Dogs behind hundreds of insurance claims each year, data shows

Insurance firm Aviva received around 800 accidental damage claims in the UK each year where dogs play a part.

Claims included items knocked over by family pets, damage caused by pups tripping up owners, and possessions lost while taking dogs for a walk. On average, claims from dog-related incidents are valued at around £1,100 each.

One claim of note involved a young Labradane that managed to turn on the cold tap in the kitchen while his owners were out, causing around £4,000 of damage.

Another case saw a pet get so excited at seeing another dog on TV that it jumped up at the screen and knocked the set off its stand.

In another claim a man was decorating his landing and had set up a step-ladder, his dog knocked over the ladder, spilling a two-litre pot of paint down the stairs.

Kelly Whittington, UK Property Claims Director for Aviva, said: “Dogs are beloved members of millions of UK homes. They get involved in all aspects of family life – and our possessions are sometimes on the receiving end.

“Most home insurance policies have exclusions for damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by domestic animals, so we’d urge customers to check their cover. But as our records show, there are plenty of dog-related incidents where home insurance – and particularly accidental damage cover – can come to the rescue.”