When we first went to meet Elvis’s litter in 2013, my mum and I were perplexed. The ethical breeder told us there was one puppy she knew would suit us and plonked this bundle of black fur in my lap.

The Cockapoo has taken the UK by storm over the past decade, emerging as the nation's darling and securing its place as the third-favorite dog breed across the country. Bred from the vibrant Cocker ...