I Hate Dogs and I Am Not a Horrible Human Being
Vets Warn Dog Breed Is TWICE As Aggressive As Other Pooches – And The Colour Of Their Coat Reveals True Nature
VETS have warned Brits of an unlikely breed of dog that is twice as aggressive as other pooches.
Canine experts say English Cocker Spaniels - a popular family dog - have prevalent levels of aggression.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales pose with their late Cocker Lupo, they now have another called OrlaCredit: Handout - Getty
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David Beckham adores his Cocker SpanielsA study of 2,318 of the dogs found aggression was in four percent of Cockers, compared with 2.2 percent of other dogs in the UK.
The dogs - traditionally bred for field sports like shooting - count the Prince and Princess of Wales and David Beckham as proud owners.
Experts also looked at the coat colour of more than 64 per cent of those studied to see if appearance influenced aggression.
The study found a golden coat to be the most boisterous, with aggression in 12 per cent of those studied.
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Meanwhile 6.5 percent of red Cockers and 6.3 percent of black ones were seen to be aggressive.
Brown Cocker pups were the least aggressive, with scientists finding that just 4.3 percent were on the feisty side.
The stats, drawn from veterinary records from all over the UK, saw aggression ranked sixth in a list of disorders commonly experienced by the breed.
Top of that list was periodontal (gum) disease which effects over a fifth of all Cockers, leading to tooth loss.
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Scientists say the figures support previous research that highlighted solid-coloured dogs are more likely to show signs of anger than bi-coloured and tri-coloured pooches.
Despite the findings, scientists are still unsure if there is any credible association between colour and aggression.
Pet expert, Zita Wells, of Pet Patrol 365 said: "Temperament in dogs is influenced by a combination of genetic factors, early socialisation experiences, training, and individual personality traits."
It comes as TikToker Klara Tsetkin was slammed for defending her decision to keep her cocker spaniel Bart after it mauled her daughter's face.
She said the dog "never attacked" Milana and had instead acted in self-defence.
And on Thursday it was revealed a six-year-old boy suffered "potentially life-changing" injuries after being mauled by an American Staffordshire terrier.
The dog, bought on Facebook marketplace just weeks before, attacked the lad as he walked down the stairs at home in South Yorkshire.
Meanwhile a dog expert has revealed the seven signs a dog is about to attack - including licking its lips and crouching close to the ground.
In February, Stacey Solomon revealed how she lets her Cocker Spaniel Teddy and Peanut the Dachshund sleep in her bed - saying she has to clean the sheets once a week as a result.
How Does YOUR Dog Measure Up? The Most Aggressive Breeds Revealed As Vets Warn Golden Cocker Spaniels Have A Nasty Temper - So Is Your Pooch On The List?
It's not unheard of for Rottweilers to be branded as a ruthless breed of dog.
But pet owners may be surprised to know that English cocker spaniels are the most vicious of them all, with aggression almost twice as prevalent across these dogs than any others in the UK.
Experts at the Royal Veterinary College in London revealed that four per cent of cocker spaniels are aggressive - which triples to 12 per cent if they have a golden coat.
On the flip side, much larger - and perhaps scarier seeming - Rottweilers were much friendlier with just 7.46 per cent being hot-headed.
The results come after much talk of 'cocker rage syndrome' - a rare uncontrollable condition that causes dogs to suddenly flip out.
The Royal Veterinary College in London has looked at the prevalence of aggression and other characteristics in a number of dog species of the UK
Cocker spaniels with a golden coat were found to be even more boisterous, with aggression prevalent across 12 per cent of those studied
How aggressive is your dog's breed?Prevalence (%) of aggression in each breed
AdvertisementDr Dan O'Neill, who led the project, told MailOnline: 'Choosing between breeds is one of the decisions that owners worry about most when getting a new dog. The growing information from VetCompass across a range of breeds helps owners to make these choices based on good evidence.
'Although not a hugely aggressive breed, owners should be aware of higher aggression in English Cocker Spaniels compared with some other typical breeds owned by families with children such as Labrador Retrievers.
'Levels of aggression in English Cocker Spaniels were higher in male dogs and in dogs that were golden coloured so owners who are particularly concerned about aggression could choose female or non-golden animals.'
The English cocker spaniel research has come after a number of previous studies looking into the characteristics of other breeds such as Chihuahuas, Greyhounds and Labradors.
Currently, scientists claim that just 2.2 per cent of all dogs in the UK are aggressive.
But you may be surprised to know that size really doesn't matter when it comes to temper, as Chihuahuas are almost as aggressive as German Shepherds.
