All Action Whippets are Britain's Clumsiest Dogs

All action canines can cost up to ten times as much in vet bills as small "lapdog" breeds, with high-speed whippets being the clumsiest.

"Dogs generally fall into several categories when it comes to injury-risk behaviour - fast, loopy, unadventurous and just-cant-be-bothered," said Mark Effenberg, founder of www.healthy-pets.co.uk cat insurance and dog insurance.

"Whippets, lurchers and greyhounds generally have two speeds: stopped or flat out. Dizzy dogs such as Springer Spaniels are generally not spatially aware with consequential damage to both themselves and property; small breeds - other than Jack Russells - are usually more noise than action, and the likes of labradors, bassets and bulldogs just can't be bothered with it all - unless they're running up a bill for eating stuff they really shouldn't be chomping on."

Common dog insurance claims

Around 24% of claims made by whippet owners result from vet visits arising from dogs running into something at high speed, or falling off things like garden furniture. Lurchers follow closely on 23%.

Springer Spaniels, at 8% of claims down to self-induced injury, have different types of accident more often arising from being boisterous rather than through high-speed impacts.