we have 3 cocker spaniels including a solid red my mum has 2 and so does my dad they are all daft. not a bad bone in them they are great with my 3 kids, cockers are fantastic dogs.

We have had our working type cocker spaniel for 3 years now, we got him when he was 9 weeks old, lovely looking dog he is mainly black with a blue roan chest. He's fantastic around the house, gets on fine with our 3 year old Springer spaniel, but he hates other dogs and people he will bark at them and for a little dog he's got a bark of a rottweiler, frightens some people and we have to apologise, spent at least £500 on Dog Training and he is slowly improving as he get's older. He's brilliant with both my children one is 11 the other 8 months. We've talked to our vet about him and said it is quite common in cocker spaniels. He's KC registered so thought interbreeding would not happen with this being the case. We would never think of getting rid him unless he did more than bark at people.

I got my Cocker Spaniel (Ollie) 5 months ago, and he has had a large impact on my life. I feel a lot more content and happy, as he never fails to bring a smile to my face. He's very sensitive and tries to offer you love when you're sad, and he adores going for walks, although he tires quickly in the heat. My partner and I are both more active thanks to Ollie.

I have a Springer Spaniel, and 4 years ago I bought a Golden Cocker Spaniel as a companion.

Originally I thought he had Cocker rage. In fact he was a re-homed dog and it turned out he had socialisation issues.

In 4 years, I have grown to love him, but he is extraordinary hard work. Totally obsessed by food, and he constantly strives to become top dog.

The good point is that you can never neglect his needs. I don't think I would have another Cocker though. I would certainly recommend Springers. particularly the Welsh Springer.

I have owned 2 cocker spaniels and totally love the breed. My first one died at age 14 of cancer. She had a lot of health problems inc. frequent ear and skin problems. But I loved her dearly. She was a regular little diva. I also adopted a 3 yr old from a co-worker. At first I thought she would't bond to me well, but I needn't have worried. She is like velcro. She is a little shy with strangers but never mean. And she is crazy about tennis balls. The two of them were very different in personality but had many similar traits. Both were very nosey and liked to eat a little too much. They can easily take over if you allow it. Both of mine bossed our bigger dog around. My second one is now 6 yr old and the resident princess in our home.

I have had a male blue roan Cocker Spaniel since December 2004. He is affectionate, but he gets wound up over nothing and growls a bit, even though he has been neutered.

The ears have to be groomed a lot otherwise clumps form, and this is unsightly.

He is an unfussy eater, and anything you give him he will eat. Cocker Spaniels like other dogs, especially mine.

Overall, he is a lovley dog.

I have had my Cocker Spaniel for two weeks and she is 10 weeks old. Although it is early days, she is responding well to training, and is very intelligent. She is good fun, and my 5 year old son adores her. We can't wait to take her out for a walk! She is so good, our friends have bought her sister!!

We bought our Cocker in August last year when she was 8 weeks old, and she is the best thing I think we have every purchased. She loves being made a fuss of, and loves making a fuss of you when you come home. Very intelligent (when she wants to be!), very affectionate, and adores playing with toys and never runs out of energy. She just loves to be by your side - perfect company.
We have heard of Cocker Rage, but I think this comes down to how you handle a dog if you leave them for hours on end, and don't give them the attention they deserve this will make a very very unhappy dog.

I have owned Cockers Spaniels for over 20 years - all of them rescued. This is a breed greatly and sadly misunderstood!

For far too long, too many owners, on discovering that Cocker Spaniels are not quite the lap dog they had hoped for, have resorted to using the excuse that the dog is suffering from 'rage syndrome'. Amazingly, very few owners keep their Spaniel.

So surely, it's their justifiable excuse and their way to exonerate themselves of responsiblity and allow themselves a guilt free peace of mind when they abandon them.

Should the issue not be trying to identify why the dog has developed these traits?

Without doubt, some dogs, and that includes all breeds, even including 'Bitzers', are prone to defects. Though that's no reason or excuse to abandon, what surely is part of the family?

I believe that, only when owners become responsible and start to research the breed they intend to invite into their lives and then realise that this incredible animal will become a part of the family and excepting that at times all living creature are infalable, and that a Cocker Spaniel's needs are no different from any other crature.

If someone needs comfort from a fluffy inanimate object, then buy a teddy bear. Believe me, everyone will be better off!

Cocker Spaniels are friendly animals and in our experience a very happy breed; lots of tail wagging.

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.

My cocker spaniel was bred for working but is kept as a pet. He is very intelligent and easy to train. He is so affectionate and loves cuddling people. He is so much fun to exercise and excels at agility classes. He gets on very well with our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and looks after him by washing his face and fetching him when he goes too far away. He is such a character and all round brilliant dog.