It is difficult for any dog lover to admit coming up against a brick wall but boy oh boy these Solid Red cockers are testing on temperments.This is my 3rd Solid coloured English cocker.The 1st was some years ago and that dog was very prone to a bad temper, and none of the family would ever stroke him,although his loyalty was undying in a "touch me not" way!.The 2nd one had full blown Rage Syndrome,he did not growl any warning, he just attacked the family and anyone else who happened to be around.When we 1st saw him with his breeders he was fighting something terrible with his litter brothers at 7 weeks of age,this happened  every time we went to see him before actually having him home. Apparently according to what we now have learned was that if the breeder had stopped this happening,stamped on it vigorously and not laughed it off, the ensuing Rage may not have developed.
Anyway onto our 3rd Red/Gold.Well since "cocking" his leg time at 6+months,suddenly this one has developed warning signs of the infamous Solid Red Cocker temper.Hopefully we can contain this knowing quite a lot about this syndrome that these solids are prone to.We allow no leeway in our "house"pecking order,this Red must be kept at the bottom of the pack until he learns that we are in control not him.How people say that there is no problem with the temperment of English Solid Cockers is like saying that there is no water on this planet! There is definitely a problem, and not just with Shop bought Cockers,these are well bred.If I was a breeder no way would I sell any Gold/Red/Black cocker to a family with kids.This is Russian Roulette for sure, and the helpless little children could end up badly injured.

Cocker rage is a very specific condition, the real thing is very rare, have a look at this site which will tell you more about it.  It sounds as though your middle dog may possibley have been a sufferer but the other two sound like just bad temperaments to me.  I would dispute that they came from "good" breeding as a novice you could, perhaps, be expected not to realise that the behaviour of your puppy in the nest did not bode well but a experienced and responsible breeder would not have placed such a puppy with a novice family but then it is doubtful that they would have bred from parents likely to produce such a pup in the first place.  I would recommend anyone considering a cocker puppy to contact the breed club for recommendations of responsible breeders.

Yes,I agree entirely that it is just bad temper with the current "Junior",by the way he has a Champion sire,and a show winning dam,so no,I would not say poor breeding.The maddening thing is that he is great in so many ways,but so were the others,except for this persistent temperment problem.What I cannot understand is why the multi coloured cockers seem pretty much OK with good tempers.A book we have by a Dutch breeder mentions twice about this problem with solid coloured Cockers,so is this trait in mainland European dogs as well or just in the homeland of GB - we are in the Highlands by the way,so plenty of natural exercise to keep the dogs satisfied with scents and free runs.We just hope this super smart boy turns back into the loving and kind boy we have known up until now.

>he has a Champion sire,and a show winning dam,so no,I would not say poor breeding.

No matter how good the individual parents are, if their offspring aren't as good the breeder's research into their genetic background leaves something to be desired.

This may be a dumb question, but.... If you had 2 bad solids before, why did you get another? Just curious.

Not a dumb question at all.There are several reasons not all logical I admit.There was quite a gap of years between them.The 1st one died at 4Yrs tragically, not that we gave up on him but just got used to "manouvering" around the way he was.Grandad loved him and we did not want to seperate them as Grandma had died recently(although the Cocker growled at grandad also!)They had a sort of bonding,you probably know what I am getting at.
The 2nd one seemed to be the answer to my Wife's recovery from a severe illness as she needed a companion dog after losing 2 beloved Labs during her illness,the loss made her very depressed.We did actually go to see a couple of "Roan "type Cocker litters but we were  disappointed as both litters did not look healthy.The one we decided on eventually was the decision made by my wife,she struck up a good relationship with the breeder who seemed to have a super clean kennels,with lovely pups all looking the picture of health.The only fault I could see was that the pups were constantly fighting.Anyway, the result was the Rage dog.The children and my wife were devastated after all her problems,they just could not believe this wonderfully intelligent dog suddenly turn into a raving monster then back again into a nice boy!He was just too dangerous.
After this upset,my wife was inconsolable,so we were told by many breeders of years standing in Cockers, that there were good solids out there with stable temperments.Thus the 3rd arrival into our home! This little lad has excellent breeding but I can understand as you say,that even with Champion show parents there could be still a mismatch somewhere in the Genes.The bond between my wife and this super looking boy is very close,but I can see the traits of bad temper arising in him,although nothing like the last one. I am inclined to stand back and let the "2" of them work this out, and they seem to be getting through this hiccup,hopefully a "hiccup".They walk for miles through woodlands and my wife seems a lot better in herself,the depression is far less.
I just need the support of all you knowledgeable people to get them through this.By the way the children love this boy very much also.

