A FAMILY pet is hoping to achieve national success at a top dog competition next month.

One-year-old labradoodle Roxy will be heading to London to compete for the title of the nation’s favourite crossbreed at the Discover Dogs event on November 9.

Owner Holly Ralph, of Copford, near Colchester, is hoping once Roxy is put through her paces she may ultimately be named Scruffts Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year 2008.

First the duo will compete in the Child’s Best Friend class, having already won in the regional heats at the All About Dogs show held in Brentwood earlier this year.

In the category that 13-year-old Stanway School pupil Holly competes in with Roxy, the dog must be handled by someone aged between six and 16.

In the final, Roxy will be up against 15 other competitors in her class, with the winner of each of the four categories battling it out for the coveted overall title of Dog of the Year.

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