Sail_Away

15 minutes is the shortest interval ... I guess it's meant to last over a period of hours.. I was hesitant to buy it at first thinking, it would wake the dog up unnecessarily ... I haven't left her alone with it during the day yet, it's more an outside toy as she is so rough with it! It hits the walls and furniture too much! haha

Just letting people know the Foobler ball is $34.95 on Catch Of The Day website right now: https://www.catchoftheday.com.au/event/44878/ I paid $49.95 from K9 online and that was reduced from $75!! So this is a great price. I really like this toy and my Vizsla spends ages bashing it around the place - but I think she is too busy growling at it to hear the bell alerts

I have a custom made collar & lead from Ruthless and it is gorgeous!!! A friend of mine bought a collar & lead set from Karma collars online in the US - http://karmacollars.com and they are also quite nice, definitely not the quality of RL but they have beautiful designs, lots of jewels etc and can do custom too.

Well that's true As long as there are no huge claims cause we would need to pay out 20% but then again hopefully that is a rareity.

When did your premiums increase? I did hear that happened to a lot of customers I think in 2013/2014? I thought the explanation was because their policies were changed recently? That is my worry with these insurance companies - I understand small premium increases however, Petplan increased mine by more approx $400 and that is just ridiculous!

I had it typed in excel exactly like yours too but didn't think of doing a screen shot!! haha I read both PDS' but I couldn't see much difference between the two in terms of coverage... what did you pick up from it all?

Thanks Moosepup! Your table is much easier to read than my layout! I couldn't get it to look like that in this forum! haha I still haven't decided. I've been busy with work so going to make the decision today or tomorrow.. I was leaning toward BWM because of the great reviews they are getting of late... although PIA is the cheapest with the best cover - $15,000 plus no excess = cheaper than BWM with excess... although I don't know whether to risk going to a company with far less reviews/good experiences just because they are cheaper. I just know that all of them are going to continually raise their premiums so starting off cheaper might be better... Does anyone know if there is any truth in the fact that if you make more claims = higher premiums next year? Just thinking if I have no excess than I would claim more smaller vet bills but won't bother if it means I will get penalised in premium hikes...

Thank you for sharing - You have had fairly big increases over the years too... makes the PetPlan increase I got to $75/month seem reasonable? However, I still think that $90/month with PIA seems like too much to me... that is more than I pay for my own private health... I expect though with any of the companies the premiums will continue to rise each year which is going to make outlaying for multiple dogs very hard in the future. Right now PIA has the cheapest cover, I expect it to rise each year of course but I want to go with the one that is easy to deal with and settles claims without hassle..

Sounds like some positive experiences with PIA too Hmmm decisions decisions...

If they only cover 80% of the amount, I'd prefer to have no excess - it's like a double whammy otherwise - paying excess AND 20% of the costs. Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I think there is only about $100 extra a year to have no excess, so if I go to vets at least once and claim It would virtually work out the same... PIA is impressive price without excess but they don't have the best reviews... hmmm....

I'm so glad some of you have found this helpful It took awhile to get all the quotes and write them out, I hoped people wouldn't mind me sharing... From this PIA are the cheapest with No Excess... but BWM have the best reviews online... Stressmagnet - have you not been happy with BWM? What does everyone think about paying a little more for no excess? I can't decide whether this would be better then I could claim on most vet bills regardless of price but if I have a $100 excess then that limits how many claims I could submit - although I'm not at the vet very often...

