Why is my Cockapoo biting? - Are Cockapoos aggressive? - Help for dogs that bark, lunge, snap or bite

Written by: Gemma Grisewood

November 2024

As a dog trainer and behaviourist I see lots of cockapoos. After all they are the second most popular dog breed in the UK!

The cockapoos I meet in training workshops and puppy training are cute and eager to please. They love learning tricks and training works their clever brains, helping tire them out.

The cockapoos I see for help with behavioural issues are also cute and clever, but their owners are struggling with aggressive behaviour that includes; growling, snapping, barking and lunging at people or dogs and even biting their owners or other people (vets, groomers, neighbours, people in the street!).

Understandably owners with a dog that shows aggressive behaviour are worried about the cause and for some, a Google search has brought them to pages about ‘Cocker Rage’

What is Cocker Rage?

‘Cccker Rage’ is a term that has been around since the 1980’s. Its is characterised by sudden and unprovoked aggression. A study by Mugford (1984) of aggression in Cocker Spaniels, found that red, blonde or buff coated cocker spaniels were more likely to be aggressive that black or multi-coloured coats. The term Cocker Rage became widely used to describe aggression in cocker spaniels, particularly the red coated ones.

Does Cocker Rage effect Cockapoos?

Cockapoos are a cross between the cocker spaniel and poodle. First bred in the USA in the 1960’s they have become increasingly popular in the UK over the past 10-15 years. If there is a genetic disposition towards aggression in the cocker spaniel, it stands to reason that these genes would exist in cockapoos.

Is cocker rage real?

Before you start worrying about whether your cute, curly haired cockapoo has ‘the rage’ we need to look closer at the evidence to see if Cocker Rage is really a thing!

Mugford’s 1984 study found that the red cockers were inbred, meaning they shared a large number of genes, resulting in the aggressive temperament being passed down from generation to generation along with their coat colour. This does not mean all red spaniels are aggressive, but puppies who have an aggressive father or mother are more likely to be. This applies to all breeds and coat colours!

Further studies found English Cocker Spaniels frequently exhibit unpredictable or impulsive aggression, particularly towards their owners. However these dogs are a working breed, which because of their appealing appearance and bags of energy have become popular family pets. They are predisposed towards high levels of impulsivity and low frustration tolerance. This means they need an active lifestyle and lots of enrichment to express their natural instincts to work. Without these outlets you will end up with a barky, possibly bitey spaniel.

The aggression tend to start between 6-11months when they become adolescents. This is a period of increased impulsivity and risk taking in male dogs of all breeds. Frustration levels in both males and females at this age peak if their needs are not me adequately. In young dogs this is seen by increased jumping up, mouthing, grabbing clothing or the lead and lots of barking! This is not a spaniel trait, this is common in lots of dog breeds going through adolescence.

Will neutering stop my dog’s aggression?

Interestingly, the studies showed that neutering did not reduce the aggression seen in cocker spaniels. As a side note, neutering is rarely the answer to behavioural problems and can in some cases makes it worse!

Is aggression genetic?

More recent research has found that aggressive cocker spaniels have lower levels of a hormone which regulates mood and affects memory, sleep and learning (Serotonin) than aggressive dogs of other breeds. Some spaniels are genetically coded to have lower levels of Serotonin than other dog breeds, but not all spaniels show this difference in genes. Always meet the parents of a puppy you plan to buy to check they do not have an aggressive temperament.

Summary

In summary, yes there is an increased level of impulsivity in the cocker spaniel, which if they are not properly trained and cared for, can lead to aggression. However the ‘sudden and with no apparent reason’ aggression that defines Cocker Rage is more likely to be aggression that has a reason and therefore a solution. The most common type of aggression in cocker spaniels, being resource guarding.

Could health problems make my cockapoo aggressive?

Health conditions and behaviour problems are inextricably linked. Over 80% of the dog behaviour cases clinical animal behaviourists see have an underlying health condition causing the dog pain.

