Lady and Bear Most Popular Names for Dogs

Move over “Fido,” the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) today announced that “Lady” and “Bear” top the list of most popular male/female dog names in the U.S.

A survey of 2007 AKC registration statistics showed that, in addition to Lady, Belle/Bell/Bella, Princess, Mae/May, Bear, Blue, Max/Maximus/Maxwell, Rose, Daisy, and Duke round out the top ten dog names.

“Traditionally names based on a puppy’s physical appearance or personality, such as ‘Spot’ or ‘Sassy,’ have been popular with dog owners,’” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Today we are seeing human names, such as ‘Jack’ and ‘Molly,’ and names that reflect a pet’s stature in the home, such as ‘King’ and ‘Princess,’ gain in popularity as more people consider their dog a valued member of the family.”

The AKC offers the following rules to consider when naming your pooch:

* Names often reflect the character of your pet. Observe your dog for a few days and see if his personality suggests a name. Is he regal? Does she always want to be the center of attention? If so, how about “King” or “Star”?
* Short, sweet and easily recognizable names work best in getting your dog to be responsive. Use a name that is one or two syllables, ending with a vowel, such as “Sadie” or “Rocky.”
* Don’t choose a name that is too long or difficult to say. A name such as “Sir Barks A Lot” will only confuse your dog.
* Avoid names that sound like commands. Names like “Joe” sound like “no” when called.
* Pick a name that will fit your dog regardless of his age. For example, a puppy named “Fuzzy” may not be a good fit after he grows into adulthood.
* Don’t name your dog after a friend or family member without getting their prior permission. You never know who could be offended.
* Test out the name you would like to give your dog for a day or two. Remember any name you give your dog will be a 10-to-15-year commitment for the life of the dog.
* After you chose a name for your dog make sure you use it often so he can learn it more quickly.
* Don’t raise your voice every time you call him, and try to use his name in positive, playful settings, such as when you feed him, play with him or pet him.

Additional information on caring for your dog can be found online at www.akc.org.

* The AKC’s most popular dog names represent the 157 AKC registered breeds. Information was extracted from 2007 AKC registered dog names. General words were eliminated to reflect the most common name given.AKC allows up to 36 characters in a name.