Guess what the most aggressive dog is?

When I had my first dog, a black and white Cocker I’d heard of people who had had a dog, spoilt it rotten then, when they started a family the dog would get jealous and have to be rehomed ( or worse). So I made a point of treating my dog very much as a dog (even though I desperately wanted to almost treat her as a baby substitute). Then, when I had a baby a couple of years later I introduced the baby to her and made a huge fuss of her. I’ll never know if she would have been ok with the baby anyway but wasn’t prepared to risk it. I think you have to set ground rules with dogs right from the start, especially if you think your lifestyle is going to change in the future.

Call me a cynic. Aggression was reported to vets in 4% of cockers in the study. Aggression isn’t defined though.
Cockers are very boisterous when they are young, they are clever dogs and they learn quickly - but they need to be trained hard because they are clever, they need to know who is the boss, and they need loads of exercise. I blame the owners. Because they are such beautiful dogs people buy them and think they will be easy, without understanding the dog’s behaviour is down to their training and handling. That is true of any dog, but particularly the clever breeds.

I think the problem was with 'red cocker rage'
We have had many cockers over the years aka 'the merry cocker'
Ours have all been the friendliest of dogs, although of course kept under strict supervision when children are here
In our experience, they are the cheeriest of creatures and ours have all been red/golden

There was a problem with Golden Cockers years ago due to inbreeding but I thought they were ok now? When I had Blue Roans years ago there is no way that I would have considered having a solid colour. Back then one in fourteen had to be pts and that didn’t include the ones whose owners put up with their aggression. I’m hoping that the problem hasn’t re emerged due to the obsession with people wanting Cockapoos. Cockers are the most wonderful little dogs.

Casdon
It is in other newspapers.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/19/cocker-spaniel-dog-aggression-breed/

There’s also something known as Springer rage

The Royal College of Veterinary surgeons has released research - i havent read it but noticed Spaniel in the heading.

A friend of ours had a cocker spaniel that was very territorial and could be quite aggressive. Our border collie puppy was very badly bitten by a labrador which is supposed to be a lovely safe dog.

On the other hand a friend had to find a home for her german shepherd. She approached the army and at first they were going to turn him down because they didn't think he was aggressive enough. They eventually managed to get enough reaction out of him to give him a trial.

The only place I can find that reported is the Daily Mail, and here’s another article from them that reports different breeds as being most aggressive.

www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9541247/Scientists-reveal-AGGRESSIVE-breeds-Long-Haired-Collies-list.html

There’s nothing corroborating golden cockers being the most aggressive dogs in hundreds of other articles online either. It’s just something to fill the paper I think.

I am biased, I’ve got a cocker myself, the worst he’d do is lick you to death given the chance. He’s not golden though, he’s blue roan.