The average dog will cause nearly 2,000 family arguments during its lifetime, a study has revealed.
A new study shows ‘man’s best friend’ can also be his worst enemy as it triggers up to three rows every single day.
That’s the equivalent of 156 quarrels every year – or 1,997 over the average pooch’s life expectancy of 12.8 years.
And the spats range from disagreeing about who should take the dog for a walk, feeding them too many treats and what to do with them when going away.
The poll also suggests that a quarter of owners regularly argue about where the dog should be allowed to go in the house.
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.
"Maintaining a dog’s physical health through exercise plus regular stimulation to avoid them running riot around the house should at least help avoid some arguments."
TOP 20 DOG DISPUTES
1. What to do with the dog when going away on holiday / for the weekend
2. The fact the dog hasn’t been walked / who should walk it
3. Whether the dog should be allowed on the beds
4. Whether the dog should be allowed upstairs
5. Who should clean up the mess in the back garden
6. One of you is being too harsh on the dog
7. One of you lets the dog onto the sofa
8. How much you have spent on the dog
9. Training the dog
10. Someone feeds the dog from the table
11. Who should babysit / look after the dog for you
12. Grooming the dog
13. Damage has been caused to the house by the dog
14. Who chose to buy the dog in the first place
15. Who should clear up the mess when the dog goes to the toilet on the carpet
16. Who should clear up the mess when the dog is sick on the carpet
17. One of you insists on treating them like a human
18. One of you lets them into a room of the house they are not normally allowed into
19. The kid’s toys have been eaten
20. Shoes have been chewed
A new study shows ‘man’s best friend’ can also be his worst enemy as it triggers up to three rows every single day.
That’s the equivalent of 156 quarrels every year – or 1,997 over the average pooch’s life expectancy of 12.8 years.
And the spats range from disagreeing about who should take the dog for a walk, feeding them too many treats and what to do with them when going away.
The poll also suggests that a quarter of owners regularly argue about where the dog should be allowed to go in the house.
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.
"Maintaining a dog’s physical health through exercise plus regular stimulation to avoid them running riot around the house should at least help avoid some arguments."
TOP 20 DOG DISPUTES
1. What to do with the dog when going away on holiday / for the weekend
2. The fact the dog hasn’t been walked / who should walk it
3. Whether the dog should be allowed on the beds
4. Whether the dog should be allowed upstairs
5. Who should clean up the mess in the back garden
6. One of you is being too harsh on the dog
7. One of you lets the dog onto the sofa
8. How much you have spent on the dog
9. Training the dog
10. Someone feeds the dog from the table
11. Who should babysit / look after the dog for you
12. Grooming the dog
13. Damage has been caused to the house by the dog
14. Who chose to buy the dog in the first place
15. Who should clear up the mess when the dog goes to the toilet on the carpet
16. Who should clear up the mess when the dog is sick on the carpet
17. One of you insists on treating them like a human
18. One of you lets them into a room of the house they are not normally allowed into
19. The kid’s toys have been eaten
20. Shoes have been chewed