Labrador retrievers are as common around here as garage sale signs in April. Get a soft-coated wheaten terrier if you want to be different; there's only one of those registered in McLean County.

Labradors are the top breed, with 1,341 licensed in 2006, according to county health department records. That's consistent with the rest of the nation, which has chosen the Lab as the top dog for the past 16 years, replacing the cocker spaniel as the favorite in 1991.

Vanessa Bennet, a local veterinary technician, grew up with Labs, so it was an easy choice when she picked out Jade, a chocolate Lab, from a litter nine months ago.

"I decided to get a Lab because of their personality," she said. "They're very friendly and loyal."

Yorkshire terriers are the second most popular breed in the nation, according to the American Kennel Club, but the silky pooches didn't even make the local top 10 list.

Instead, we love our golden retrievers (581), along with shih tzus (532), beagles (295) and boxers (260). And there are 209 pit bulls here, 200 pugs and 197 dachshunds.

Buddy is the most popular name, showing up 211 times on county records, with Maggie a close second at 206. Some names are claimed only once, like Pop Tart, Splenda, Scrap iron, Lunchbox and Monopoly.

Third-grader Bailey Moore of Bloomington named her boxer Maggie after picking it out of a baby book.

"She definitely looks like a Maggie," said mom, Heather Moore. "Mags is her nickname … we call her other things sometimes."

So what does mom think of one of the more uncommon local names, Halley Berry?

"Must be a good-looking dog," she said with a laugh, over the apparent connection to supermodel Halle Berry.

Veterinary technician Kristy Raines has taken care of a boxer named Chili Bean and his sister, Quesadilla. The names fit, she said.

"They're pretty fun, pretty spicy dogs."

Quesadilla might play well with the seven Chilis and six Tacos.

Alcohol provided the inspiration for more than a few names listed on vaccination records, including Guinness (8), Whiskey (5), Tequila (3) Bacardi (3), Scotch (2), Martini (2), Budweiser (2), and Jack Daniel.

Ricky Hall of Normal named a rescued pit bull mix Yaeger after his favorite drink, Jagermeister mixed with Red Bull.

"His hair is two colors, like the drink," he said. "He's actually a sweet dog."

Technology may have inspired those who named their dogs Sirius (2) and Sony (2). And maybe fitness buffs chose Nike (5), Sneakers (4) and Speedo (2).

Some owners may have looked no further than the pantry, with 28 Sugars, a couple of Triscuits and Biscuits but also a Papa John and 14 Dominoes.

One of the up-and-coming names is Wrigley, used 66 times.

"It's very popular," said Kathy Sieraski, owner of Pampered Pets Hotel & Day Spa in Bloomington.

While a Cardinals fan might brush it off as a name for a fresh-tasting gum, clearly "it's the Cubs," she said.

The puppy stage may have been particularly rough for a couple of owners.

There are two dogs named Chaos, two Felons, two Hitlers and one Gangster.

But there also are seven Justices.

And then there are those you just can't figure out, like R.I.P.

At least there are four Happys.

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Favorite breeds

Cocker spaniels can claim the longest reign as the most popular breed - 23 years - holding the title from 1936 to 1952 and 1983 to 1990. The Labrador retriever took over in 1991 and has led the pack since. Here are the 2006 rankings from the American Kennel Club, along with local statistics from the McLean County Health Department.

Nationally

1. Labrador retrievers
2. Yorkshire terriers
3. German shepherds
4. Golden retrievers
5. Beagles
6. Dachshunds
7. Boxers
8. Poodles
9. Shih tzu
10. Miniature schnauzers

McLean County

1. Labrador retriever
2. Golden retriever
3. Shih tzu
4. Beagle
5. Boxer
6. Labrador mix
7. Pit bull
8. Pug
9. Dachshund
10. Maltese

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Top breed trivia

Movies have influenced our dog choices, but so have our allergies and the time available to groom and exercise them.

