The average dog causes three family rows a week - as owners argue over where it can sleep and who should take it for walks, a survey has found.

Spats range from disagreeing about who should take the dog for a walk, feeding them too many treats and what to do with them when holidays loom.

The study also revealed one-quarter of owners regularly argue about where the dog should be allowed to go in the house with beds, upstairs or sofas causing most rows.

One-fifth of families frequently argue whose turn it is to clean up the mess in the garden, while one in ten disagrees who should clear up the carpets should they be soiled.

Disciplining the dog is one of the biggest causes of arguments - as 18pc of couples often fall out because one is accused of being too harsh on the dog.

A further 15pc of families often row about who should be training the dog, while one in ten people get annoyed if the dog is 'humanised'.

Other arguments about the dog include who chose to buy it in the first place and how much has been spent on the dog.

They're also likely to cause unrest if they damage the children's toys or chew the family's shoe collection.

The study also revealed while the majority of family arguments are more likely to be about the children than the family pet, 14pc of owners reckon they row about the dog more than their children.

Incredibly, in 17pc of households, the dog disputes have got so bad one member of the family has slept in the spare room, while a quarter of those polled have been known to storm off after things got too heated.

In fact, 26pc of dog owners have at some point considered getting rid of their beloved dog after a bust-up.

Nikki Sellers, Head of Pet Insurance at esure, said: ''Owning a dog is not dissimilar to having a baby.

''Round the clock care and responsibility throughout a dog's life can become tiresome for any pet owner but should never be overlooked.

''Maintaining a dog's physical health through exercise plus regular stimulation to avoid them running riot around the house should at least help avoid some arguments.

''A healthier dog may also lead to fewer costly trips to the vet too but for advice on how to look after a dog properly, owners should seek professional help.''

TOP 20 DOG DISPUTES

1. What to do with the dog when going away

2. Who should walk the dog

3. Whether the dog should be allowed on the beds

4. Whether the dog should be allowed upstairs

5. Who should clean up the mess in the back garden

6. Being too harsh on the dog

7. Letting the dog onto the sofa

8. Money spent on dog

9. Training the dog

10. Feeding the dog from the table

11. Who should babysit/look after the dog

12. Grooming the dog

13. Damage caused by dog

14. Who chose to buy the dog in the first place

15. Who cleans up when dog wees / poos

16. Who cleans up when the dog is sick

17. Humanising the dog

18. Allowing the dog into forbidden rooms

19. Children's toys being eaten

20. Shoes being chewed

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