I'm sorry - you said no solid cockers should ever be sold to families with children!!!!!!!!

I have a black bitch and a gold dog, and am hopefully getting a black/tan soon.  I have two children and those dogs are fantastic with them.  I don't have a problem with aggression and to make statements like that make it all the harder for those of us who have well behaved dogs and are told day in day out 'oooh you shouldn't have those with children' etc etc etc.

My black bitch comes from very good lines, my gold boy I bred myself from the same good lines, and the black/tan is coming from another very good cocker line.  My pups were all gold, they all went to people with children and they all have excellent temperaments.  It was my bitch's temperament that sold those pups to the buyers, as they had heard horror stories, but after seeing Ebbie, they knew that that is all they were - stories.

I am sorry you've had bad experiences but don't tar them all with the same brush.  And maybe and I don't mean this harshly but maybe you are choosing the wrong dogs for the wrong reasons in the first place ie taking the most boisterous dog of the litter and expecting them to be sweet little things when they get home!  Or the right sort of training isn't being done early enough so that the dog knows it's unacceptable to do certain things.

Nikki xx

Nikki, you are being aggressively defensive, and this is coming through as if you are trying to hide something.I said that "I"  would never sell a solid coloured Cocker to a young family.
By your own admission you are revealing through your reply that you know exactly what is happening with solid coloured cockers,but you are then emphatically stressing that your breeding has been totally exempt from any problems.I hope for your sake that the dogs you are selling are 100% safe, or you may live to regret your statement.

I am slightly confused "Mr Dan E". Are you asking for advice on handling your Cocker or are you simply using this forum to highlight your views on solid coloured Cockers, as you have on other forums (using different user names & giving slightly different information about yourself & your experience with Cockers)? If it's advice you're after, it would seem your current young Cocker has reached the adolescent phase & is pushing the boundaries, as many young dogs do whatever the breed. Stroppy teenage behaviour is not a sign of "bad temper" & could be considered as normal (going by many of the threads posted on the Behaviour board here by owners of a wide variety of breeds). Firm consistent training is the key but I'm sure I don't need to tell you this with your many years of experience of owning/breeding dogs ;-)

Jane

Jane, or whoever you are,for your information this is the 1st time I have ever posted on any dog forum and I do not think that you should be inferring anything else as you do not own this forum or any other forum.FYI my sister in law whose family are temporarily living here,kindly offered me the use of her private PC, and if she or anyone else in her family have posted on any forum about anything I really do not think that is any of your business.My SIL was quite successful in breeding  Dalmations and English Setters,but this again is none of your business.

It's funny as I'm a member of another forum and your story seems freakily exactly the same as theirs, even the ages of the dogs involved etc!! how bizarre!
If anyone is being aggressive it's you. I'm still not quite sure if your original post was a "statement" or you are requiring some help seen as you've posted on the behaviour board I'm assuming your needing advice? I am not going to say rage doesn't exist it does but true cases are VERY RARE and I think scare mongering isn't helping. I think that alot of people mistake a wilful dog automatically as rage which is very unfair :-( I personally don't own any solids (I have parti's) but know plenty who do mostly breeders and not one of them has a bad temperament. In fact based on my own experiences I think that cockers are excellent with kids as I have 2 young children myself.

I agree Chocaholic, Cockers are a wilfull breed.  Generally in a well bred dog this will manifest itself in a stubborness over obeying commands and even then they tend to size up their owner as to how much can they get away with in that department, I have little trouble in that department but my cockers tend to run rings round my husband ;) However, when parents have been chosen well from lines with the excellent, predominant temperament of the Cocker this will never manifest itself in nastiness.  Of course, as we know, the Cocker is produced in large numbers and not all breeders care about these things consequently some dogs will be bred with a stubborness that extends into a more "physical" desire to get their way around less than capable owners, this is not rage.  It would appear that Mr Dan E has a bee in his bonnet about the breed despite returning to it twice ;) I suggest we leave him to pop it in his mouth and chew on it on his own :)

Well said Isabel. It's not just Cockers that can be wilfull either, any breed can be given the chance, give an inch and they will take a mile. I think it is a shame to tar every Cocker with the same brush. To say all or most Red Cockers have rage is just way off the mark in my opinion. It's very sad that there are some very unscrupulous breeders ie: puppy farmers who are producing puppies without any research whatsoever and making a fast buck :-( who are giving our lovely breed a bad name.

