UK dog owners are spending £232 million each year by leaving electrical appliances on for their pets.

Around 80% of owners leave TVs, radios, lights, heating and fans turned on in an attempt to keep their dogs happy when they’re out, according to uSwitch.com.

Its survey of 2,004 canine owners found the average dog watches 214 hours of TV every year, their favourite channel being BBC One.

Owners also leave on radios for their dogs for 298 hours per year

Dogs are far from the most energy-intensive pet, costing only around £36 each year. Tropical fish on the other hand will set the owner back a massive £494 in filtering and lighting bills – almost half of the average Big Six energy bill.

Claire Osborne, Energy Expert at uSwitch.com, said: “There’s never been any doubt that we Brits love our dogs like family and these figures show how much we like to pamper them, even when we’re not at home.

“But while dog owners may have the best intentions at heart, it’s important to heed the advice of vets and animal experts and avoid leaving pets home alone for extended periods of time. And when electrical devices are left on unattended, there’s an impact on energy bills as well as increased safety risks.”