Is 'cocker rage' real?

New research on the health of cocker spaniels resulted in a flurry of headlines, but David Tomlinson looks deeper into the science

- David Tomlinson

YOU MIGHT NEVER have heard of VetCompass — I admit I hadn’t until recently — but it’s a search engine operated by the Royal Veterinary College that indexes millions of clinical records collected from vets’ practices and referral centres. The data produced allows researchers to use these records to create an evidence base that can then be used by vets to improve the health and welfare of animals.

VetCompass came into the news last month following publication of its study on cocker spaniels. The study was wide-ranging: it found the most common health problems in cockers include dental disease, ear infection, obesity and aggression, but it was the latter that caught the attention of the popular press. Lurid headlines about “golden cocker rage” followed, with warnings that such dogs could be more aggressive than a rottweiler.

The study noted that cockers have long been one of the most popular family dogs in the UK and that the breed is generally considered to be fairly healthy. However, the Kennel Club recommends that breeders should screen their dogs for several conditions including eye disorders, hip dysplasia and a wide range of hereditary diseases. Despite these recommendations, there has been relatively little information until now on the health of cockers in the UK.

Working or show types 

Frustratingly, but not surprisingly, the study makes no differentiation between working-type cockers and those bred for pets or show. The two types are, of course, quite distinct, but as far as I am aware there are no statistics that attempt to work out the percentage of working-type cockers compared to their longereared cousins.