A pet expert has revealed which dog breed is the most prone to accidents, based on recently released data. Pet insurance claims show which dog breeds have the most accidents in the UK, which can lead to costly vet bills for dog owners and pets in pain. If you are thinking about getting a dog, you might want to avoid this one breed. If you already own this breed, then you might want to consider taking some steps to prevent accidents from happening.
Dog experts at Waggel examined accident claims data between June 2024 and May 2025. Owners of ne breed made a staggering 2,500 claims, which makes up 10% of all accident claims made. Based on this data, the experts have listed six steps that dog owners can take to prevent accidents from happening. The dog breed that experiences the most accidents, according to this data, is the Cocker Spaniel.
According to YouGov, the Cocker Spaniel is the fourth most popular dog breed in the UK. It only ranks lower than the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Collie.
Dr Aimee Warner, resident veterinarian at Waggel, revealed: “Cocker Spaniels are fantastic family pets thanks to their enthusiasm and energy, but all that bounce can land them in trouble. They’re prone to eating things they shouldn’t, bumping into objects, and generally causing chaos. Their curious nature and food motivation make them particularly accident-prone.”
To protect them, she suggests taking a series of steps in the home. The first one she lists is installing childproof locks on all cupboards, with a focus on areas containing food, cleaning products, or small objects that could cause choking.
Additionally, owners of Cocker Spaniels should secure bins with tight-fitting lids, remove small objects from floor level, refrain from leaving food unattended, store cables and chargers out of reach, and check their gardens for toxic plants.
While the Cocker Spaniel was revealed to be the most accident-prone dog breed in the UK, it was followed by the Cockapoo in second place on the list. The top ten most accident-prone dog breeds in the UK, according to this data, are:
- Cocker Spaniel
- Cockapoo
- Medium mixed breed (10–20kg)
- Labrador
- Golden Retriever
- Medium mixed breed (10–20kg)
- Labrador Retriever
- Small mixed breed (<10kg)
- English Springer Spaniel
- Labradoodle