A dog named Mr Pickles has topped the Christchurch City Council's list for the most popular named pooch around.
The cairn terrier-Sydney silky cross came first for the most stand out name of the 36,843 dogs registered in Christchurch.
His owners Kathy Ousey and Craig Forster says Mr Pickles was originally called Gizmo but he earned his new name when he stole a cheeseburger and ate everything except the gherkin.
But they put it down to his outgoing personality that's made him so popular.
"He's immensely happy, when we go to the park near our house all these children will come running up, screaming 'Mr Pickles! It's Mr P!' He's infamous."
"It's not just his name, it's his big personality," Ms Ousey says.
The most popular names of dogs registered with the council are Bella (560), Max (437), Charlie (393) and Molly (392) followed by Ruby, Jack, Toby and Rosie.
Christchurch's canine population makes up 6 percent of the country's 552,236 dogs.
This year's top 10 dog breeds are the labrador retriever (4643) followed by the Staffordshire bull terriers (2596), bichon frises (2414), border collies, jack russell terriers, cocker spaniels, smooth fox terriers. This was followed by German shepherds, huntaways and miniature schnauzers.
Some of the more unusual dog names include Footrot Flats-style, Hash Brown, Sherlock Bones, Fizz Pop Bang, Polar Bear, Frodo, Yogi, Dave Growl, Obi Wan Kenobi and Prince Charles.
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