How does YOUR dog measure up? The most aggressive breeds revealed

It’s not unheard of for Rottweilers to be branded as a ruthless breed of dog.

But pet owners might be surprised to know that English Cocker Spaniels are the most vicious of them all, with almost twice the aggression in these dogs than other dogs in the UK.

Experts at the Royal Veterinary School London revealed that four percent of cocker spaniels are aggressive – that triples to 12 percent if they have golden fur.

On the other hand, much larger — and perhaps scarier-looking — Rottweilers were much friendlier at only 7.46 percent hot-headed.

The results come after much talk about “cocker rage syndrome” — a rare uncontrollable condition that causes dogs to suddenly freak out.

Dr. Dan O’Neill, who led the project, told MailOnline: ‘Choosing between breeds is one of the decisions owners are most concerned about when getting a new dog. VetCompass’ growing information on a range of breeds helps owners make these choices based on good evidence.

While not a hugely aggressive breed, owners should be aware of higher levels of aggression in English Cocker Spaniels compared to some other typical breeds owned by families with children, such as Labrador Retrievers.

“Aggression levels in English Cocker Spaniels were higher in male dogs and in dogs that were golden, so owners particularly concerned about aggression could choose female or non-gold dogs.”

The research on the English Cocker Spaniel came about after a number of previous studies into the characteristics of other breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Greyhounds and Labradors.

Currently, scientists claim that only 2.2 per cent of all dogs in the UK are aggressive.

But you may be surprised to learn that size really doesn’t matter when it comes to temper, as Chihuahuas are almost as aggressive as German Shepherds.

Meanwhile, Britain’s favorite pugs and labradors were much less aggressive, with prevalence rates of just 2.24 and 1.97 percent respectively, according to The Telegraph.

Innocent-looking West Highland Terriers and Greyhounds were also similar, with only two percent of pups being hot-headed.

For the English Cocker Spaniel study, scientists looked at a pool of 2,318 dogs, based on veterinary records from around the country.

Aggression ranks sixth in a list of conditions the breed experiences most often, after others such as anal sac impaction and diarrhea.

Nearly 230 dogs suffered from obesity, which ranked third on the list, with periodontal disease being the leading condition, with a prevalence of 20 percent.

This condition – commonly known as gingivitis – usually develops when bacteria and food particles build up in a dog’s mouth.

Still, the pups were most likely to die from neoplasia – a condition that causes the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells, often developing in the form of a tumor.

Experts also looked at the coat color of more than 64 percent of the dogs studied to understand possible links between appearance and disorders.

While golden dogs were the most aggressive, brown dogs were the least, with scientists finding that only 4.3 percent were on the feisty side.

Meanwhile, 6.5 percent of red puppies and 6.3 percent of black dogs were found to be aggressive.

Scientists claim these numbers trace back to previous research that highlighted that solid-colored dogs are much more likely to show signs of anger than bicolored and tricolored quadrupeds.

Despite this, any cause for this association remains unclear, with some believing there is no real link at all.

Pet expert, Zita Wells, of animal care service Pet Patrol said: ‘In my opinion coat color is mainly determined by genetics and has no direct correlation to a dog’s temperament or behaviour.

‘Temperament in dogs is influenced by a combination of genetic factors, early socialization experiences, training and individual personality traits.

“While certain breeds may display certain general temperaments or tendencies, such as being more energetic, calmer, or more sociable, these traits are not determined by coat color alone.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales have had two cocker spaniels: Lupo, who passed away 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 named Sadie, while Elton John’s dog Arthur was the best man at his civil union.