurances, and we recommend you obtain evidence of this.

I have shared ownership of my dog, do we both need to join Companion Club?

Being a Companion is personal and individual, therefore the extension of our third party public liability insurance can’t cover two people.

If your dog is on the list of banned breeds, exemption can only be in one person’s name and ownership cannot be transferred. Therefore, the person who has a Certificate of Exemption must also be the person who has the third party liability cover. As the legal owner of an exempt dog, it is your responsibility to check what you need to do in order to comply with the law around owning an index dog. Please refer to Defra’s website or contact Defra if you have further questions.

If your dog is not on the list of dogs that need exemption, third party public liability insurance covers the owner of the dog, and anyone who the owner has given permission to care for their dog. However, we would advise that it would be safer, and you will have better cover if you both have personal insurance i.e. both sign up to Companion Club individually.

I need proof of insurance for taking my exempted dog to a private field, can you give this to me?

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has set guidance around activities involving exempted dogs, including the use of private fields. We are not able to give guidance on the use of private fields by owners with exempted dogs as this is set out by the CPS, and by the field and their insurance. You can read the full guidance on their website.

We have confirmed with Defra that a Certificate of Insurance is not required. Instead, they currently require you to present your Companion Club welcome or annual renewal letter as your proof of insurance. Please ensure that you retain your welcome or annual renewal letter which includes all the necessary information.

I am being asked for proof of insurance from my housing association/landlord, can you give this to me?

We have confirmed with Defra that a Certificate of Insurance is not required. Instead, they will now only require you to present your Companion Club welcome or annual renewal letter as your proof of insurance. Please ensure that you retain your welcome or annual renewal letter which includes all the necessary information.

If my dog were to cause damage to holiday accommodation would I be covered by the third party insurance?

No, the third party insurance excludes damage to property which a Companion owns, or is leasing/hiring/renting, including short term rentals such as holiday accommodation.

If my dog causes damage to my rented house or flat, could I claim for damage to my landlord’s property?

No, your rented house or flat is considered your own residence so it would not be covered by third party public liability insurance.

My dog and I visit a nursing home as a volunteer. Does the third party insurance cover this?

No, even though the companion club member is a volunteer, the visits from the dog and carer would be considered work and therefore not covered by the insurance. However, if the companion was taking their dog to work and the dog was not being used for work purposes it would be covered by the insurance.

My friends walk and look after my dog sometimes. Are these occasions covered by my third party insurance?

Yes, the insurance covers the companion club member's dog, regardless of whether they are present at the time damage occurs. If the dog is being walked or looked after by a friend or a member of the family then they are still covered. However if a Companion Club member is looking after other people's dogs the third party public liability insurance does not cover the dogs that belong to other people.

Does the insurance cover my dog for its own medical expenses?

No, this is not medical insurance and does not cover vet fees for your own dog.

Are my other pets covered by the third party public liability insurance?

No, the insurance is only for cases where your dog causes damage or injury to another person, their property, or pets.

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