Mans Best Friend? Or Worst Enemy?

Is your best friend really your worst enemy?  a recent survey has found that the average dog causes no less than 2000 family rows in its lifetime.

The most common disagreements are about who should take the dog for a walk, and where the dog should sleep and what to do with them when you go on holiday.
 
Nikki Sellers, Head of Pet Insurance at esure, said: ''Owning a dog is not 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.
 
''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 same study also revealed that 25% of dog owners argue about where the dog should be allowed in the house, who should clean up the mess in the garden, and the main disagreement - disciplining the dog, with around 18 per cent of couples disagreeing on how harsh you should be with your dog.
 
15% of couples also row about who should be training the dog.
 
Incredibly, in 17 per cent of households the dog disputes have got so bad one member of the family has slept in the spare room, while a quarter of those polled have been known to storm off after things got too heated.
 
In fact, 26 per cent of dog owners have at some point considered getting rid of their beloved dog after a bust-up.
 
TOP 20 DOG DISPUTES
1. What to do with the dog when going away
2. Who should walk the dog
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. Being too harsh on the dog
7. Letting the dog onto the sofa
8. Money spent on dog
9. Training the dog
10. Feeding the dog from the table
11. Who should babysit / look after the dog
12. Grooming the dog
13. Damage caused by dog
14. Who chose to buy the dog in the first place
15. Who clears up when dog wees / poos
16. Who clears up when the dog is sick
17. Humanising the dog
18. Allowing the dog into forbidden rooms
19. Children's toys being eaten
20. Shoes being chewed

Posted by Shaun on 13 Jan 2012

    Comment:

    Comments:

    ahh but we always love them no matter what they do! my dog chewed my sky tv wires and i had to pay £60 for someone to come out and fix it, but i forgave him :)

    Posted by daniel brecker on 16th January 2012

    Hahaha great article and so true! My dog has gone through 7 beds - and of course that's my fault because "I chose to buy the dog in the first place"

    Posted by Janine Brown on 15th January 2012

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