Crested Cocker

15-23 lbs
12-14"
United States, United Kingdom
Chinese Crested
Cocker Spaniel
Chinese Cocker

This lively and affectionate hybrid dog is a hearty mix between purebred Cocker Spaniels and the Chinese Crested. Though Crested Cockers are not stabilized in appearance, they generally look like slender Cocker Spaniels with some Chinese Crested facial features. Beyond this, they typically weigh between 15 to 25 pounds, grow to be 12 to 15 inches tall, and live up to 15 years old. Crested Cockers’ coats come can come in many color variations; some are bare in areas around their torso and legs due to the hairless Chinese Crested ancestry. This breed does not require heavy exercise, but is still an energetic dog that thrives on human attention and companionship. Unlike its parent breeds, Crested Cockers are a relatively new combination and, consequently, are not recognized by the American Kennel Association.

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Chinese Crested, Cocker Spaniel

Crested Cocker Health

Average Size
Male Crested Cocker size stats
Height: 13-15 inches Weight: 17-25 lbs
Female Crested Cocker size stats
Height: 12-14 inches Weight: 15-23 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Hip Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Deafness
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Familial Nephropathy
  • Seizures
  • Lens Luxation
Occasional Tests
  • Hearing
  • Orthopedic
  • Urine and Blood Analysis
  • Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
  • Internal Imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.)
  • Ophthalmic

Crested Cocker Breed History

The Cocker Spaniel and Chinese Crested have been bred together in Europe and the United States since the early 20th century to create the hybrid commonly known as the Crested Cocker or Chinese Cocker. The Cocker Spaniel and Chinese Created have very different histories. The Cocker Spaniel comes from England and was bred in the 1800s for sporting purposes, particularly woodcock hunting. The close relationship between England and America led to the breed’s migration to North America where it became a popular show dog, pet, and hunting companion. Up until the mid-1900s, Cocker Spaniels in England and America were considered to be the same. However, divergent breeding practices in the two countries lead to a smaller variety (the “American” Cocker Spaniel) and a larger variety (the “English” Cocker Spaniel). They are now considered to be two separate breeds by the American Kennel Club, with the American version having been recognized in 1878 and the English version having been recognized in 1945. The other parent breed, the Chinese Crested, is an ancient breed that is believed to have descended from either the Xoloitzcuintli or the Abyssinian Sand Terrier - both hairless dogs from Africa and Mexico (respectively). Early versions of the Chinese Crested lived all across the world on ships and in port cities beginning in the 13th century where they were kept as pets by merchants to hunt small vermin on ships and docks. This breed became particularly popular in Chinese cities - hence the prefix to the Chinese Crested’s name. It was only until the 1800s when people began to keep the Chinese Crested as pets, primarily in Europe and the United States. In fact, in the 1920s, famous stage personality Gypsy Rose Lee, spearheaded a movement to popularize the breed in North America. She was somewhat successful and the Chinese Crested was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991. Nonetheless, the breed is not widely popular among toy breed dog owners today.

Crested Cocker Breed Appearance

A Crested Cocker typically looks like slender a Cocker Spaniel with some Chinese Crested features, including a dainty muzzle and ears. It is a small breed whose build falls somewhere in between the Cocker Spaniel’s compact body and the Chinese Crested fine-boned figure. It has a long tail, dark nose and eyes, as well as small, compact feet. Crested Cockers have an average weight of 15 to 25 pounds and grow to 12 to 15 inches tall. The length and color of their coats can vary widely; some have a full coat with longer hair around the face, feet, and ears, while others have a shorter coat or hairless areas around the torso and legs. Heavily coated areas consist of straight and soft “hair” and can be multicolor combinations of apricot, black, tan, blue, chocolate, cream, palomino, slate, white, brown, buff, red, and silver with merle, spotted, or roan markings. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Crested Cocker eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Crested Cocker nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Crested Cocker coat
Black
blue Crested Cocker coat
Blue
cream Crested Cocker coat
Cream
white Crested Cocker coat
White
brown Crested Cocker coat
Brown
red Crested Cocker coat
Red
silver Crested Cocker coat
Silver
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Crested Cocker wavy coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Crested Cocker Breed Maintenance

Crested Cockers are not completely hypoallergenic, but produce less allergens due to their hair-like coat from their Chinese Crested side. They are moderate shedders (at most), but do need to be brushed regularly if they have a longer coat. When grooming, owners should clip around the ears, face, and feet to avoid infection or hindrance to the dog’s mobility. Crested Cockers should also be bathed monthly, and – like all dog breeds – have their teeth brushed daily and nails clipped once to twice a month. Owners should take every precaution to protect hairless areas of their dog with clothing or skin treatments to avoid topical irritation or infections. 

Brushes for Crested Cocker
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Crested Cocker requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Crested Cocker Temperament

Crested Cockers are sensitive animals that are known to be affectionate, playful, and alert family pets. This breed becomes very attached to their owners and love to be loved! Crested Cockers also get along well with children and enjoy spirited indoor play sessions with family members. However, they can be timid around strangers and may take a while to warm up to new people and animals. Note that because this breed is so people-oriented, it will get restless and anxious if left alone for long periods of time. Additionally, Crested Cockers are highly aware of their surroundings and are occasional barkers, but do not tend to be “yappy” or overly hyper. Still, they are intelligent animals and respond very well to obedience training. In fact, these dogs may be happiest when they are relaxing indoors and taking direction from their owners. This trait makes Crested Cockers well-suited to urban or apartment living. 

Crested Cocker Activity Requirements

The Crested Cocker is an amusing and playful breed that requires a little daily exercise and lots of human affection. Crested Cockers will enjoy a moderate daily walk and play session. This breed is good for urban or apartment living since it does not require a significant amount of exercise. Crested Cockers are also well suited for all types of climates; however, owners should ensure that their pet is not exposed to significant amounts of sun or cold if it has hairless areas on its body. Also note that this breed has a high impulse to hunt, so Crested Cockers may chase smaller animals and should always be monitored when in off-leash areas. Overall, Crested Cockers are primarily indoor dogs that enjoy ample time snuggling up to family members.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
7 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes
activity minutes

Crested Cocker Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.00 - $1.20
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$30.00 - $36.00
food bag monthly cost

Crested Cocker Owner Experiences

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