Striving for 'perfect pets' raises pet insurance

Posted : 10-03-2006

Dog owners in the UK are being urged to have realistic ambitions for their pets, as people looking the 'perfect pet' are not only causing them undue stress, they are likely to be raising their own pet insurance premiums.

Thousands of dogs across the UK are reportedly suffering from Perfect Dog Syndrome (PDS). Many of these dogs disappoint their owners by failing to adapt to training quickly enough, racking up considerably expense in training lessons and pet insurance.

The unrealistic and potentially unhealthy expectations many owners have for their dogs was revealed by a survey by the Blue Cross. Nearly 90 per cent felt their pet should be converted to a beacon of canine civility within a month of training.

However, many pets are by nature unsuited to what their owners require of them, causing them undue stress that can lead to greater health problems and increased pet insurance premiums further down the line.

Meanwhile, people who claimed they could only spend half an hour a day with their dog somehow expected it to be a family pet.

Julie Bedford, head of animal behaviour at The Blue Cross, said: "People may feel that their dogs have to be perfect - the need to attain perfection in all other walks of life means that we see our pet's behaviour as another thing to conquer."

Pets that consistently fail to live up to their owners expectations, however unreasonable they may be, are often re-homed.

Dogs wetting or messing the home is one of the most commonly cited reasons for re-housing a dog, as is the high cost of treatment.

However, by shopping around for pet insurance, owners could save themselves thousands the next time their furry friend has a little mishap.


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