Cheese ranks 2006 in the pet registry with 49 animals of either gender. It's a food name — deliberately silly, openly affectionate, completely self-aware — and belongs to the category of pet names that function as ongoing jokes between owners and anyone the animal meets. No one naming their dog Cheese is unaware of what they're doing.
The Food Name Comedy Register
Cheese sits alongside Nacho, Pretzel, Biscuit, and Waffle in the category of food-based pet names chosen for maximal charm and minimal pretension. These names signal an owner who prioritizes fun over gravitas and has no interest in projecting status through their pet's name. Labrador Retrievers, food-motivated and perpetually enthusiastic, are the stereotype for food-name ownership, though any breed works.
The Yellow Coat Connection
Cheese on a yellow or golden dog is a naming observation — the color match between the name and the coat. A yellow Labrador named Cheese is doing double duty as both a joke and a visual pun. That specific combination may account for a meaningful portion of this name's registry appearances. Golden Retrievers with the right coat shade are the obvious candidates.
The Counter-Reading: Hard to Take Seriously at the Vet
Calling "Cheese" in a veterinary waiting room will reliably generate reactions. Most owners who chose the name consider this a feature. The one genuine friction is that Cheese is hard to use with authority — calling a dog sternly back with "Cheese, come!" has an inherent comedy problem. Browse food-name pets for the full register.