Specialist cover for your canine club

If you’ve turned your passion for pooches into a part-time profession or your love of field sports and canines into a full-time career then this guide is for you.

We understand that running a dog business, society or club can be rewarding but also confusing at times. What are the risks? What insurance do I need? What equipment? What legislation relates to my business? The questions can seem endless.

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For the love of dogs

Running a commercial club, whether a dog training group, cani-cross club or breed society is driven by a shared passion.

You’re bringing people and pets together, creating a community with a common love of dogs. But whenever people, animals, equipment and outdoor spaces come together, there’s always an element of risk.

Commercial club owners have a legal and moral duty to take care of the premises, people and dogs in their care. Here we look at the risks clubs commonly face and the types of insurance that help keep things running safely and smoothly.

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People risks

Many insurance claims don’t stem from dramatic incidents, they come from everyday hazards. Someone trips over uneven ground, a spectator is injured during a demonstration or property is accidentally damaged at an event by an over-excited dog.  

Instructors, assistants, marshals, grounds staff or volunteers are often exposed to everyday risks simply by doing their jobs.  But when dogs are involved, unpredictability is part of the picture. Even well-trained animals can react unexpectedly in busy or unfamiliar environments. While owners remain responsible for their dogs, a club that organises and supervises activities can still be drawn into a claim if something goes wrong.

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Venue risks

Whether you’re hiring a hall, using private land or operating outdoors, there’s always an element of safety risk during even the best organised activities. Uneven surfaces, weather hazards, tools and temporary structures can all become issues without the right protection in place. Even club meetings, AGMs and informal get-togethers need to be protected against unforeseen incidents and accidents.

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Event risks

Shows, field events, open days and workshops concentrate risk into a short space of time. More people, more equipment and more dogs mean more potential for things to go wrong, even with careful planning.

If your club offers training or coaching, there’s also a professional risk to consider. When people rely on your expertise, allegations of poor instruction or inadequate supervision can arise even without serious injury.

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Cover for commercial clubs

If you employ staff, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement, even where clubs rely on casual staff or volunteers.

Insurance policies can extend to cover club meetings and AGMs, as well as field trials, competitions, events and shows organised by the business.

Public liability insurance protects the club if a third party is injured or their property is damaged as a result of the club’s negligent activities. It’s usually required by venues and landowners and is widely expected by clients.

Professional indemnity insurance is particularly relevant where instruction or coaching is part of the service. It helps protect against claims that advice was negligent, inappropriate or fell short of expectations.

If clubs sell merchandise, refreshments or equipment, products liability cover may also be needed.

For clubs that run ticketed or entry-fee events, it always pays to speak to your broker about event insurance to cover accidents. They will also be able to provide guidance on legal expenses cover or cyber insurance to protect member data which is becoming a growing risk for many businesses.

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Protecting members

Specialist club cover can also respond if one member accidentally injures another, or damages another member’s property, during a properly organised club activity. This kind of ‘member-to-member’ protection can be crucial in preventing an unfortunate accident from turning into an awkward dispute within the club community.

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Niche cover for gundog clubs

Clubs and events that involve dogs and ammunition certainly require robust H&S and risk compliance measures in place. Although the ownership or use of firearms themselves is not covered, gundog or field sports clubs must have insurance that covers activities involving live ammunition during organised training or events.

Field sports often take place on working farmland, estates or in remote rural areas where risks can look very different to those of a typical leisure business. Rough terrain, livestock, vehicles and the presence of firearms all introduce additional considerations.

Having the right specialist cover in place gives landowners and members greater confidence that your gundog activities are being run responsibly and with suitable protection in the background.

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Why specialist insurance matters

Standard business insurance doesn’t always cover organised field sports, events, outdoor activities or organisations that involve dogs. Specialist cover, sourced by Cliverton, is designed around how clubs actually operate and the nuances of business risk when dealing withdogs.

The right insurance will not only safeguard your business, people and animals, it will also help protect your reputation, so you can focus on running a successful club with confidence.

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Your club in safe hands

Most issues are manageable when the right cover is in place but far more stressful when it isn’t.

At Cliverton, we understand every club and society is unique. That’s why we source comprehensive cover to meet your needs and activities. Under these policies there is no requirement to be recognised by official trade bodies, they can cover independent and informal clubs too.

We can organise insurance for dog training or agility clubs, gundog clubs, breed societies (excluding animals under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act), horticultural clubs and cani-cross clubs. This includes cover for club meetings, AGMs, field trials, events, shows, competitions, use of live ammunition for gun dog clubs (excluding personal liability for theuse of guns).

From a slip and trip at a dog agility competition to venue damage during a committee meeting, we’ve here to help ensure you’re covered. As a trusted broker, we can also help navigate the grey areas between club liability and individuals’ personal responsibilities. Our team of animal-loving insurance professionals will be there for you and your club when you need us.

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