Jane, or whoever you are,for your information this is the 1st time I have ever posted on any dog forum and I do not think that you should be inferring anything else as you do not own this forum or any other forum.FYI my sister in law whose family are temporarily living here,kindly offered me the use of her private PC, and if she or anyone else in her family have posted on any forum about anything I really do not think that is any of your business

Really, so you & your sister in law have had virtually identical experiences with 3 solid Cockers except "you" live in the Highlands & she lives in Wales? How amazing is that? You didn't answer my question about whether you actually wanted advice about your current dog (or is it your sister-in-law's dog?). If you do actually want advice, there are plenty of experienced people on this board who can help you but if you are just seeking to expound on your views on solid Cockers then you must expect others not to share your views ;-) And no, before you ask, I do not breed solid Cockers myself & have absolutely nothing to hide :-)

Jane

Well, well its you again ' Mr Dan E '- different forums, different names but the same misinformed idiot!!

I firmly believe after reading ALL your threads on all the different forums you post that i know the problem with your cockers - YOU!!!!!

Bad handling of ANY breed can result in aggressiveness - you yourself get very aggressive to others who do not have the same view as you.

RAGE in any dog is very rare - if you can't handle the breed choose a different one.

Cockers are very wilful and stubborn dogs - think you may need to get a pet that will be easier for you to handle - how about a goldfish!

ahh but  Loads of other breeds suffer with it too :P so no dog is safe enough for  Mr :D lol at least the goldfish couldent be accused of biting :D

Probably dumb enough to buy himself a pirhana or two - imagine the posts then!!

He wouldent be posting he'd have no fingers left :P hehe

We too have 2     er boys, a black and a golden. We also have 3 children, the youngest is only 21 months. Both boys have the most fantastic temperaments and have never given us any cause for concern in this way. We did read up on rage syndrome and there were numerous breeders who tried to put us off having a golden boy (mostly breeders of roans I hasten to add). I do think that your second     er probably did sadly suffer with rage syndrome. The other 2 just sound like they are more assertive and willful. They are beautiful dogs and I can fully understand you going onto having more than 1. Good luck in your latest aquisition.

Well, I have had a Cocker that ended up being put to sleep at 4 and I would have said she had rage -she was like Jekyll and Hyde and you never knew when she was going to attack. She was a Blue Roan! I have seen plenty of Cockers at our training club of dubious temperaments (not saying for a moment it was rage, could have been antyhing from unsuitable owners to badly bred dogs etc) but every single one of them has also been Blue Roan. I know somebody who has a perfectly friendly red. Doesn't seem to me to be colour at all that matters.

Marianne

Thankyou Marianne for the information,it is greatly appreciated to hear an honest answer.I did receive an informative  letter from a Cocker society in Europe and they mentioned that because the solids were used (in certain cases) with Roans,that they had encountered these problems also,so it seems as if the results may be a case of what came first the chicken or the egg?
I was sorry to read about your 4 year old ending up with this dreadful Rage,I know what you must have gone through as we had the one and it was very upsetting for the family in general,the children could not understand what had happened to their beloved pet,and why were they not allowed to stroke the dog anymore.The attacks were horrendous,but as our Vet said even a small miniature dog can leave a child in fear once it attacks the child.
Dan

How unlucky you have apparently been.
It should come as a relief for you to hear that the vast majority of solid cocker spaniels live out their lives as well-adjusted family pets, so there is no need for you to warn other people, as honourable as your intentions were, I'm sure.
We, in common with many other owners, have a golden cocker spaniel who has lived harmoniously with our small children.
Good luck with your dog, I hope you manage to sort out his problems, if you have the time free to do so.

My sister has had blue roan cockers for a few years. She got her first one 'Aurther' from a pup, he was sadly run over in the woods and had to be pts, but he was fantastic, then she got another cocker this time the puppy was 6 months old but she had what I think was rage, she would be fine one minute all loving and playful and the next she was attacking you, she ended up having to go back to the breeder as my sister has a young son. Then she got 'Aurther the 2nd' he has been fine he chewed her kitchen to pieces so my sister had a bit of rage, but other than that no bad tempers!

