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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In UK research, the most common named designer crosses are the Cockapoo, the Labradoodle and the Cavapoo. The order depends on what is counted. In a 2022 owner survey of puppies acquired in 2019 and 2020, the Cockapoo ranked first by a wide margin. In a 2024 population estimate based on 2019 data, the Cockerpoo (the same Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross under a different spelling) ranked ahead of the Labradoodle. Neither result is a current worldwide ranking.
The most popular designer crosses in the 2019–2020 puppy survey
The clearest ranking comes from a UK owner survey published in 2022 in Companion Animal Health and Genetics, and indexed on PubMed Central. The survey collected responses online in November and December 2020 from owners of puppies acquired during 2019 and 2020. It compared designer-crossbreed puppies with purebred puppies.
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The percentages below are shares of designer-crossbreed puppies in that sample, not shares of all dogs in the UK.
| Rank | Designer cross | Parent breeds | Share of designer-crossbreed puppies | Puppies in sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cockapoo | Cocker Spaniel × Poodle | 32.1% | 506 |
| 2 | Labradoodle | Labrador Retriever × Poodle | 11.6% | 183 |
| 3 | Cavapoo | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel × Poodle | 9.1% | 144 |
| 4 | Sprocker | Cocker Spaniel × English Springer Spaniel | 6.0% | 95 |
| 5 | Goldendoodle | Golden Retriever × Poodle | 3.2% | 50 |
Cockapoos alone made up nearly a third of the named designer-crossbreed puppies in this sample. The top three crosses together accounted for more than half of that group.
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The most common crosses across the UK dog population
A separate study, published in Scientific Reports in 2024, estimated the size and makeup of the UK pet dog population in 2019. It is available on Nature’s site. This study answers a different question. It asks what share of all UK dogs belonged to each named crossbreed group, not which crosses were bought as puppies.
| Crossbreed group | Estimated share of the UK dog population (2019) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cockerpoo | 4.1% | Ranked first among named crossbreed groups; the study uses this spelling |
| Labradoodle | 2.5% | Named crossbreed group |
| Cavapoo | 1.1% | Named crossbreed group |
| Cockapoo | Not stated in the cited figures | The Cockerpoo figure may reflect the same cross, but the study’s grouping is not the same as the puppy survey’s |
The population study excluded dogs recorded only as “Mix Breeds” from its named-crossbreed ranking. Its figures also varied between the four UK countries, so a single UK-wide number hides regional differences.
Why the two rankings disagree
The two studies measure different things, so their rankings are not competing answers to the same question.
- Puppy acquisitions (2019–2020): the share of named designer-crossbreed puppies that owners bought or acquired in that window. Cockapoos lead here.
- Dog population (2019): the estimated share of all UK dogs in each crossbreed group at one point in time. Cockerpoos lead among the named groups, and the Labradoodle is third in the table above, after a Cockerpoo figure that may include the same cross.
Puppies bought in a given window are not the same as dogs alive in a given year. A cross that is popular with new buyers can be under-represented in the total population if it is a recent trend, and a long-established cross can dominate the population while being bought less often now. Both studies are snapshots, so neither shows a trend.
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Reading these numbers in 2026
The most recent figures cited here describe 2019 and 2020. They are the best available UK evidence for named designer crosses, but they should not be read as a current national ranking. Demand for designer crosses may have shifted since then, and the figures do not cover other countries. If you are comparing popularity in the United States, Australia or elsewhere, look for local registry or survey data rather than applying these UK numbers directly.
Two naming issues also matter when comparing sources. “Cockapoo” and “Cockerpoo” describe the same Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross under different spellings. The Labradoodle is sometimes listed as a Labrador–Poodle cross and sometimes grouped with other Poodle crosses, so check how each study defines its categories before comparing numbers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What popularity does not tell you about health or temperament
A popular cross is not automatically a healthy one, and the reverse is also true. Two findings from the evidence are relevant to choosing one.
Health compared with parent breeds
A 2024 study published in PLOS ONE and led by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College analysed owner-reported health records for 9,402 UK dogs. It compared three Poodle crosses, the Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo, with their purebred parent breeds. Overall health was largely similar to that of the parent breeds.
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That finding does not mean every named cross has the same risk profile, and it does not predict the health of an individual dog. The study covered three crosses, not all designer breeds, and it relied on owner reports. The Royal Veterinary College also published a 2022 briefing on designer crossbreed dogs and the risks of rapidly growing demand, available as a PDF, which is worth reading alongside the health study.
Hypoallergenic claims
In the 2022 puppy survey, 47.1% of designer-crossbreed puppy owners said that perceived hypoallergenicity was a reason for choosing their dog. That is an owner expectation, not a guaranteed trait. Allergy symptoms vary between people, and a dog’s coat type does not guarantee low shedding or low allergen levels.
Insurance and ownership context
In the same 2022 puppy survey, 87.6% of designer-crossbreed puppies and 82.5% of purebred puppies were reported as insured. These are sample figures from 2019–2020 purchases, not national insurance rates today. If you are budgeting for a designer cross, the survey suggests that insurance is common in both groups, but the study does not show whether insurance costs or policy terms differ between them.
Summary of the evidence
- The Cockapoo was the most frequently acquired named designer cross in a UK owner survey of 2019–2020 puppies, at 32.1% of that sample.
- The Labradoodle and Cavapoo followed in that survey, at 11.6% and 9.1%.
- A 2024 UK population estimate for 2019 placed the Cockerpoo at 4.1% of all UK dogs and the Labradoodle at 2.5%, with the Cavapoo at 1.1%.
- Popularity figures describe a specific sample or year and country, so they do not establish which cross is best or most common today.
Use the puppy survey if you want to know what buyers chose, and the population estimate if you want to know how many dogs of each type were alive in the UK in 2019. For health, the 2024 PLOS ONE study is the most direct comparison available for the three Poodle crosses it covered.
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