Post by Wolfie on Sept 5, 2008 1:03:01 GMT -5
THEY are so small they risk being crushed under foot, yet chihuahuas are one of the most destructive dogs to keep in your house.
The tiny pets typically cause $1376 worth of damage to homes in their lifetimes, according to a survey.
Only great danes present a greater risk to property and possessions, with an average total repair bill of $1420 - but they can at least blame their size.
Another surprise entry in the top 10 of canine offenders are dachshunds. The sausage dogs typically cause $888 of damage.
The breed that causes the least damage is the pug.
The toy is recognised for its ability to learn obedience skills, minimising behavioural problems in the home.
The bulky St Bernard doesn't appear to have the same problems with its size as the great dane. Its gentle and stable nature puts it in second place among those that cause least damage.
The findings show goodwill between man and his best friend can be stretched to breaking point by clumsy, bored or bad-tempered pets.
The most common form of damage is stained or soiled carpets, scratched doors, chewed door frames and ruined clothes.
Ripped sofas, chewed wires and broken ornaments are also common.
A total of 3000 dog owners were interviewed by a pet insurance company, which found nearly two-thirds had paid to repair or replace items damaged by their animals. Most of the breakages happened when the dogs were puppies.
However, 14 per cent of owners said they had put up with destruction throughout their dog's life.
Among the horror stories to emerge from the study was a great dane that ran into closed patio doors, knocking them and their frame right out of the wall.
A rottweiler knocked over a $3000 vase and a border collie's wagging tail hurled a glass of red wine over a $6000 cream carpet.
A labrador pup chewed through three pairs of its owner's $150 shoes and another dog pulled all the fabric off a sofa, leaving just the wood and springs.
In July researchers at the University of Pennsylvania revealed that small dogs were among the most aggressive, with dachshunds top of the list.
Source
The tiny pets typically cause $1376 worth of damage to homes in their lifetimes, according to a survey.
Only great danes present a greater risk to property and possessions, with an average total repair bill of $1420 - but they can at least blame their size.
Another surprise entry in the top 10 of canine offenders are dachshunds. The sausage dogs typically cause $888 of damage.
The breed that causes the least damage is the pug.
The toy is recognised for its ability to learn obedience skills, minimising behavioural problems in the home.
The bulky St Bernard doesn't appear to have the same problems with its size as the great dane. Its gentle and stable nature puts it in second place among those that cause least damage.
The findings show goodwill between man and his best friend can be stretched to breaking point by clumsy, bored or bad-tempered pets.
The most common form of damage is stained or soiled carpets, scratched doors, chewed door frames and ruined clothes.
Ripped sofas, chewed wires and broken ornaments are also common.
A total of 3000 dog owners were interviewed by a pet insurance company, which found nearly two-thirds had paid to repair or replace items damaged by their animals. Most of the breakages happened when the dogs were puppies.
However, 14 per cent of owners said they had put up with destruction throughout their dog's life.
Among the horror stories to emerge from the study was a great dane that ran into closed patio doors, knocking them and their frame right out of the wall.
A rottweiler knocked over a $3000 vase and a border collie's wagging tail hurled a glass of red wine over a $6000 cream carpet.
A labrador pup chewed through three pairs of its owner's $150 shoes and another dog pulled all the fabric off a sofa, leaving just the wood and springs.
In July researchers at the University of Pennsylvania revealed that small dogs were among the most aggressive, with dachshunds top of the list.
Source