Hi
i have been near lots of Gold and Black cockers (english) as i no a breeder that comes to our dog club all his dogs are as sweet as can be! i also no someone who shows a gold cocker dog who i saw at crufts i had Ed with me and neather dog batterd an eye lid!. This sounds to me like you have picked the rong breeder/s all puppys play fight when they are 4 to 8 weeksish we do tell ours of a bit but you cant be hard on a young puppy unless you want it scared to bits. I dont think it is that much of a problem in cockers if it was how come they are shown? i think dogs are bad temperd by the way they are brought up and not told that you have controle over them, i had a american bitch once that drew blood on my chest we stamped it out now she wouldnt hert a fly, its just because she was strong willed.

Fiona

I can't believe it - just caught up with this thread - and I've reread my post and at no time was I agressive - defensively or not.

I've nothing to hide, and the 'pups' are now 3 years old and as I kept one myself should know what they are all like.

If you did research into the 'rage' problem then you would know that there are other breeds of dogs that have higher incidences of it then cocker spaniels.  And that most times when people class dogs as having a problem it is through inconsistent training or lack of training altogether.  I do agility with both my cockers, and the trainer there is also a dog behavourist and he will tell you the same.  All the solid cockers that I have had the privilige to meet have been lovely, well behaved, well trained dogs.  I've met some poorly bred ones as well, and they also don't seem to have any issues.

Also, if you have had these problems and want to 'slate' solid cockers as you are doing then why on earth have you bought 3 of them.  It seems to me that you have been extremely unlucky.

I did have the link to the rage website but I can't seem to find it, that would give you a lot of information.  I'm sure other people on here have it.

I think cockers get bad press because they can be extremely willful, and do need a firm but loving hand when being trained.  If that's done, and the classic 'teenage' cocker stage is treated as just that, then a lot problems would be solved.

Maybe your next dog should be a different breed!

Nikki x

Perhaps this link may be of interest. http://www.cockerspanielrage.org.uk/

I have a rescue red cocker and she has the sweetest nature ever.  I have had contact with several solid cockers and they all have a lovely temperament.

No wonder there is a Rage problem with Cocker Spaniels in Great Britain when you read some of these replies,they are shameful.A decent question gets the Serial Dog Board Forum "stealth" watchers out in force to crush the conversation.What do all you "serial board watchers" do all day long,sit at your PC's and send messages to each other if someone should dare to voice their opinions that raises your hackles? Isn't this what these forums are about,healthy debate with reasoning, or do they belong exclusively to a certain few? Everyone knows that there is a Rage site devoted in the main to Cocker Spaniels,and that unless this problem is dealt with in a more sensible and rational way then it will remain a problem always.

I wouldn't consider myself a stealth watcher :-0 I have only been a member for a short period of time and mainly post on the breeding board.
I have no personal gripe with this person my gripe is people who join forums and don't contribute in a "healthy" way, they just join to scare monger. This person may deny they haven't posted on similar boards before with the very same post but I think they are not being truthful. I am a member of a breed site and we have discussed rage on numerous occassions, it is not in any way swept under the carpet but discussed in a caring and healthy way. If this is the same person you might as well be talking to a brick wall in all honesty :-)

You have had three different dogs, from three different breeders and all three have shown similar 'temperament' problems.

You know, this doesnt suggest to me that you have been monumentally unlucky. This suggests to me several things.

1/The cocker spaniel is NOT the right dog for you or your home.

2/Your training methods do not work.

Im guessing on number two. Forgive me if i am wrong but i suspect you believe in the old pack theory dominance stuff?? No?

You mention making your current dog bottom of the pack and keeping him there, and i am wondering (since i do not believe in this pack theory and dominance theory one little bit!) if it is in fact your strong methods of 'stamping' on your dogs character that are causing these ructions.

Try a new theory?? Try reward based training, a mild (NOT harsh) NILIF program, and some common sense. After all, what you have been doing for this dog so far and the previous two hasnt worked clearly, so what do you have to lose by trying something new???

Em

Just wondered whether American cockers also have a Rage problem? I have a 3 year old buff dog who has become very stroppy with my Cavalier boy. We are seeing a dog psychologist who thinks the problem is mainly a dominance one, but I just wondered whether a solid colour American might have a predisposition to a dodgy temperament at all?

I believe "Rage" can occur in any breed but I think you are making the same mistake as the original poster of confusing it with a temperament issue.  Yes, any ill thought out mating in any breed can result in a dog that does not have an ideal temperament which is what it sounds like in your dogs case as his grumpiness is directed only at another dog.  If you click on the link I gave at the top of this thread you will find a site that will help you see the difference between the two.

