The popularity of exotically coloured dogs such as lilac bulldogs has soared as much as the cost in recent years, with the price of some puppies hitting £9,000.
The Kennel Club began an investigation into the craze after concerns about health problems and high prices.
Bill Lambert, the club’s health and welfare expert, said: ‘We urge buyers to be cautious about the advertisement of rare colours used as a marketing tool to inflate puppy prices.
‘Breeders who appear to be prioritising colour over other factors and charging inflated prices should be treated with suspicion.’
The popularity of exotically coloured dogs such as lilac bulldogs (file photo, above) has soared as much as the cost in recent years, with the price of some puppies hitting £9,000
Labradors were traditionally only black, yellow or chocolate, with puppies typically costing £1,800.
The prices of tigers-striped animals have risen due to increased demand for charcoal, white, or silver versions.
David Goode, chairman, of the Labrador Retriever Club, stated that the colors appeared in the 1980s, when US breeders crossed labradors and weimaraners.
They were registered as pedigrees there and, thanks to a reciprocal arrangement, were kept that status when they were imported.
Prices for tiger stripes labradors have soared due to high demand (pictured above). The Labrador Retriever Club chairman David Goode said that the colors appeared in the 1980s, when US breeders crossed labradors and weimaraners.
He added: ‘These puppies have different temperaments and health issues, such as skin disorders and hair loss. About 10% of 35,000 labrador puppies last year were the wrong color.
“We don’t think the Kennel Club should continue registering them as pedigrees. At least they should be put on a separate register.’
Vicky Collins-Nattrass, health co-ordinator of the Bulldog Breed Council, said: ‘It’s got out of hand. Our concern is that some breeders are setting up fertility clinics so more puppies are bred like this.’
Other breed societies that are alarmed at the introduction of new colors include those for the French bulldog and dachshund, as well as the pug, chow chow, and the pug.