Meanwhile, the UK favourite Pugs and Labradors were far less aggressive, with a prevalence of just 2.24 and 1.97 per cent respectively, according to The Telegraph.
Just 2.24 per cent of Labradors were seen to be aggressive in a previous study. Meanwhile, only 1.97 per cent of pugs were found to be aggressive, it has been reported.
Despite its size, Chihuahuas were almost as aggressive as German Shepherds, experts found
Innocent-seeming West Highland Terriers and Greyhounds were similar too, with just two per cent of pups being hot-headed.
For the English cocker spaniel study, scientists looked at a pool of 2,318 dogs, drawing from veterinary records from all over the country.
Aggression ranked sixth in a list of disorders most commonly experienced by the breed, coming after others such as anal sac impaction and diarrhoea.
Almost 230 dogs experienced obesity which ranked third on the list, while the top disorder was periodontal disease, with a prevalence of 20 per cent.
This condition - commonly known as gum disease - usually comes about when bacteria and leftover food particles build up in a dog's mouth.
Scientists found that Rottweilers are more family friendly than golden English cocker spaniels
Despite this one's grimace, just 1.7 per cent of Greyhounds were seen to be aggressive
TOP 10 MOST COMMON CONDITIONS AMONG ENGLISH COCKER SPANIELS CONDITION PREVALENCE (%) Periodontal disease 20.97 Otitis externa 10.09 Obesity 9.88 Anal sac impaction 8.07 Diarrhoea 4.87 Aggression 4.01 Cutaneous mass lesion 3.15 Lameness 2.93 Conjunctivitis 2.8 Post-operation wound complications 2.8Yet the pups were most likely to die from neoplasia - a condition that causes the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells, which often come in the form of a tumour.
Experts also looked at the coat colour of more than 64 per cent of studied dogs to understand potential links between appearances and disorders.
While golden dogs were the most aggressive, brown ones were the least, with scientists finding that just 4.3 per cent were on the feisty side.
Meanwhile 6.5 per cent of red pups and 6.3 per cent of black dogs were seen to be aggressive.
Scientists claim these figures back previous research highlighting that solid-coloured dogs are far more likely to show signs of anger than bi-coloured and tri-coloured pooches.
Despite this, any cause for this association remains unclear, with some believing there is no true link at all.
Pet expert, Zita Wells, of pet care service Pet Patrol 365 said: 'From my understanding coat colour is primarily determined by genetics and has no direct correlation with a dog's temperament or behaviour.
'Temperament in dogs is influenced by a combination of genetic factors, early socialisation experiences, training, and individual personality traits.
'While certain breeds may exhibit certain general temperaments or tendencies, such as being more energetic, calm, or sociable, these traits are not solely determined by coat colour.'
The Prince and Princess of Wales have owned two cocker spaniels: Lupo, who died in 2020, and their current pup Orla.
Other celebrities with cocker spaniels include George and Amal Clooney, David and Brooklyn Beckham and Elizabeth Hurley.
Oprah Winfrey also owns a cocker spaniel called Sadie while Elton John's dog Arthur was the best man at his civil union.
READ MORE: Scientists reveal the breeds that grow the MOST from puppies to adultsWelcoming a puppy into the family home is often a dream of many.
But experts are urging owners to be aware of what's in store, as certain dog breeds can hugely increase in size as they reach adulthood.
Sixty of the UK's most popular and common dog breeds were measured at eight weeks old and again one-year-old as part of research by insurance company Petplan.
Labradoodles topped the charts for picking up most weight, with a 900 per cent jump in size from its puppy phase to adulthood.
Labrador retrievers and rottweilers followed just behind, as their bodies changed by 700 per cent and 692 per cent over the same time period.
Sixty of the UK's most popular and common dog breeds were assessed in a Petplan study
From Rabbit Manicures To Naughty Cocker Spaniels – Your Pet Queries Answered
HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.
Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.Com, has helped with owners' queries for ten years.
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Today, Sean helps a reader asking about rabbit manicuresCredit: Getty
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Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.Com, promises he can 'help keep pets happy and healthy'Credit: SuppliedHe says: "If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy."
Q) SHOULD you give rabbits manicures and trim their nails like you do with dogs?
My rabbit Pepi's claws are getting long. Can I clip them myself, as he's very placid? Or should a vet do it?
Ben Simpson, Warminster, Wilts
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A) That depends on if they need this. Which depends on what surfaces they are exercising on and how active they are.
If Pepi is a house rabbit and always on carpets, I'd imagine his claws would get overgrown.
If he has access to concrete and earth outdoors and does a lot of digging and running around out there then they may not need trimming ever, or at least not as often.
It's very easy, so my advice is a hybrid of your suggestions.