Mr Dan E can I ask why you have chosen to have 3 golden cockers when you believe that each one of them has had rage syndrome?  Surely one would have been enough to put you off!!!!  Anyway, I don't think you have a dog with rage, I think you have a very confused dog who is basically at the hands of somebody who believes he has experience of dogs but, in effect, has very little.  I myself have a cocker spaniel, a working cocker, but I know lots of solid golden cocker spaniels and each has a wonderful personality.  They are great family dogs with lovely temperaments.

As Rage is a very rare condition, the coincidence of you buying 3 that all have Rage is highly suspect to me.  Perhaps you should be looking closer to home to find the cause of the problem.  What is it they say - a bad workman always blames his tools!  You can't train the dog because you don't have a clue how to motivate it to respect you, therefore it has rage syndrome.  Please do not do this wonderful breed a disrespect by trying to insult our intelligence on CD!!!

Annie

I had a dog with many of the symptoms of "cocker rage" even though he was a different - and unrelated- breed. It was like living with a schizophrenic and I had him PTS at 2 years old. I regretted doing it and blamed myself and maybe I should have rehomed him, but a few years later, I have no regrets and know I did the right thing.

Despite the breed club web site still describing them as ideal pets, I would never get another of the same breed and can't understand why you buy another 2 with the same problems. I am not meaning to be rude but maybe it is your training that is causing the dogs to behave so badly - cockers may look cute and gentle but were bred as tough little gundogs.

Have a look at the memoriam page on the Cocker Rage Syndrome website,if ever there was proof that there is something wrong with the mind of solid colour Cockers,also I see there are American Cockers on there too.It is sooooooooooooo sad,there is even a 5month baby on there in gold and they had to fetch the police to take it away! Imagine a 5month baby cocker being so vicious!Does not bear thinking about.

There is nothing wrong with the mind of a solid ! I know of lots of solid cocker owners who have lovely dogs and they have children and other dogs and they get on great Rage is rare ! you really have to know how your dog acted to say your dog had rage its not just about being agressive.

Its not just solids or just cockers that suffer from this ;) and not only cockers get this ! if you read the website it tells you that .

What annoys me is people who go on about the rage thing without proper knowlege of it or even having met a cocker spaniel . If rage really is as bad as the original poster says why arent we seeing people being mauled by a cocker in the paper all the time .

I have always had cockers and there a lovely breed to own :D cockers love to learn from you there a breed that need human attention. My advice to anyone wanting a cocker find your self a reputable breeder :) hopefuly you should end up with an angel

I work with re homing and the amount of dangerous gold cockers we are asked to take in is more proof about their minds being wonky, and not all of these are bred by pup farmers either!! They are listed as one of the top World's biters with medical casualty units,they are also listed with Vets as overly aggressive,if you don't believe people search the internet and find out for yourself.Although once people have closed their minds nothing,not even the truth will not make them see sense again.Rare means only appearing  once in many years,so Rage in Cockers is NOT at all  Rare - it happens all of the time to inncocent families.

According to the internet the dog most likely to bite is ... an intact male tied up on its owners property!  There were a few references to cockers but poodles seemed to feature curiously prominently.

Of course, you always have to look closer at what you read to see the source.  I'd be interested to hear if anyone had any reliable statistics on this, from a known source.

HI Laurasimms

What sort of rehoming do you do?  I know for a fact that the amount of solid cockers being rehomed due to supposed Rage syndrome is extremely rare and often supposed Rage syndrome is often caused by poor socialisation and lack of training.  If you are experiencing this many cocker spaniels coming in for rehoming perhaps it says something about the type of people that buy cocker spaniels, not about the dogs themselves.  You should know if you are so experienced that any dog, no matter what breed, will behave in an abnormal manner if inadequately socialised or trained!!!  Many people purchase cocker spaniels thinking they are lovely cute little dogs but forget what they are actually bred for and that is to be a gundog.  Any gundog will go bonkers if it is not given mental stimulation!!!

True rage in a dog, of whatever breed, cannot be cured and therefore it is extremely dangerous to rehome such a dog.  Rage is a medical condition and the only cure is for the dog to be pts.  I have people asking me all the time if their cocker has rage and, basically, all it has is an attitude because it has never been trained.

If you are able to back up your statement I am sure it will be openly considered by all experienced members of this forum but, I am afraid, you have said nothing on here that seems remotely scientific.  However if you care to enlighten me as to your sources I am always keen to learn!!

