NEW research from a Bolton-based vets shows that designer dogs have surged in the popularity stakes over the last 10 years.

There has been an eight-fold increase in the number of designer cross-bred dogs registered with

White Cross Vets, which has 16 practices across the UK.

In 2006 the family run group had just 115 designer-cross breeds registered with it, compared to 886 this year, which is a 770 per cent increase.

The data reveals that the top five most popular designer cross breeds are now:-

Cockapoo – a cross between a cocker spaniel and poodle

Labradoodle – a cross between a Labrador and a poodle

Jug – a cross between a Jack Russell and a pug

Cavachon – a cross between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a Bichon frise

Cavapoo – a cross between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle.

Vet, Evan Holdsworth, from White Cross Vets said: “Labradoodles began the movement towards designer cross breeds 10 years ago, which is when we first started to see more of them coming into our practices, and they have since continued to grow in popularity.

“There has also been an explosion in poodles and cavalier King Charles spaniels being crossed with virtually everything.

“We now have more vavachons, cavajacks, cavapoos, and pugaliers registered with us than cavaliers and more cockerpoos than cocker spaniels, as well as many more Poodle crosses than pure bred poodles.

“The popularity of the designer crosses is no surprise, as many owners are looking for a certain set of attributes which can be achieved when two breeds that have well known characteristics are combined.

“Crossing pedigree pooches can also help to lower the risk of them developing heredity diseases associated with a particular breed. It’s important to remember when buying a puppy, whether it’s a designer cross breed, full pedigree or cross that the puppy should be seen with the rest of the litter and its mother.”