The name you choose says as much about you as it does about your dog. It shows how you view your dog and your relationship with it. Some names can cause people to judge a dog and react positively or negatively/fearfully when meeting it. Depending on whether the dog is a pet, therapy dog, search & rescue dog, tracking dog or any other dog that works with the public, it is important to use a name that conveys the proper image.
The most popular dog name in North America is Sam, Sammie or Samantha (which means "listener"). The second most popular is Max, Maxie, Maxwell or Maxine (which means "the greatest" in Latin). Third is Lady, followed by Bear, Maggie, Buddy, Tasha, Chelsea (or Chelsie), Holly and Shasta. Other very popular names are Brandy, Ginger and Taffy.
Yes, it seems Max and Molly have gone to the dogs. In the past, people have tended to name their pets after a physical or personality trait - hence Spot or Rover. But an Examiner computer analysis has uncovered a new trend: Human names are all the rage for canines.
The study of names has a name as well - onomastics. It may seem silly to get into discussing pet names, but it tells you a lot, It's not trivia. It's human behavior. Mankind names things - and names show the psychology behind it all. More and more, pets are true family members.
In three years as a groomer for a local grooming salon in town, Allison Hatcher has noticed a micro-trend. "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."
Pet observers agree on some generalizations. For example, men give manly names, and women don't. With men, you tend to see more macho names, like Spike. With women, we get a lot of girly names - Samantha, Natasha, things like that.
One undisputed fact: Dogs who bite are most often named Rocky. According to Health Department records, of about 375 dog bites recorded from 2008 to 2011, seven were perpetrated by a Rocky. Next were Mugsy, Max and Zeke, each tied with six bites.
Some choose names based on personal reasons. Wolf Frenkel, a San Francisco attorney, named his dog based on a childhood vendetta. In eighth grade, he got into a heated name-calling argument with a friend, Alistair.
"I got so angry at him, I told him, "I'm going to name my dog after you!' " Frenkel recalled. Twenty years later, he got a golden retriever and named her Allie.
And now for the adult portion of the story, we present Eric Skiver's Jack Russell terrier, Boner. "Yeah, that's my Boner," he said nonchalantly while watching the little dog race around Hampton Park. "He was a Christmas present." He said he decided on the name when the dog started acting amorously with his arm. After three years, Skiver said even friends who swore they'd never call him Boner have gotten used to the name."Sometimes when kids ask me his name, I'll get looks from the parents, but the kids don't care," Skiver said. And what about at the vet's office? "They usually don't say his name. They just call my name."
The most popular dog name in North America is Sam, Sammie or Samantha (which means "listener"). The second most popular is Max, Maxie, Maxwell or Maxine (which means "the greatest" in Latin). Third is Lady, followed by Bear, Maggie, Buddy, Tasha, Chelsea (or Chelsie), Holly and Shasta. Other very popular names are Brandy, Ginger and Taffy.
Yes, it seems Max and Molly have gone to the dogs. In the past, people have tended to name their pets after a physical or personality trait - hence Spot or Rover. But an Examiner computer analysis has uncovered a new trend: Human names are all the rage for canines.
The study of names has a name as well - onomastics. It may seem silly to get into discussing pet names, but it tells you a lot, It's not trivia. It's human behavior. Mankind names things - and names show the psychology behind it all. More and more, pets are true family members.
In three years as a groomer for a local grooming salon in town, Allison Hatcher has noticed a micro-trend. "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."
Pet observers agree on some generalizations. For example, men give manly names, and women don't. With men, you tend to see more macho names, like Spike. With women, we get a lot of girly names - Samantha, Natasha, things like that.
One undisputed fact: Dogs who bite are most often named Rocky. According to Health Department records, of about 375 dog bites recorded from 2008 to 2011, seven were perpetrated by a Rocky. Next were Mugsy, Max and Zeke, each tied with six bites.
Some choose names based on personal reasons. Wolf Frenkel, a San Francisco attorney, named his dog based on a childhood vendetta. In eighth grade, he got into a heated name-calling argument with a friend, Alistair.
"I got so angry at him, I told him, "I'm going to name my dog after you!' " Frenkel recalled. Twenty years later, he got a golden retriever and named her Allie.
And now for the adult portion of the story, we present Eric Skiver's Jack Russell terrier, Boner. "Yeah, that's my Boner," he said nonchalantly while watching the little dog race around Hampton Park. "He was a Christmas present." He said he decided on the name when the dog started acting amorously with his arm. After three years, Skiver said even friends who swore they'd never call him Boner have gotten used to the name."Sometimes when kids ask me his name, I'll get looks from the parents, but the kids don't care," Skiver said. And what about at the vet's office? "They usually don't say his name. They just call my name."
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