• The Boston terrier started out as the most popular dog in 1915. The German shepherd replaced it, shortly after Rin Tin Tin was featured in a film. The cocker spaniel became the most popular in 1936, followed by the beagle in 1953, the poodle in 1960, cocker spaniels again in 1983 and the Labrador retriever in 1991.

• The popularity of small dogs, under 20 pounds, has risen steadily over the past decade. There's been a 735 percent increase in the number of registered Cavalier King Charles spaniels, a 305 percent increase in French bulldogs, a 231 percent increase in Brussels Griffons and a 132 percent increase in Papillons.

• Large dogs have seen the sharpest decrease. Rottweillers have dropped 83 percent in the past decade; Dalmatians 97 percent; and chow chows, 91 percent.

• No dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic or non-shedding, but several American Kennel Club breeds have less dander, which is why the following breeds have risen in popularity in the past 10 years: The Chinese Crested has increased 100 percent; the Portuguese Water Dog, 54 percent; the Bedlington terrier, 29 percent; and the soft-coated Wheaten terrier, 23 percent.

• Breeds from the Sporting Group are the most popular, making up nearly 30 percent of registrations in 2006. These breeds peaked in popularity in the 1940s at 43 percent. Dogs from the Toy Group have been steadily rising since the 1970s, when they made up only 12 percent; today's it's 23 percent. Hounds have remained the most consistent: They're at 8 percent.

• Dogs with high grooming requirements were most popular in the 1940s. Dogs that need less attention have been steadily increasing in popularity since the '70s. Nearly half of the registry is made up of dogs with low grooming needs.

• Dogs that require lots of exercise make up nearly half of the registry. High-energy breeds, such as the Airedale terrier and Dalmatian, peaked in the '60s.

SOURCE: American Kennel Club

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Pet names

Here are some of the other creative, and not-so-creative, pet names, along with how many of them are registered in McLean County:

Food

Oreo, 30

Muffin, 29

Sugar, 28

Cocoa, 25

Cookie, 18

Peaches, 18

Cinnamon, 17

Hershey, 17

Mocha, 13

Candy, 13

Chocolate, 3

Cherry, 3

Nutmeg, 3

Sundae, 3

Spice, 3

Cupcake, 2

Bagel, 2

Pork Chop, 2

Popcorn, 2

Marshmallow, 2

Kiwi, 2

Jelly, 2

Peanut butter, 1

Tator Tot, 1

Famous dogs

Toto, 6

Spot, 16

Snoopy, 11

Benji, 11

Scooby Doo, 7

Tramp, 4

Lassie, 3

Yeller, 2

Nipper, 2

Famous names

Einstein, 5

Beethoven, 5

Mozart, 3

Ludwig, 3

Picasso, 2

Hitler, 2

One each:

Sally Ride

Paul Anka

Murphy Brown

Madonna

Hitchcock

Jewels

Ruby, 29

Diamond, 23

Onyx, 13

Jewel, 9

Pearl, 6

Jade, 6

Topaz, 1

Sapphire, 1

Vehicles

Mercedes, 10

Chevy, 10

Lexus, 9

Ranger, 9

Descriptive

Puppy, 5

Puddles, 5

Little dog, 2

Little guy, 2

Yellow dog, 1

Pups, 1

Future dog, 1

Sweet

Hershey, 17

Nestle, 2

Candy, 13

Brownie, 11

Susie Q or Suzy Q, 9

Reeses, 5

Snicker, 3

Twix, 2

Twinkie, 1

Smores, 1

Size/personality

Tank, 13

Pixie, 13

Rowdy, 12

Tuffy, 11

Tiny, 9

Rebel, 9

Moose, 9

Goliath, 9

Shaggy, 6

Chubby, 3

Bruiser, 3

Shy guy, 1

Presidents

Truman, 8

Lincoln, 4

Hoover, 4

Kennedy, 3

Reagan, 3

Nixon, 1

SOURCE: Bree Davis, McLean County Health Department