That’s a good question and Protectivity have some answers;
Protectivity – providers of insurance for small businesses – analysed its recent pet care claims data to determine the most common incidents.
Sean Walsh, Head of Marketing at Protectivity commented: “Dog ownership in the UK has boomed, with about one-third of households now owning a dog. But between 2020 and 2024, the cost of keeping a canine companion has surged due to pandemic-era demand, inflationary pressures, and rising business overheads. Caring for a dog now costs the average owner around £850 per year (for a medium sized dog), pushing the estimated lifetime cost of a large dog to over £15,700.
According to the data from recent years, the dog care activities with the highest volume of insurance claims were related to:
Dog walking – 39%
Dog grooming – 27%
Other activities – 15%
Boarding and kennels – 10%
Dog sitting – 7%
Dog training and behaviourists – 2%
Although dog walking had the highest number of claims overall, largely due to its frequency and the risks associated with public spaces, dog boarding and grooming led to the most expensive claims, with the highest grooming-related claim exceeding £12,000 during this period.
According the the Protectivity data, common incidents leading to claims included:
Accidental injuries during walks or play (30%) – Claims include broken legs, fractures, and cuts from barbed wire, sticks, or fences—mostly occurring during outdoor walks or exercise. These can be sudden, costly, and difficult to prevent without proper control.
Grooming injuries (23%) – A significant volume of claims stems from accidental cuts during grooming. These range from nicks to more serious lacerations affecting ears, tongues, paws, and other sensitive areas.
Injuries from fights or other dogs (18%) – Many claims involve dogs being bitten or injured during interactions with other dogs, particularly in boarding, daycare, or walking scenarios. These often result in high vet bills and liability costs.
Personal accidents to handlers (7%) – Handlers themselves are at risk, with claims involving dislocated shoulders, broken bones, or surgeries due to being pulled by dogs. These often result in time off work and loss of earnings.
Property damage (6%) – Incidents also include broken phones, damaged grooming equipment, lost keys, and destruction of client property, adding to overall claims volume.
Ingestion of dangerous substances or items (5%) – Dogs frequently consume harmful or foreign items—such as grapes, chocolate, onions, sticks, or even clothing—which can require induced vomiting or emergency care. These incidents are common in sitting, boarding, and walking settings.
Lost or escaped dogs (3%) – Dogs escaping through unsecured gates, doors, or fields can lead to claims involving search efforts and subsequent accidents that result in costly vet bills.
The claims research shows that the highest-cost claims typically involve severe accidents, especially dog-on-dog injuries and ingestion of harmful items, where vet bills can run into the tens of thousands. These are not only expensive but also emotionally distressing for all involved.
Walsh added: “Most claims fall under Care, Custody, and Control (CCC) liability, where the handler is responsible for the dog’s welfare and actions. A recurring theme is poor hazard control, including unsecured environments (e.g., open gates, off-lead dogs, or barbed wire) and grooming areas lacking proper safety measures. These incidents are largely human error, including walking dogs off-lead without consent or leaving access points unsecured.
“By being aware of these high-risk scenarios and proactively putting controls and protocols in place, dog care professionals can reduce the likelihood of costly incidents, protecting both their business and the dogs in their care”.
On this, Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager added: “Caring for an animal carries a risk and this is heightened further when caring for another person’s animal, even if they are domestic. Our policy ensures that if that animal were to harm you, a person in your employment, a member of the public or themselves, that you can stay protected against potential financial losses related to reimbursing those that try to claim damages from you. Whether it be reimbursing the owner of the animal for vet bills arising from an injury when walking a dog or a claim costing thousands of pounds caused by a dog in your care, biting a member of the public, you can rest assured our claim experts will handle your claim with care and priority”.
For more information, visit https://www.protectivity.com/knowledge-centre/the-rising-cost-of-dog-care-uk/
