GERMAN shepherds are Britain's unluckiest breed of dog, according to a new survey out today.But Suffolk woman Sheila Clarke who has lived with up to 20 of the dogs around her since she was born said she certainly does not agree.

GERMAN shepherds are Britain's unluckiest breed of dog, according to a new survey out today.

But Suffolk woman Sheila Clarke who has lived with up to 20 of the dogs around her since she was born said she certainly does not agree.

Mrs Clarke from Great Blakenham only has one German Shepherd called Magic now, but her parents bred them while she was a child and her sister Janice Moore is a licensed breeder.

She knows better than most whether or not German Shepherds get into scrapes and she says she certainly cannot agree with the findings.

She said: "They are very placid and certainly not destructive like labradors and boxers are.

"In all the years we have had them around, I have never known any problems with them, they are one of the best behaved dogs."

Mrs Clarke said that German Shepherds are actually very clever dogs and do have to be kept occupied, even during walks, but she would never consider them as unlucky.

According to the online poll of 500 dog owners, border collies were the second most accident-prone pooches followed by German pointers and Great Danes.

Pet owners were asked about the scrapes their mischievous mutts had got into and the unluckiest thing that had happened to their four-legged friends.

The top three "unlucky" incidents were swallowing a toy, followed closely by running away from the vet and dogs getting their furry head trapped in the cat flap.

Another frequent accident for dogs was falling down the toilet.

Among the tales told by pet lovers included how a greedy bull terrier swallowed a bottle cap, cling film, a toy car and some wire.

The poor dog was taken to the vet to be operated on to remove the items, and put on a drip. The dog then ate the drip.

Another dog, a Dogue de Bordeaux, got stuck between the conservatory and the garden wall for hours, and had to be removed with fairy liquid and lots of pulling power.

Other crazy dog antics included an unfortunate mutt getting its head stuck in a sticky roll, a hound which gobbled-up a beanbag and another which even wolfed down a used baby's nappy. All the dogs recovered after a trip to the vet.

n. What do you think? Is your dog the unluckiest dog? Write to the Evening Star at 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN.