A study has claimed to have discovered which dog breeds are the most (and least) destructive in the UK. The survey results have listed the breeds most likely to cause household destruction alongside a table of the so-called least destructive breeds.
The firm responsible for the study says:
Did you know that despite being one of the smallest dogs, the Chihuahua causes an average of £866 worth of damage over its lifetime by ripping or staining carpets, scratching or chewing sofas and digging up plants and flowerbeds? Another fur ball of destruction is the Dachshund, with owners of the cute ‘sausage’ dog facing a bill of £810 to repair or clean up after their pet’s destruction.
The research study, conducted by the online comparison site PayingTooMuch.com, found that some people face an even higher bill, with many also admitting their pet has caused damage to other people’s property and have been involved in, or caused an accident.
Michael Ward, Managing Director of PayingTooMuch.com, said “When you add up the total amount spent on cleaning, repairing and replacing, pet damage can cost a fortune. Worryingly, there are a large number of people who don’t have insurance to cover the costs – whether that’s contents cover for your home, or pet insurance to cover the cost of vets bills or damage to other people’s property.”
It’s not all doom and gloom. There are some breeds that are a little more placid, and respectful! At the other end of the scale, Staffordshire Bull Terriers cause the least amount of damage with a total bill of just £178.
So if you’re thinking of buying a dog, you should do your research. Here’s a list of the top 10 most destructive and least destructive dogs.
TOP TEN MOST DESTRUCTIVE DOGS
1. Chihuahua – £865.99
2. Dachshund – £810.39
3. Boxer – £784.12
4. Dalmatian – £775.22
5. Bulldog – £749.19
6. Great Dane – £691.50
7. Husky – £671.37
8. Beagle – £608.80
9. Pointer – £601.22
10. German Shepherd – £561.92
TOP TEN LEAST DESTRUCTIVE DOGS
1. Staffordshire Bull terrier – £178.21
2. West highland white terrier – £182.61
3. Yorkshire terrier – £226.97
4. Spaniel – £230.25
5. Whippet – £251.02
6. Shih Tzu – £277.98
7. Labrador – £280.59
8. Jack Russell – £318.94
9. Rottweiler – £346.88
10. Sheepdog – £347.60