can someone tell me if there is a difference in temperaments  between solid and partial cocker spaniels, as we are looking for a gold pup and have been told by a few breeders that they aren't good with kids ( mine are 10 and 8 ) it may be that they only breed partials ( maybe not I don't know )  We've had other family members brought up with solid black and were fine. So has anyone ever had a problem with a solid gold cocker spaniel, I believe that it is the way that the dog is raised.

You should be fine buying a solid from a reputable breeder.  You can find one through the Cocker Spaniel Club.  It is true that there have been instances of irrationally aggressive cockers suffering a condition referred to as "Cocker Rage" and I think it is fair to say this has occured generally in the solids and not in the particolours (I would want a whole one not a partial one :-P) but good breeders ensure they avoid breeding from lines where this may have occured.
Play safe, avoid puppy farmers, contact the breed club, book a puppy and be prepared to wait and you will not be sorry :-)

I'd like to echo Isabel as a cocker owner I was aware of Rage Syndrom but I think by and large it has been breed out as far as possible. Wait for a good pup from a breeder that you can visit and see with its Mum, especially if like us we went for a breeder that was a "hobby" breeder rather than a kennels and our Whistler was one of 9 a pet dog not a show dog. Lived in the utility room and from a family that had children in it so the pups were handled from a young age. Never had a fear that Whistler would not be ok with kids and he is fine. Our (regulars) are 4,5,3 & 6months old, children that is. Ive got a blue roan not a solid but I want a black solid next.

> Lived in the utility room and from a family that had children in it so the pups were handled from a young age.

Just to add this is great for socialisation but the issue with "Cocker Rage" is that it is not something that socialisation or training has any effect on, it is generally regarded as an inherited abberation which is why it is so important to buy from a breeder that knows their pedigrees well and I have to say that is far more likely to be a show breeder than a "pet" breeder.

I had a Blue Roan with rage -it was awful -and I'll fully admit that dog came from a back yard breeder and not a good show breeder. (This was when i was new in this country and didn't know better -21 years ago.) I've since seen several more very dodgy blue roans in the same area and often wonder if they came from the same person.