Annie

I have no regrets for anything I have posted as I know my facts are accurate.I work for a large Charity organisation and we are bound by ethical codes.I will say that I am very sorry for the families who buy these pups,but we do not rehome any dog found to be Aggressive whether solid Cockers or any other breed.However this particular thread should be aimed at breeders of solid Cockers not innocent people with good hearts who buy these dogs.
One thing you are all overlooking on this thread is the fact that Cocker spaniels have long been associated with  the Chocolate box cover image of a nice old fashioned English homely dog.In the main it is the unaggressive nice middle of the road family that buys them - not the tough macho boys or men or ladettes! Now most Cockers are normal but the Golden and other solid colours are in the main not normal in their heads,as you full well know if you study or work with dogs, and if you as a Humane person would home a solid colour cocker with a young family or any family for that matter then I would say you are in the wrong profession.

Actually Laurasimms I take offence at what you have written.  You are generalising a very popular breed.  YOU clearly have no experience of working with cocker spaniels or you would know that Rage is a very rare condition.  As I have stated, and I re-state, I know many many golden cocker spaniels who have wonderful temperaments.  The association of cocker spaniels and "the chocolate box" as you put it has been identified in this thread and it is recognised that the cocker spaniel is often seen as the perfect family pet but, in fact, is a gundog with all the gundog traits i.e. intelligence, high energy and working drive.  What makes them go "loopy" is when a family gets the dog, they have children that run around constantly exciting the poor puppy, they don't train it and they have not a clue that under those beautiful eyes lies a working dog!  I actually know this breed very well and have studied dog behaviour and psychology to diploma standard so please, do not insult my intelligence by stating that I should be in another job.  It appears to me that somebody who refers to dogs as "not normal in the head" is speaking from a somewhat inexperienced point of view. 

Albeit you may work for a national charity.  That does not means that you know much about dogs.  Furthermore, it is very rare to have a pedigree dog in rescue as most rescue centres have arrangements with breed rescue to help rehome them. 

Again, send me the information you have to justify your statements, otherwise I would suggest that you do more reading to find out the actual situation regarding rage syndrome in dogs - not just cocker spaniels.

Annie

hi - I also took offence at what laura said.

I stopped posting on this thread a long time ago, because it annoyed me so much, and it's been resurrected again and being carried on in much the same lines.

I have solid cockers, they are wonderful with my kids, and it's quite offensive for someone who has never met your dogs to make such a generalisation and infer that your dogs are not right in the head. 

I love them and trust them, so much so that I am trying to get another puppy - and it will be another solid cocker.

People think they are cute and cuddly (which they are) but they are also working dogs (like dogdeli said - even the show ones) and as such their temperament is as a working dog should be - very intelligent, they need stimulation and firm handling and training, otherwise they will take the mick.  But taking the mick is a far cry from being dangerous.

I don't really want this thread to continue as it is so derogatory towards cockers and their owners, and makes sweeping generalised statements.  Please provide concrete facts rather then hearsay and gossip.

Nikki xx

Good for you Nikki

It makes me really mad when people post on a topic they really know nothing about.  I don't own a solid cocker spaniel, I have a working cocker, but again I know the breed very well.  Good luck with your quest finding a new puppy.

Kind regards
Annie

I can see why you have taken offence :( I too have  owned golden / red cockers I now own roans and I can Tell you they are all lovely dogs , Im starting to wonder if laura is the OP ;)

Laura many solid cocker breeders read this forum and advertise here  you stated (  Now most Cockers are normal but the Golden and other solid colours are in the main not normal in their heads) so your saying that most solid breeders are irrisponsible by breeding solid cockers and selling them to families.You have just tarnished all solid cockers for the tiny amount of cockers that get rage.

Ive helpted rehome golden cockers that have been Not one of them had rage. as Annie said cockers dont normaly go into rescue centers And I normaly look out for those cockers to help rehome them ;) so if you do work in rescue you may well come across me :P
I know and many other rescue people reading this know that surrederd dogs dont normaly come with there pedigree :D so how are you so sure laura that these are well bred dogs and even if you did get there kc cert it dosent mean its well bred ! how well do you a " rescue " person know solid cocker lines ?

Its a shame you tarnish a breed you do not know very well ,I suggest you out more about cockers stop generalising them!
Good luck Nikki finding a lovely solid cocker :D Im sure it will be lovely :P

Totally agree with theemx the pack and dominance theory is out dated

We have a new Dennis and Co. ;-)