Cocker Spaniel Review

Overall Rating

Beautiful, intelligent, small enough to be a lap dog.

Cocker rage, uncastrated male which we had marked his territory good and proper. YUCK.

Cocker Spaniel - We tried to rescue one of these but he turned out to have "cocker rage" and bit all of us. Although we loved the look of the breed and thought he'd get on with our existing dogs, we found we couldn't cope and had to return him so he could get expert help. The behaviourist the rescue society put us in touch with recommended this, so we had to part with him. It was a relief as the children were beginning to fear him and his spraying was smelly. He looked lovely but our other dogs took to staying upstairs and avoiding him as he'd be as unpredictable with them as he was with us.

I couldn't in all honesty recommend the breed. Our vet told us that it was mainly ruby (red) cockers who get "cocker rage" but that she was seeing it increasingly in other solid colours due to backyard breeders unwittingly breeding it in. My guess would be that if you really wanted this beautiful looking dog then go for a tricolour or Blenheim type.

Members' Comments onGreyhoundhelper's Review

• Jess1 on 9th Nov 2004

  I guess its always a bit of a risk getting a resue dog unless you are fully aware of the dog's past history and then prepare for it.
  
  My wife wanted a Cocker Spaniel and as we had 4 young grandaughters we visited some breeders who advised us that we should select a mixed colour and avoid solid coloured dogs.
  
  Our choice was a male pup Blue Roan and he is very affectionate and not at all nasty in fact, just the opposite because he will not rest until he is fussed over by whoever is nearby.

• auds on 6th Dec 2004

  I have three cocker spaniels and all three are of loving nature and temperment.

• lucymonroe22 on 5th Feb 2005

  I have to write this because when reading the review above I strongly disagreed. I have a blue roan cocker spaniel (bitch) who was a rescue dog, my mother has her brother, also a blue roan and my sister has a solid blue (male) and I can honestly say that all three of them are the most affectionate dogs I have ever met. Both myself and my sister have small children and the dogs have never shown any kind of aggresion to any of them.

• derekbeard on 29th Jan 2006

  we have had 3 dogs for full term of there lives, an irish setter (head strong, with boundless energy, 14yrs) an english setter (beautiful and gentle, 11yrs) a golden retriever (loyal, obedient and perfect, 14yrs) we now have a cocker spaniel blue, he is perfect in every way, intelligent, beautifull, obedient, except he will growl at us for no apparent reason. if you didn't know the dog you would be very unsure. he is now 5 years old and we have had him from a puppy, he is from a very reputable dealer. as you can see we are not novice owners but it is strange behaviour.

• jaclyn99 on 15th Feb 2006

  i completley agree with the review. someone i know has one and within the last 6 months he has started to become very agressive, snapping for nothing and growling in frenzied attacks. i would definitely NOT reccomend them.... ghastly dogs

• Roxy99 on 21st Feb 2006

  Any dog badly bred or mishandled whilst young can become aggresive please don't tar all cockers based on meeting one as aggressive. I have met lots and not come across one with an aggressive streak but I have met a couple of collies and labs that I wouldn't trust with a child but it doesn't put me of those breeds.

• terri carpenter on 21st Feb 2006

  Cocker spaniels are the most loving dogs I have ever come across. My cocker wouldn't hurt a fly but then she has been trained and treated in the proper manner. Dogs of all breeds are capable of biting and showing aggression but in most of the cases that I know of, it is the owner that has created the situation through lack of knowledge and not dealing with the behaviour as soon as it emerges. In my opinion there are no bad dogs just bad owners!

• terri carpenter on 21st Feb 2006

  Cocker spaniels are one of the most loving breeds I have come across. I have a cocker who wouldn't hurt a fly but then she has been trained and brought up to be so. All breeds of dog are capable of showing aggression and biting. Training, socialisation, and treatment are all important factors in the way a dog behaves. In my opinion there are no bad dogs just bad owners and tarring all solid cocker spaniels with the same "rage" brush is totally unjustified.

• LisaMarieP on 21st Feb 2006

  Well I whole heatedly DISAGREE, I have cocker spaniels and not one of them is aggressive in the way you suggest. Infact they are the kindest and gentlest dogs I have ever met. I know MANY cocker spaniels apart from my own and I can HONESTLY say I have NEVER met one that suffers with rage syndrome or is aggressive in the slightest. IMO its a public misconception of Cocker Spaniels, and actually if you spoke to the majority of owners/breeders you'd find out that actually its not true at all ( I'm not saying rage doesn't exsist, it exsists as it does in many breeds, but sadly some people blow it all out of proportion and poor Cockers are sterotyped with this and its simply NOT TRUE.

• amandaindie on 21st Feb 2006

  I strongly disagree with the above post, Cocker spaniels are a very lovable breed, but with all dogs, a lot of research must be put in before you buy a puppy or a rescue dog to make sure they are a suitable breed for yourself and to make sure you are getting the dog from a reputable breeder or rescue and not from a puppy farmer. Cockers have had some bad publicity about temperament issues over the years but this is almost completely obsolete now due to good breeding practices of reputable breeders. A solid cocker is no more risky than a particolour dog. Just bear in mind cockers are an active breed, not a lap dog and so will need a lot of exercise and they have high grooming requirements. My cocker spaniel boy is fantastic and hasn't got a nasty bone in his body, you should never generalise about a whole breed.

• doolally on 22nd Feb 2006

  It seems very irresponsible, arrogant and ignorant to label a whole breed of dog as "ghastly" because of one dog that you know. A well bred cocker is one of the most loveable dogs you could ever want. Please do your homework, and make sure you buy from a reputable breeder. Cockers are fantastic little dogs.

• Rosie7 on 16th Nov 2006

  Since when have Cocker Spaniels come in 'Blenheim'? That's Cavaliers!
  
  Cockers are wonderful dogs! We have 7 of them, and there is not a nasty bone in any of their bodies. I really wish people would know what they are talking about before posting and making the whole breed look bad. Just remember, 99% of the time, it's the owners that are bad and NOT the dog. If you don't train them then you have an out of control dog!