Pets may be a great addition to your home, but they're not exactly the most predictable of family members. When they're anxious or otherwise excited, they're liable to make some drastic moves that could result in serious property damage. In some cases, their antics may result in bodily injury too.

Here's a look at whether home insurance covers these expenses, and how you can better protect your property.

Ground Coverage

Whether Fido burrows under the fence or Whiskers scratches up your hardwood floors, the actual damages to the structure and grounds of your property can be immense. While many homeowners will attempt to fix these problems on their own, sometimes your pet takes things a step further than the DIY option.

Unfortunately, home insurance is not generally set up to cover these kinds of damages. (The same is true for insects and rodents like termites and rats.) It's essentially your responsibility to protect the property from both animal friends and foes.

Personal Property

Your pet might rip down your expensive TV or chew up quite a few of your clothes and good shoes. They might swallow jewelry or other trinkets. But much like structural damage, personal property isn't covered by your home insurance. If you want to keep your furniture and other possessions out of harm's way, it's better to invest some money in an effective training class.

Liability Coverage

If you've heard that home insurance covers pet damage, it's likely because people are speaking about liability coverage. If your dog chews up your friend's expensive handbag or accidentally knocks them over and causes bodily injury, you can potentially file a home insurance claim to cover the costs of the damages. That will help compensate the friend for their losses. Please note that this option is for pets only. If you use your animal for a commercial purpose, then you would need separate insurance for this. Some pet breeds also will not have coverage.

Talking to your home insurance carrier is the best way to find out more about your policy as there are exceptions to every rule. Your Dave Millet Insurance agent may also be able to tell you more about coverage that you can buy for your pet if you're especially nervous about their behavior. While it may be an extra expense, it's a great way to give yourself peace of mind — especially if you just adopted a new puppy or kitten.

Get A Quote