DESIGNER pet pooches have soared in popularity, new research shows.

A Widnes vet has seen an eight fold increase in the number of designer cross-bred dogs over the past 10 years.

In 2006  White Cross Vets had just 115 designer-cross breeds registered with it, compared to 886 this year, which is a 770 per cent increase.

A survey by this family run group of 16 practices reveals that the top five most popular designer cross breeds are:

1. Cockapoo – a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle

2. Labradoodle – a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle

3. Jug – a cross between a Jack Russell and a Pug

4. Cavachon – a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise

5. Cavapoo – a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle.

Vet Archie Cummings, from White Cross Vets on Queensbury Way, 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 Cavachons, 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 breeds, he said, can also help to lower the risk of them developing heredity diseases associated with a particular breed.

Mr Cummings added: “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.”