Do Cockapoos have lots of health problems?

We can’t blame all of our cockapoo’s problems on their Spaniel relations. Poodles have their own issues.

Sensitive Stomachs

including being genetically predisposed to food intolerances, as well as higher odds of skin problems due to their distinctive curly coats. Vomiting and diarrhea are also common problems along with scavenging for non-food items which will lead to further gastrointestinal problems.

Gastrointestinal problems are uncomfortable for dogs, leading to irritability. This can lead to aggression around food, toys, and stolen items as well as aggression during interactions with people or dogs.

Sensitive skin

Itchy, sensitive skin results in scratching, biting and excessive licking in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. The discomfort could result in aggressive behaviour towards their owners, other people that try to interact with them, dogs they live with or dogs on walks.

If your cockapoo has suddenly become aggressive, the first thing you should do is get them checked by your vet to ensure they are not in pain or discomfort.

Case study of a resource guarding cockapoo

Rocky’s owners contacted me when their sweet adolescent cockapoo had suddenly started biting them. The whole family were stressed and upset and didn’t know what to do to stop their dog attacking. They had spoken to their vet who had recommended contacting a behaviourist for help.

Rocky was a very clever pup and had worked out that if he stole something he would not only get his owner’s attention, but also get chicken. Rocky loved chicken, but he also had a sensitive tummy so the chicken made his tummy hurt.

After our initial consultation, Rocky’s owners were very careful not to leave items around for him to steal. This included removing all of the cushions from the sofa! However, Rocky also like to chew things, particularly when his tummy hurt, when he wanted attention or when he was stressed (he also suffered with anxiety). He would chew door frames and pieces of wood found in the garden, then growl and snap if his owners tried to stop him or remove the dangerous fragments from him.

Luckily both Rocky and his owner loved training! We taught ‘Leave’ and ‘Drop’ cues. We also worked on a mat settle and Rocky learning to love his crate again so that he had a place he could rest rather than constantly seeking attention from his owners.

We worked out which foods Rocky was sensitive to so that we could stop his tummy from hurting. Chicken was banned and we found a food that suited him and he was happy to eat. His owners had tried lots of different foods before and Rocky would only eat small amounts and soon stop eating it at all. These were signals that Rocky had a sensitive tummy.

If Rocky stole something his owners no longer bribed him with treats to get it back. We worked with safe practice items for Rocky to ‘steal’ so that his owner could ignore the behaviour and Rocky realised that stealing things and guarding them was not rewarded by treats or attention.

Lowering Rocky’s anxiety and stress levels was a big part of changing his resource guarding behaviour so we also had to work on his anxiety outside the house as well as giving him fun things to do during stressful/busy times at home.

Rocky’s owners were thrilled when they were able to put cushions and throws back on the sofa and even put the Christmas tree up without worrying that Rocky would try to steal baubles and guard them.

How can I stop my cockapoo from biting?

Resource guarding

If your cockapoo shows aggression when you try to take something from them, this is resource guarding.

How to stop resource guarding

Do not try to remove your dog’s food from them.
Do not put your hand in your dog’s food bowl. This is completely unnecessary and will make resource guarding worse!
Teach your dog a ‘Leave’ cue to stop them picking up items on walks
Teach your dog a ‘Drop’ cue so that they willingly drop stolen items

Aggression when touched

Use co-operative care training to groom your cockapoo.
Do not hug your dog if they do not enjoy this interaction
Teach your dog an ‘On/Off’ cue to get them off furniture without you having to pick them up
Teach your dog how to file their own nails using a scratchboard
Desensitise your dog to wearing a harness or coat using treats
Use a Licki mat for grooming and bathing

Aggression to people and other dogs on walks

Barking and lunging at dogs, people or traffic on walks (reactivity) is caused by fear, pain or frustration. Whatever the cause, your dog needs more space to feel comfortable/calm.

More information about reactivity and how to help your dog be calm on walks here.

Help for dogs that bark, lunge, snap or bite