Usual sus-pets

They are supposed to be man's best friend, but if you would like to keep your house intact, avoid getting a mighty Great Dane or a mini Chihuahua.

New research has revealed that size doesn't matter when it comes to dogs and damage in the home - the massive Great Dane breed will cost its owners a staggering £669.64 over its lifetime.

And the dog, made famous by Chesney's pet Schmeichel in Coronation Street, is most likely to cause that damage by scratching doors and ripping sofa covers.

Second in the poll is the Chihuahua, which despite its tiny size, manages to cause a staggering £638.41 of damage to the home, by chewing sofas and cushions.

Mastiffs came third in the damage stakes, costing their owners £585.71 over a lifetime, while Basset Hounds are close behind, causing £564.13 of damage.

Finishing off the top five is the slender yet speedy Whippet which will leave a trail of destruction totalling £518.75.

Other dogs to feature highly include English Setters, Bulldogs, Dachshunds and Boxers.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure pet insurance, which carried out the poll said: ''It's not surprising that the Great Dane is number one - it's sheer weight and size is bound to lead to accidents in the home.

"What's more surprising is the tiny Chihuahua in second place - it's amazing that the smallest of the toy breeds can cause so much havoc.

"To help minimise your dog's destructive behaviour, remember to house train them from a very early age, maintain their health with regular vet check-ups, and give them plenty of exercise. A bored dog is often a destructive dog."

The poll of 3,000 dog owners, by esure pet insurance, revealed a total of 60 per cent have forked out to fix damage caused by their beloved dogs.

Among the horror stories which emerged from the study were:

One Great Dane who assumed its owners lounge patio doors were open, took a long run at them only to knock the entire doors and frame straight out of the wall.

An overzealous Rottweiler who knocked over a vase - a family heirloom worth £1,500.

A Border Collie's wagging tail which knocked over a large glass of red wine, two days after its owners new cream carpet had been laid, wrecking the £3,000 floor covering.

A Labrador pup which chewed through three pairs of its owners Nike trainers worth £75 each.

An owner which came home to discover his prize pooch had pulled all the material off the sofa, leaving just the wood and springs on show.

The research showed the most common forms of damage were stained or soiled carpets, scratched doors, chewed door frames and ruined clothes. Ripped sofas, chewed wires and broken ornaments are also among the problems caused by a man's best friend.

It also emerged that while half (50 per cent) of owners say their dog caused most of the damage when they were a puppy, an unlucky 14 per cent have to put up with the destruction throughout their dog's life.