Rage syndrome in cocker spaniels

[buldu]

We have a 3yr old cocker that has rage syndrome. I rescued him at 9months and after 2wks found out he suffered from rage syndrome. After seeking advise from many breeders and charity for rage syndrome they told us to put him to sleep i was really upset as this. The condition is a mental one and he didnt know what he was doing i decided to deal with it best i could as i thought you would't tell parents to put there child down if they had mental problems would you.
He would become very aggresive mainly at night and was very protective over his toys,shoes anything that he claimed really. If we were to touch him he would bite and wouldnt let my partner eat at the table anyone that touched him at night would be snapped at. This was a very upsetting time as i had fell in love with him and didnt want to put him to sleep. He was an angel in the day and we didnt have aproblem with him night time came and he turned into the devil dog.
After a few months it got really bad and i decided to try letting him live outside with our other dogs. He cried for the first few nights but after that he settled in and now we have no problems with him at all he is the most happiest little boy and comes in for cuddles then goes out at bed time if we see any signs of the rage we just put him outside to cool off and he is then fine. He can be a little funny with his food with people that he doesnt know but has got better as our bit*h pushes him out the way to finish his off. I am just glad that he came to me as someone else may have put him to sleep.
Just thought i would share my story with you incase anyone else is having problems and would like some advise on how we dealt with it and also because its a happy ending. ;D

[tafsmum]

How interesting, My spaniel has been given to me as he couldnt be trusted with children. He can be fine for days then sudenly become very angry with himself and want to bite - he pierced my finger once as i went to stroke him in his bed, he gets protective of toys and soemtimes just growls agressively for no reason at all. I wonder if he too as rage syndrome, he is lovely most of the time - for instance the other day we bathed him (he gets done regular) he was fine and happy then got really grumpy with himself and growled to himself in his bed. I dont have small children so can cope with him, but it is nice to know that he could actually be suffering from something (not nice that he is) my family dont believe me when i say he is agressive as when out visiting he is like a little lamb

[dancer]

Are your spaniels black? We have a black bit*h & were warned not to buy her as some breeders say/think that the 'black' gene is the link to rage syndrome - we did buy her (I fancied a challenge) & luckily she has never shown any sign of this disorder, in fact she is too much the other way!
I'm glad you have both found ways of dealing with it - hope your dogs appreciate their homes! - & agree I would always want to exhaust all other options before having an animal pts.

[tafsmum]

Mine is Liver and White and has the face of an angel!!

[tytyn]

We used to breed cocker spaniels (blue roans) & have had a few blacks but never have any issues, however we have a red border collie who suffers from rage or as our vets calls it 'red rage' as apparently more common in red haired dogs (don't know if its a similar idea to the stroppy chesnut mare stereotype!). Our collie is an angel of a day but come nighttime she is evil. We have separate her at night from our other dogs as she turns savage & I refuse to allow her in my room at night as she takes it upon herself to 'guard' you so any sudden movement she attacks you.
We're really struggling at the minute as her behaviour is awful once it passes about 9pm. We have 11 dogs and she creates more havoc than the others put together but we know that she would be pts by most people & she came to us after being abandoned as a pup at the vets as her elderly owners couldn't cope so we feel we have to try & learn to control her or we're letting her down.
Any suggestions on keeping her calm? Living outside isn't an option as her lungs are far too powerful and she can howl and bark for a whole night with no stopping!

[Milliesmum]

I have been recommended (for another reason!) something called a DAP diffuser, contains a pheremone produced by lactating bit*hes (I think), that is supposed to be calming for dogs. I didn't use it, so can't say whether it's any good, but might be worth investigating. Will try and find some info and add a link.


ETA link to info: www.doggiesolutions.co.uk/d-a-p-dog-appeasing-pheromone-497-0.html

[nativeponies]

our cocker spaniel recently had to go..most of the time she was lovely, however for no apparent reason she would set about our bichon, really nastily..lovely dog but couldnt leave them alone for 5 minutes without the fear she would kill the other!! they'd be sleeping one minute, all cuddled up together the next minute she'd be trying to tear her head off!!!

[sophieandcallum]

Also known as red rage, is found commonly in red thingyers in particular but also black affects solid colours of cockers and springers, don't know anything else about it though.

[nic101]

yeah i heard it was in solid colours....


just taken me about 5 mins to work out why you were calling them thingy spaniels hahaha

mines aspringer spaniel whos a complete nutter but im gad hs dosent sufer from this