ohmidog!

Forbes, the magazine best known for listing the world’s richest people, now brings us a list of the riskiest dog breeds.

Or at least what insurance companies say are the riskiest dog breeds.

The magazine, to its credit, makes a point of saying the breeds aren’t the likeliest to bite, but, as the article points out, that often doesn’t matter to your insurance company.

The list starts out with Rottweilers, pit bulls, Doberman pinschers and German shepherds — the breeds that most seem to frighten insurers.

And when insurers get frightened, you, the insuree, usually pay the price.

Fearing lawsuits from people hurt or bitten by dogs, companies offering homeowners and renters insurance are pickier than ever about which types of dogs they’ll insure, said Jeff McCarthy, an agent with Harrington Insurance Agency in Woburn, Mass.

Insurance companies, the article points out, may deny you a policy, or drop you like a hot potato if your “risky” dog causes harm, or even if he doesn’t.

That leaves you having to find a carrier that will cover your dog, which could cost more. It could also mess up your bundling discount.

While some people try to skirt the issue by not telling their insurance company about a new dog, insurers say that is risky.

“If something does happen with your dog in your home and you didn’t disclose this information, the insurance company may deny your claim,” one said. “That could cost you thousands and it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Spoken like a true insurer.

Most commonly,  insurance companies tend to resist covering these 11 types of dogs — or any mix of these breeds:

1. Pit Bulls & Staffordshire Terriers
2. Doberman Pinschers
3. Rottweilers
4. German Shepherds
5. Chows
6. Great Danes
7. Presa Canarios
8. Akitas
9. Alaskan Malamutes
10. Siberian Huskies
11. Wolf-hybrids

The article concludes:

“This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t get a pit bull — those little guys can be pretty darn lovable! — or another kind of ‘risky’ dog, but you should call your insurance agent to find out whether they cover the breed, and if not, what it will cost to get a homeowners or renters with a company that does.”

For the second year in a row, Michael Vick has been rated the most hated man in sports, according to an annual Forbes magazine poll.

The NFL quarterback, who completed his sentence on dogfighting charges last year, was disliked– or worse — by 69 percent of respondents.

Vick, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, was one of five NFL figures on the 10 most-hated list.

Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders, took second place on the list with a 66 percent disapproval rating. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger, who was embroiled in a sexual assault investigation this spring, ranked third with a 57 percent rating.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tied for fourth with Tiger Woods.

The breed of dog you own speaks volumes about what kind of human you are, according to Forbes magazine, which in its November issue says people tend to choose a breed whose personalities most resemble their own.

Some examples:

If you’ve got a beagle, you are highly inquisitive and fiercely loyal to friends. On the downside, you’re stubborn.

Cocker spaniel owners are nurturing souls, gentle, affectionate, sweet and playful.

Got a golden retriever? You’re a social butterfly who likes to be in group settings.

Chihuahua owner? You’ve got high energy, and often devote it to mischief-making.

And you’re a detail person — one who enjoys the finer things in life – if you’ve got a poodle.

People who read Forbes Magazine, meanwhile, are all about the buck, overly into appearances, and too self-involved to even notice their poodle has a personality. OK, I’m kidding on that last one, but you get my point, maybe.

I have trouble with breed generalizations. For one things, us mutt owners can’t play. For another, they are kind of like astrology — some people, seeing a little bit of truth in it, go on to accept it wholesale. Scarier yet is when politicians pick up on them and write laws. But most bothersome of all is they tend to negate the dog as an individual.

I’d argue that, though some breeds are prone to certain behaviors, every dog has its own personality. While humans may tend to pick a dog whose personality is a reflection of their own, I also think that — sharing a life — both dog and owner tend to take on a bit of each others aura.

Which may explain why I’ve started shedding.