Finding the right name for your puppy.
Puppy names are quickly evolving away from the traditional Spike, Fido, Spot or Rover. The days of naming your puppy for physical or personality traits are long gone. Today dogs are seen less as pets and more as members of the family. Currently the most popular puppy name is Max and the various spin offs of Max, like Maxie, Maxwell, Maximus, and Maximillion. Female dogs with puppy names like Alice, Maggie, and Jasmine are also quickly on the rise. As people see their dogs as children rather than pets, human names are growing in popularity.
Dog food manufacturer Kal Kan did a localized survey of pet owners to find out what people were naming their dogs. In their study of both Los Angeles and New York City they found that the name Max was they number one name of new pet owners, whether they were adopting puppies or older dogs. "More and more, pets are true family members," said Kal Kan spokeswoman Alice Nathanson.
People see the names of their puppies as an expression not only of their dog but of the type of people they are. San Francisco groomer Allison Hatcher has noticed a small trend in the city by the bay. Working at Pets Unlimited she has noticed that some of her more upscale clients are choosing more “upscale” names. "We're seeing a group of yuppies coming up with more serious names, like Wallace and Miles," she said. "We're also seeing a lot of Zacks and Zoes." Pretentious much?
Be careful when you decide on a puppy name, it might just determine how they behave. According to Health Department records of the 375 dog bites that took place between 1994 and 1997 seven of those bites were linked to dogs by the name of Rocky. Mugsy, Max and Zeke were all tied for the second spot at six a piece. Guys, maybe you should listen to your wife when she suggests Pete.
There are many other factors that people use to come up with puppy names. One naming trend comes from character names in popular films. The same year the film “The Lion King” became a roaring success seventeen Simbas were registered in San Francisco alone. Another popular trend is giving puppies popular names from their country of origin. Wolfgang is a popular puppy name amongst people who have German Shepherds and Weimaraners.
Whatever puppy name you choose for your dog, make sure it’s a name that is acceptable to just about everyone that you encounter. You will come across small children, senior citizens, and the religious. Just imagine introducing your dog Boner to your religious fanatic friend, his three year old daughter, and his mother, awkward! Remember your puppy’s name will be their name for life, keep it simple, fun, and clean.