Labrador retrievers are top dogs in city, suburbs

On North Michigan Avenue, Maltese are tops.

On the South Side, Rottweilers are the most-popular breed of dog.

On the West Side, pit bulls are No. 1.

And, on the North Side, Labrador retrievers reign.

The most-popular dog breeds vary by neighborhood, but there's onlyone No. 1 overall: Labs are the most-popular breed citywide, as wellas throughout the Cook County suburbs.

Of course, that's just for purebred dogs. When you get down to it,the most-popular kind of dog today is what it's probably always been:the mutt, or mixed-breed dog.

That's what rabies vaccination data from the Cook CountyDepartment of Animal Control show. However, the data reflect only theapproximately 30 percent of dogs and cats that have received rabiesshots over the last three years. Also, some neighborhoods may have ahigher percentage of animals registered than others, so it'sdifficult to get a completely accurate picture.

(For a list of all 329 breeds of dogs registered with the CookCounty Department of Animal Control, go online to www.suntimes.com.)

Dana Gemer, a North Side dog walker, sees lots and lots of Labs.She likes them because of their easy disposition. "They're playfuland friendly," says Gemer. "They're just a lot of fun."

Labs are especially popular in ZIP codes in which the populationis at least 50 percent white, based on the 2000 census. Yapping closebehind in white neighborhoods: golden retrievers, German shepherds,Shih Tzus and Rottweilers.

In ZIP codes where the population is more than 50 percent Hispaniccountywide, the Chihuahua is the most-popular breed, trailed by pitbulls, Rottweilers, Labs and German shepherds.

In ZIP codes throughout the county with majority black population,Rottweilers are No. 1, followed by Labs, pit bulls, "shepherds" andGerman shepherds.

"Different people have different tastes," says Dr. Bala Rajan, aveterinarian who owns South Shore Animal Clinic on East 79th Street.His human clientele is about 80 percent black and 20 percentHispanic. "Here, it's the Rottweiler. Maybe it's because of theirsize and their great look. Protection may be a factor, too. They area little more aggressive than Labs."

His Hispanic customers, mostly from the Southeast Side, generallyprefer pit bulls and Chihuahuas.

"Pit bulls are popular with young men, and because chihuahuas arethe most-popular breed in Mexico, many people whose ancestors comefrom Mexico like them," Rajan said.

Elyda Naranjo of the Irving Park neighborhood, was born in Mexico,and she agrees. "She's very lovable, friendly, playful," Naranjo saysof Mimi, her Chihuahua. "She brings a lot of joy into the house."

On the other end of the scale, of the 329 dog breeds listed in theAnimal Control figures, 34 were the sole examples of their breedregistered in the county. Among them: a Croatian sheepdog, a leopardcur, a Swedish elkhound, an Inca hairless and a Dingo.

TOPS IN SUBURBS

In the majority of suburbs, Labrador retrievers are No. 1. Here isa sampling of top dogs in the suburbs:

*Cicero: Chihuahua

*Evanston: Labrador retriever

*Harvey: Rottweiler

*Oak Park: Labrador retriever

*Oak Lawn: Labrador retriever

*Maywood: Rottweiler