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Go to your vet or veterinary nurse to be shown how to do it safely, taking care to handle him correctly and keep his spine protected as they are prone to injury with poor handling.
Then you can trim them properly at home in future.
Got a question for Sean?
SEND your queries to vet@the-sun.Co.Uk
Q) MY wife and I have a nine-month-old ragdoll cat, Gizmo.
He has had all his injections and was neutered when the time was right, but we have a problem with him scratching furniture and biting.
We have tried everything we can think of, but to no avail.
He has mad, berserk run-around sessions, which we understand.
But he attacks my wife with great ferocity, and her wrists and ankles are in shreds.
He even jumps up to attack her face. On other occasions he will sleep on her knee peacefully.
If we don't find a solution very quickly we fear we will have to get rid of him, but who will take a cat that bites? Please can you help?
Anne and Brian Shepherd, Hull
A) Is Gizmo an indoor cat? It sounds like he's got bags of energy — typical for a kitten of his age — and not much outlet to get rid of it.
Hence being frustrated, and frustrating to live with.
Play-hunting, biting, attacking and ambushing are all natural behaviours for cats, but obviously problematic when directed at humans.
So the trick is to redirect some of these behaviours in acceptable directions.
Mainly towards rod and line toys, feather or fur lures and the like. Play is vital.
If he's not an outdoor cat, make his indoor environment interesting and stimulating.
There are endless ideas and "how-to" articles and videos online.
I'd also recommend building a safe "catio" if you can, to allow him some access to the outdoors but behind a screen.
The thing to avoid when playing with any kitten is to direct hunting play towards the arms, hands and feet as this can lead to disinhibition of biting or scratching behaviour and result in aggressive play behaviours, just as you're experiencing now.
Q) PLEASE can you help us with our two cocker spaniels, who are aged one and two?
The younger one is terrible on his leash and it is not a pleasurable experience walking him.
They are also both excessive barkers when in the house.
We have tried whistles and a bark buddy, with absolutely no effect. Any advice please?
Julie Davidson, Newcastle upon Tyne
A) It is tricky to give effective advice without observing you and your dogs in action.
There are dog and human factors to most behavioural problems and any good behaviourist will want to visit to observe how you interact with, train and correct your dog, before giving you tips to resolve the issues you're having.
The leash issue is separate to the barking issue. The latter may have completely different underlying motivations between both dogs.
So I'd enlist the help of a qualified animal behaviourist, not a dog trainer, to come and give you a hand.
Star of the weekRESCUE greyhound Bond is a real-life Scooby-Doo who investigates paranormal phenomena.
The seven-year-old dog is part of the Paranormal Rescue team run by Brian Sterling-Vete, 64, and his wife Helen Wuorio, 53, from Manchester.
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Rescue greyhound Bond is a real-life Scooby Doo who investigates paranormal phenomenaCredit: SuppliedAnd as well as spotting spooks he is also bravely battling cancer.
Helen said: "We realised he has a psychic intuition and joins our investigations. He is also being very brave with his illness."
Brian added: "If Bond reacts to something, with a bark or growl, it's because something is there. He's unique."
WIN: Hotel stay
HOTEL Indigo Edinburgh is giving one reader the chance to win two nights' B&B worth £300.
It is in the 4H boutique hotel close to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
The hotel loves four-legged friends, and has "supaw stays" which give dogs their own bed and snacks.
To enter, send an email headed INDIGO to sundaypets@the-sun.Co.Uk by June 10.
See edinburgh.Hotelindigo.Com for more details.
HELP IS AT HAND WHEN HAY FEVER HITSHAY fever season is in full swing – and our furry friends get it too.
But the symptoms for cats and dogs are quite different from human ones.
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Hay fever symptoms can look quite different for our furry friendsCredit: GettyDr Karlien Heyrman, head of pets at store chain Pets At Home, said: "A common symptom is itching, so watch out for excessive scratching, nibbling and licking on their paws, eyes, ears and mouth.
"This can cause your pet's skin to appear red, sore or flaky. In very severe cases it can lead to the skin getting infected and them losing patches of fur.
"Make sure you seek advice from your vet if the skin becomes inflamed."
Although there is no cure, vets can prescribe a range of treatments, including injections, creams, sprays, shampoos and ear and eye drops.
Dr Heyrman added: "It's best to go for walks early in the morning or late at night when the pollen count is lower.
"The Met Office shares the latest pollen count on its website.
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"Gently wiping your pet's coat and feet after they have been outside will help to remove some of the pollen and regularly washing their bedding and vacuuming is beneficial.
"There are also supplements for cats and dogs to boost their skin barrier and reduce sensitivities."
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