DENVER POST: The day care roster includes Hannah, Cameron, Sophie, Henry, Tucker and Emma. They are the same names you'd find at just about any day care center in town. The only thing that might raise an eyebrow — or in this case, a whisker — is the fact that these names were plucked from an attendance sheet at a day care for dogs.
Not one of the 43 dogs playing and fetching at the doggie day care answers to Spot, Rover or even Pepper. Pet names have changed.
Many people are choosing family or celebrity names for their furry friends, considered a reflection of the deepening bond owners have with their pets.
According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, seventy percent of dog owners (and 65 percent of cat owners) said they consider their dog a full-fledged family member.
So, when it comes to names, pet owners nowadays ruminate much like an expectant couple. Among the most popular dog names are Lucy, Jack, Bella and Charlie, according to an analysis by petfinder.com, an online database of hundreds of thousands of adoptable pets.
The trendiest cat names also include Lucy and Molly, though some perennial faves — Shadow, Smokey, Tiger, Tigger and Precious — are holding their own.
Dr. Linda Light, who practices at Ark Veterinary Hospital in Buford, Ga., said she has noticed a shift away from Grover and Pepper to more Stellas and Charlies. She said it's perfectly fine to change a name of a newly adopted dog or cat. The animals learn their names very quickly, she said. "Just be creative and have fun with the naming of your pet," she said.
So what about the pet's perspective? Angie Woods, a dog-behavior expert and owner of U.S. Canine in Buford, said a name is irrelevant to dogs since they don't understand words — only sounds. Still, simpler names with only one or two syllables are easier for dogs to recognize.
Not one of the 43 dogs playing and fetching at the doggie day care answers to Spot, Rover or even Pepper. Pet names have changed.
Many people are choosing family or celebrity names for their furry friends, considered a reflection of the deepening bond owners have with their pets.
According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, seventy percent of dog owners (and 65 percent of cat owners) said they consider their dog a full-fledged family member.
So, when it comes to names, pet owners nowadays ruminate much like an expectant couple. Among the most popular dog names are Lucy, Jack, Bella and Charlie, according to an analysis by petfinder.com, an online database of hundreds of thousands of adoptable pets.
The trendiest cat names also include Lucy and Molly, though some perennial faves — Shadow, Smokey, Tiger, Tigger and Precious — are holding their own.
Dr. Linda Light, who practices at Ark Veterinary Hospital in Buford, Ga., said she has noticed a shift away from Grover and Pepper to more Stellas and Charlies. She said it's perfectly fine to change a name of a newly adopted dog or cat. The animals learn their names very quickly, she said. "Just be creative and have fun with the naming of your pet," she said.
So what about the pet's perspective? Angie Woods, a dog-behavior expert and owner of U.S. Canine in Buford, said a name is irrelevant to dogs since they don't understand words — only sounds. Still, simpler names with only one or two syllables are easier for dogs to recognize.
Get the full story in the Denver Post.
Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor
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