To cut a very long story short, I brought a 5 week old blind cocker spaniel home one day. It changed our lives for ever! Our three cats got used to the situation very quickly and he was not top dog where they were concerned. We had nelson for a glorious 7 years, my children were always referred to as number 1 son, number 2 son and Nelson was favourite son (the cats are all girls btw). We lost him to a siezure and it broke our hearts. We did the "never again" thing. We hadn't planned Nelson so thought we'd be able to go back to just having cats. It lasted 6 months before we admitted to each other we couldn't wait to get another cocker. We talked and not wanting to put too much pressure on any one puppy, we had too! A year later and our lives are back to living for our 9 month old dogs Bert & Earnie, they just bring the family together to play, walk or just watch them together. Would recommend a cocker to anyone, young or old.

We have a black and tan part working and part show cocker girl. She's now 18 weeks old and I wouldn't be without her. Yes she has never ending energy and yes she is into everything. But boy I get so much love and company from her it's unreal. I am disabled and am at home all day until mu Husband gets home so now I have a little imp to look after. She will happily spend all day in the garden investigating and running round in circles. I've never laughed so much. We have fallen in love so much with this breed that we have now put a deposit on a blue roan show girl who is 6 weeks old. It will be mayhem I'm sure with two youngsters but I can honestly say that the good points outweigh the little bad points without a doubt. One thing to remember though is that they are very strong willed, and you have to be very firm with rules or they will try and dominate you. I couldn't imagine being without them now.

I've always been a cat person until I got a cocker spaniel. Honey is an orange roan girl and is the most beautiful dog I have ever known, let alone owned. She follows me everywhere (absolutely EVERYWHERE) and is up for anything at any time. She is placid and easy going, always up for a cuddle and always enthusiastic for a walk. She is small enough to take everywhere and gets along with every other dog she meets. She totally adores her family and is extremely loyal. I have two cocker spaniels and charlie (a blue roan boy) is sweet boy who is completely addicted to pats. Both were easy to toilet train. Cocker spaniels need people and affection. They are lovely and happy dogs but they need companionship. This is crucial. These little angels are very loyal and they adore their owner, so much so that they can get quite upset if they are left alone. They are best suited to households where someone is always home or households with more than one dog. BUT THEY ARE WORTH IT!!!! BEST PET EVER!!!

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.

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.