We all heard about it, but how do we really understand what is euphemistically known as the Cocker Rage? The term "rage syndrome" was originally used to describe a set of behaviors that occurred in a disproportionate amount of gold cocker spaniels. He seemed to manifest in monochrome Cockers and mostly males.
However, these assumptions were refuted when it became apparent that other breeds also suffer from this type of suffering. It certainly did not help when Dr. Roger Mugford made a statement in the Manchester Guardian, and I quote: "Cocker spaniels are all angry and that no family with children should ever have it."
American and English Cocker Spaniels, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Chesapeake Bay guys, Dobermans, English Bull Terriers, English Spreners, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Pyrenean Mountain Dogs and St. Paul. Bernard has all the diagnoses suffering from this problem, but exactly what is this phenomenon and is it really a syndrome?
This type of aggression is an unprovoked attack, usually on family members. Rage syndrome looks like an exaggerated form of aggression with status or dominance, often caused by the sudden approach of people when the dog was dozing. The dog clicks and then attacks, bites and swings. This may continue for some time, then stops just as suddenly as it began.
Often the dog looks confused and may approach a person whom he attacked in a normal greeting mode, looking submissive and pathetic to himself. Often the eyes change color and go before the attack, and, as a rule, he does not have a warning or threatening message before the dog starts up on the person.
There are many arguments as to whether this rage exists as a syndrome, or if it is an inherited condition - a form of brain disorder or even a decrease in the level of serotonin (associated with violence in humans). Others have suggested that this may be due to a mild form of epilepsy.
Various experts have suggested that “rage syndrome” is an attack, not a disorder of temperament (for example, dominant aggression). The recent successful treatment of some cases of overt "rage" with Phenobarbital (anticonvulsant) can add evidence to this evidence.
I recently discovered that the aggression in our English Spanger Spanger is growing. I tend to find that this unprovoked aggression is mostly found in the small Springer worker, which is about the same size as the big cocker darts - of course, in the US they had an increase in the cases of aggression in Springer.
* Dr. Ilana Reisner, a professor of behavioral science, probably did more research on this disease than anyone else. She believes that this is a condition that follows the lines of the family, and is associated with a reduced level of serotonin and that this condition can be difficult to distinguish from the aggressiveness of domination.
Dr. Ilana believes that there is a group of dogs that exhibit extreme uncontrolled aggression that goes beyond the “typical” aggressive reactions to dominant or territorial dogs. I think these rags are probably found in many breeds, but that Springer and Cockers are excessively represented among these breeds. Although, as you can see in the picture with three of my own Springer, they can be very loving and affectionate.
The term "rage syndrome" is almost certainly incorrectly used to describe aggression, which does not meet the standard, which makes the problem much more spacious than it actually is.
* Dogs that appear to have rage syndrome may become aggressive in certain repetitive situations, for example, when the owner leans over the dog or tries to move if off the couch or some other repetitive trigger for behavior. If so, it makes it less likely that it is a disorder of the seizures, which usually indicates that this condition may be related to resource, territory and status, although other tests, carried out mainly by Dr. Reisner, showed an abnormally low amount of serotonin metabolites in the urine and cerebrospinal fluid.
This showed that aggression was associated with abnormally low levels of serotonin in the brain. This was consistent with the findings in patients with mental disorders and prisoners. Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters, brain chemicals that have a calming effect. In most mammals, the amount of aggression associated with dominance appears to be decreasing.
Although this does not necessarily change the social status of the animal, higher levels of serotonin reduce the likelihood of aggressive manifestations that can be used to maintain social status. Based on these findings, drugs that increase serotonin levels have been used to treat the aggressiveness of dominance in dogs. About 50% of the dominant aggressive dogs react to these drugs, reducing the aggressive manifestations.
Drugs do not solve the problem, but it has been suggested that they can make it safer and easier for owners to use behavior modification methods to change the social status of the dog in the house. This indicates that dominance aggression can, at least in some people, be the result of brain abnormalities at the chemical level.
When considering cases of aggression directed at people, you must consider a number of factors.
