The list of the liveliest, high-spirited and cheekiest pups in the country has been unleashed and this year’s top dog might leave a lot of people stunned
While dogs are often hailed as man’s best friend, they can sometimes be a bit of a handful. Stories of pooches chewing on shoes, socks and furniture are all too familiar to dog owners.
However, new research has aimed to pinpoint which breeds are the most mischievous. The team at The Insurance Emporium conducted a survey of 2,000 dog owners to gather first-hand accounts of the breeds to steer clear of if you’re after a stress-free life – and the results might surprise you.
Coming in third place, somewhat infamously, is the cockapoo. This crossbreed of a cocker spaniel and a poodle is renowned for being smart, playful and adventurous, but that energy isn’t always channelled in the right direction. The breed is notably high-energy and needs plenty of mental stimulation, with owners quickly noticing when their pet needs a walk to burn off some steam.
These characteristics are also found in the second-most mischievous breed, the cocker spaniel. Known for passing on their lively gene to cockapoos, cocker spaniels take the energy level up a notch, reports the Express.
They’re notorious for being active and requiring lots of exercise – at least an hour a day according to some experts. The breed has a strong working dog instinct, so they’re prone to chasing other animals, leading to some exasperating walks for their owners.
The lovable but mischievous Labrador has ironically bagged the title of the UK’s worst-behaved pooch. Despite their delightful character, Labradors demand a great deal of exercise – significantly more than many other dog breeds – yet that hasn’t dissuaded the 44,000 enthusiasts who registered their furry friends in the country in 2022.
A lack of daily walks can cause Labradors to grow restless and succumb to cabin fever, often resorting to destructive behaviour for amusement.
Pet parents have shared hilarious incidents of their dogs’ exploits, with one stating: “I left him unattended in the garden when he was around nine months old while I was working from home.
“When I checked on him, he was just lying in the sun. I came back 15 minutes later, and he had ripped out over £300 worth of flowers from the beds and was running around the garden with them.”
Another owner recounted a comical feeding frenzy incident: “We have a camera indoors. He got out of his crate while we were out. Did multiple trips from the kitchen to the sofa and ate a bunch of bananas, a watermelon and six apples, then emptied the contents of a stuffed toy.
“At five months old, he could reach the kitchen worktops. Ended up having to build a crate he couldn’t break out of.”