Since receiving my renewal letter from PetPlan where my premiums have gone up nearly double to $902 per annum for one dog and reading similar stories from others here on DOL, I decided to shop around for another pet insurance policy. As most people here on DOL know there are two major players in pet insurance; Allianz (PetPlan) and Hollards (everyone else) - There were many reasons I originally went with PetPlan as they had the better coverage... covering chronic conditions for life up to the annual benefit EACH year, paying 100% bill and no sub limits per condition to name a few. Since researching some of the Hollards companies again I was pleasantly surprised to find that in 2014 they have all had a huge overhaul of their policies to now align with the type of cover offered by PetPlan. Chronic conditions are now covered for life to the annual limit EACH year, no sub limits on conditions (except Tick Paralysis - Prosure has limit on cruciate ligament) and pre-existing conditions can be reviewed after 18 months if no signs/symptoms have occurred in that time. I thought I would share some of the quotes I received when comparing a few different insurers against my 2 year old Hungarian Vizsla: RSPCA Economy: Monthly = $50.54 Annual = $606.42 Excess = Nil % Cover = 75% Annual Limit = $11,000 Ticks = $1,000 Ultimate: Monthly = $54.94 Annual = $659.32 Excess = Nil % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $11,000 Ticks = $1,200 Routine Cover = Yes Bow Wow Meow Comprehensive: Monthly = $44.27 Annual = $531.19 Excess = $100 (optional nil, 100, 200) No claim bonus = Yes % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $12,000 Routine Cover = Optional Major: Monthly = $31.25 Annual = $374.98 Excess = $500 % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $12,000 Prosure Gold: Monthly = $51.24 Annual = $614.89 Excess = Nil % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $12,500 Ticks = $500 Dental = $1000 Cruciate Ligaments = $3,000 (per lifetime pet) Platinum: Monthly = $61.24 Annual = $734.89 Excess = Nil % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $14,500 Ticks = $1,000 Dental = $2000 Cruciate Ligaments = $4,000 (per lifetime pet) Medibank Silver: Monthly = $41.59 Annual = $491.93 Excess = $100 (optional nil, 100, 200) % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $12,000 Ticks = $1000 Gold: Monthly = $59.46 Annual = $706.32 Excess = $100 (optional nil, 100, 200) % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $15,000 Routine Cover = Yes Pet Insurance Australia Comprehensive: Monthly = $39.78 Annual = $477.37 Excess = Nil (optional nil, 100, 200) % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $15,000 Ticks = $1000 Major: Monthly = $47.70 Annual = $572.37 Excess = Nil (optional nil, 100, 200) % Cover = 80% Annual Limit = $15,145 Ticks = $1,200 Not sure if anyone would find this helpful but hoping it will and I thought it was good to see the different prices (based on my breed) compared, especially to PetPlan which is wanting $902 if I renew with virtually the same policy as what Hollards now offer... I am still not sure which one I will go with, I'm leaning toward BWM and PIA

This is quote from BWM website: "Genuine Life-long cover! Once your pet is insured, we will cover all* chronic conditions into old age up to the annual benefit limit each year, provided you renew your policy each year without any break in cover. Certain conditions such as diabetes and arthritis may require costly treatment for the rest of your pet's life. That is why we provide Life-long Cover. * As long as the condition was not pre-existing (any conditions prior to first taking pet insurance cover). Annual benefit limits are replenished in full on policy renewal as long as there was no break in cover. " Also I noticed the current PDS has been effective from 2014 - whereas the old one was 'effective from 2012'..

I am almost certain I will change from PetPlan now too. I rang BWM yesterday and they confirmed that they have recently updated all their policies with changes to now include 'guaranteed life long cover', ability to review pre-existing conditions after 18 months, chronic conditions to now be paid up to the limit i.e. $12,000 each year like PetPlan not just altogether... a few other things too. IMO Hollards have significantly improved their policies and are much more attractive now. Although they don't pay out 100% you can opt with some for no excess and it would only be $$$ if you have a very large vet bill, which then again may not happen and I guess is just something you would have to be prepared for. I'm looking into BMW, RSPCA and Prosure right now

Yes I knew this about PetPlan, one of the reasons I chose them however, the Hollard policies now all do this too...

