International Dog Day: We Reveal the Year’s Craziest Dog Accident Claims

Dogs are clever, loyal, and loving - but sometimes, they also prove that common sense isn’t exactly their strongest skill. From eating watering cans to leaping off cliffs in pursuit of seagulls, our furry friends have an unrivalled talent for getting themselves into some truly bizarre situations.

To celebrate International Dog Day on 26th August, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest, strangest, and quite honestly wackiest accident claims made by Waggel members this year - and don’t worry, all dogs mentioned are happy and well!

If there’s one thing our data proves, it’s that Spaniels are the kings and queens of mischief. In fact, four types of Spaniels made it into our top ten accident stories this year.

Highlights include:

• A Cocker Spaniel who scoffed an entire wedding cake the night before the ceremony (we’re guessing they weren’t invited to the big day after that).

• A Springer Spaniel who decided to eat a couch.

• And another Cocker who got so overexcited chasing a seagull that they literally ran off the edge of a cliff.

It might not come as a surprise, then, that Cocker Spaniels took the number one spot for accident claims this year, with more than 2,500 claims - over 10% of Waggel’s total!

As our in-house vet Aimee explains:

“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—so if you’re thinking of getting one, be prepared for a few extra vet trips.”

Hot on their heels were Cockapoos, who made up over 6% of accident claims. Turns out, mixing Spaniel energy with Poodle smarts doesn’t always guarantee sensible decision-making.

When it comes to food, dogs don’t discriminate - and that often means trouble for us as pet owners.

Take the pair of cheeky Dachshunds who downed their owner’s matcha latte while she popped to the loo. Or the Cockapoo who managed to demolish six Penguins in half an hour (the biscuit kind, thankfully - not the Antarctic birds).

And in perhaps the most shocking tale of all, a French Bulldog went full party mode, not only drinking an entire bottle of champagne but also eating the glass. Don’t try that one at home, please.

As our CEO, Andrew, puts it:

“It’s incredible to see the mischief dogs get up to—even in their own homes. Luckily, every dog on this list got the care they needed and is now happy and healthy. These stories really show why pet insurance matters: it means you can focus on your dog’s recovery while still being able to laugh at the madness.”

Here are the stand-out stars of silliness from the past year:

1. Labrador – Ate an entire watering can

2. Dachshund – Shared their owner’s matcha latte

3. Cocker Spaniel – Devoured a wedding cake the night before the ceremony

4. Labrador – Face-planted a boulder and broke two teeth

5. Cockapoo – Ate six Penguin biscuits in 30 minutes

6. English Setter Mix – Climbed shelves and ate a Toblerone

7. Springer Spaniel – Ate the couch

8. Staffie – Shredded a referral form (apparently not keen on seeing a behaviourist)

9. French Bulldog – Polished off a bottle of champagne (glass included)

10. Cocker Spaniel – Ran off a cliff while chasing a seagull

Alongside the funniest stories, we also crunched the numbers to find out which breeds are most accident-prone. Here’s the leaderboard:

1. Cocker Spaniel

2. Cockapoo

3. Medium mixed breed (10–20kg)

4. Labrador

5. Golden Retriever

6. Miniature Dachshund (Short-haired)

7. Labrador Retriever

8. Small mixed breed (<10kg)

9. English Springer Spaniel

10. Labradoodle

Dogs might be man’s best friend, but they’re also basically chaos wrapped in fur. From Spaniels stealing wedding cakes to Labradors mistaking garden tools for snacks, our pets keep life unpredictable - and that’s exactly why we love them.

Stories were provided by Waggel employees. Data relates to claims made between 01/06/2024 and 31/05/2025.