The average dog will cause nearly 2,000 family arguments during its lifetime, that’s nearly three rows a week, according to new research.
The figures, put together by pet insurance provider esure, follow a study of 2,000 dog owners.
According to the study, dogs trigger 156 quarrels every year with spats ranging from disagreements over who should take the dog for a walk, feeding, and giving them treats.
Discipline is one of the biggest causes of arguments, with 18 per cent of couples falling out because someone is being too tough on the family pet.
And a quarter of dog owners admitted to regularly arguing about house rules for dogs, in particular whether they should be able to lie on the beds, go upstairs or jump up on the sofa.
Some families said the problem is so bad that one member of the family has slept in another room following a pet-related row.
Nikki Sellers, head of pet insurance at esure, said: “Owning a dog is not that dissimilar to having a baby.
“Round the clock care and responsibility throughout a dog’s life can become tiresome for any pet owner but should never be overlooked.”
It pays to protect your pet
Despite causing so many quarrels, the message to take out adequate pet insurance still remains.
Sellers said: “A healthier dog may also lead to fewer costly trips to the vet too but for advice on how to look after a dog properly, owners should seek professional help.”
The Cooperative Group say that January is historically the peak month for pet owners to take out insurance, with many families adding new pets into their home over the Christmas period.
To help you find the correct cover, Confused.com has revamped its pet insurance comparison service.
Confused.com now compares prices from 10 insurers including More Than, Healthy Pets and Animal Friends, to bring you more choice and better prices.