There is another form of aggression called mental aggression, which was previously described as “rage syndrome”. Dr. Bonnie Beaver, in Texas A & M, first described this type of aggression. The reason is unknown, but the EEG brainwave model resembles a wild animal picture. This is probably not a convulsive disorder, as these dogs do not respond to anticonvulsants. These dogs show sudden aggressive aggression. It can start at any age, but it usually occurs in young people and it gets worse. Careful behavioral history shows absolutely no predictability. There is no known cure other than euthanasia. This is probably very rare, but it can be very difficult to distinguish from a severe case of domination aggression. Ultimately, it is probably not so important to make a distinction, since euthanasia is the safest course anyway.
Attacks can also cause unprovoked aggressive episodes, but EEG usually shows bouts of convulsions, which is different from mental aggression. When cramps are the alleged cause of aggression, the veterinarian should conduct a typical medical evaluation for any other type of seizure. These dogs often do very well with anticonvulsants. Owners must be prepared to carry out the necessary monitoring, as well as to the risks associated with owning a dog, which shows aggression during capture. Otherwise, they are treated the same as any other dog.
Depending on how you break it, there are probably 20 different forms of dog aggression. Multiple forms within the same person can interact with each other to create a single biting episode. Not understanding all these factors, it is extremely difficult to successfully treat an aggressive dog. “Rage Syndrome” was applied to many types of aggression, primarily to the aggression of domination, mental aggression and aggression. This term must be discarded from our vocabulary when discussing the causes, predictions and treatment of aggressive dogs.
o Age at sunset aggressive behavior - the younger the dog during the initial aggression, the worse the prognosis. If the bitch is showing early signs of aggression from the owners, then you probably should not save her, as reducing progesterone can aggravate the behavior.
o Severity of aggression — dogs that exhibit lower levels of aggressive behavior, such as growling, lips, and retarded bindings, will be much easier to heal than dogs that explode with violence. The depth and ferocity of the bite also affect the prognosis is deep and powerful, then the chances of successful treatment are worse.
o Prediction of aggression. If owners can predict which situations are likely to lead to aggression, for example, to protected objects or a favorable place, then measures can be taken to prevent such situations.
o Duration of aggression. Since there is a scientific component in any form of aggressive behavior, it makes sense that the longer the aggression takes place, the harder it will be to convince the dog that the rules of the household have changed. As with any habit, the owner’s behavior leading to aggression is also more difficult to change.
In fact, I have only seen two cases in which Rage Syndrome was present; Both of these cases were working lines of English Springer Spaniels. Almost all other cases called rage syndrome are management of complex behavior, i.e. domination, disorder, protection of resources, etc.
Maybe they manifest themselves in our working cockers and sprinters due to a shrinking gene pool. Pure breeding inevitably increases genetic problems, because it narrows the gene pool. Some have almost no genetic variation, so it’s almost impossible to isolate negative behavioral traits.
I, of course, see the many resources of Cockers resources and demonstrate the management of complex / dominant behavior; also Springer & # 39; s that bite without warning is deep and hard, but I personally think that this does not at all mean that we rank it as "rage" syndrome
I think that there is more work here than just the designation of this “syndrome”. Despite the fact that the jury is not involved in what is actually happening, I tend to err on the side of genetics and the lack of early socialization, perhaps with some chemical imbalances plus, of course, strong medical reasons that are not amenable to treatment.
I thought I should mention that serious changes are currently taking place in the sea, as we look at the dominant behavior of social status and aggression. Dominance is definitely a relative term, not a description of the dog’s psyche. Some experts recommend abandoning the entire dominant / submissive paradigm. I do not agree, because it denies the fact that social status is appropriate for our dogs.
To some extent, I sympathize with those who argue that the dominance of the word should no longer be used, that it is non-existent, outdated and irrelevant to business, but sympathy does not mean that I agree with their arguments or their logic.
Advances in research have shown that our previous knowledge base did not give us a complete picture and was based on research that was, at best, incomplete and at worst completely wrong in its conclusions. A new wave of positive reinforcement style and behavioral modification are much more effective and kinder than the methods used previously.
The advent of clicker training has been a revelation to many of today's instructors in behavior and behavioral skills. The training style that has insured the dog must be subordinate and that reward or treatment based on training is a bribe is now dying, although there are still places and organizations that believe that this is the only way to train. Modern dog training methods are focused on building relationships of mutual respect and trust.
Please do not allow political correctness and semantics to creep in the behavior or training of dogs - let it be realistic and see what lies ahead; sometimes joy, another time annoying and dare say "Dominant".
Regardless, we love them all, even with their weird, complex and annoying features.