Just doing some more research and it seems Hollard's must have updated their policies recently? Some now have a 'no claim bonus' now where they give you $50/year if no claims.. also chronic conditions will be paid to the limit on an annual basis not that amount for the life of dog, and you can have pre-existing conditions reviewed after 18 months... This to me makes them all pretty similar to PetPlan now! The only thing I wasn't sure if after age 9 are the dogs still covered for illness? I can't decipher if it means you have to insure before this age or they are only covered until then?

Actually just looking at RSPCA now too and same applies - Maybe Hollards has updated all of their PDS'?

This might be of interest to some - Just read that like PP, BWM will 'review' any pre-existing conditions if no sign/symptoms during 18 months... that's very good news for those who might want to jump ship from PP! http://www.bowwowinsurance.com.au/images/docs/bwm_a4_waiver_online.pdf

Bumping this thread again - I just got my renewal letter in the mail for PetPlan and like everyone else my premiums have gone up a ridiculous amount from $49.96 to $75 per month.. I have two exclusions on my cover (silly reasons they got excluded too!!! ) so hesitant to jump ship to another company as PP will at least 'review' the exclusions and possibly lift them off my cover... Just wondering what majority of those with PP did after their premiums increased? Did you stick with them or go through another company - if so which one? - Sorry if already said in this thread, I started reading some of the pages but taking too long to read through it all...

So I just came home today to find my girls collar in pieces all over the floor... that's sorted out what she's getting for xmas then!

I emailed them a few months back and they told me they will no longer be offering international free shipping as it is not sustainable enough for them... I had a list of things I wanted from there too

Ah yes that sounds like the Star Mark durafoam one, they are def my favourite (and Wisdom's). I love all the Starmark Chuckit gear, it is really good quality though I haven't personally used the Flying Squirrel. The durafoam discs come in bright yellow as well as blue and purple, so the yellow might also be visibly appealing? Yep thats the one. It's blue and has LOADS of teeth marks in it But she loves the frisbee more than the ball right now!! Does anyone know if the chuck it squirrel goes pretty far?

They are a favourite here, has put up to a years worth of river retrieving and countless sand burying sessions without a mark so far. I leave christmas shopping to the last moment so I'm not sure I was thinking of buying the Chuckit Squirrel... does anyone know if it works similar to a frisbee? I left her foam frisbee in the car and it warped so need a new one Water toys are used a lot here unfortunately I've lost a few like the Kong Stix and Bumi in the ocean because they didn't get retrieved ... the Rogz Lighthouse is a great toy for pools if anyone is interested! Is the foam frisbee the Starmark one? That is the best one I have found out of all the ones I have used, but the Chuckit Flying Squirrel can definitely be used as a frisbee too. It's called an 'easy glider' - I think I got it from Clean run...? Can't remember. I think the foam ones are better for their teeth...I thought the chuck it squirrel might be visually appealing for my gun dog though?

They are a favourite here, has put up to a years worth of river retrieving and countless sand burying sessions without a mark so far. I leave christmas shopping to the last moment so I'm not sure I was thinking of buying the Chuckit Squirrel... does anyone know if it works similar to a frisbee? I left her foam frisbee in the car and it warped so need a new one Water toys are used a lot here unfortunately I've lost a few like the Kong Stix and Bumi in the ocean because they didn't get retrieved ... the Rogz Lighthouse is a great toy for pools if anyone is interested!

The Tuffy toys are BRILLIANT! Yes the squeak is pretty muffled and difficult to get out, they eventually stop working on some of them. I have several of the Tuffy's here (mainly the only fluffy toy I buy apart from Skineezz) and even the ones my girl has pulled apart and destuffed are still holding their shape because the outer stitching is incredibly strong! She still plays with half an eel and a headless rabbit!!! She's had them since a pup and they lasted well. The favourite in this house though is the octopus - lots of legs to hold onto, a squeak in each tentacle and easy to handle :) Great news about the collar - I think the orange would look best on my girl but I lurve purple too...