The Top Dog Names
Names From The Puppy Games 2008
Move over Beijing Olympic Games 2008, there is a new dog on the block. A lot of them actually. Puppy Games 2008, held in Washington D.C. during the beginning of August, has captured the hearts, minds and remote controls of animal lovers around the world.
The Puppy Games 2008, sponsored by The Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, featured dozens of determined dogs competing in hilarious events from swimming, track & field and soccer to - that's right - doggy gymnastics! It doesn't get any better than that. The canine athletes represented breeds from all around the world, including Cocker Spaniels from England, West Highland White Terriers from Scotland, Huskies from Russia, and of course the Boston Terrier representing the good ol' U.S. of A.
So what are the names of these puppy prodigies who wowed the world with their pooch prowess? These canine contestants represent some of the best dog names in the world of pets and sports. And like those other games in Beijing, the United States and China were powerhouses. The Stars & Stripes were proudly represented by Boston Terriers, Ouisey and Zim, along with Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Seneca.
China countered with breeds of their own, including Mesa, a Shih Tzu mix, Pugsley, a Pug mix, and Sophie, a pure Shih Tzu. Then there was the tag team effort made by China and Russia with the puppy power of Gunner, a Husky and Chow Chow mix. Unfortunately for Gunner, he could only tag himself. But at least he was cute to watch.
The United Kingdom was determined to paw its way into the mix, however, sending Mojo, a crafty Beagle from England, and Cleo, a West Highland White Terrier from Scotland, to the games. Other breeds made the trip across the pond for the U.K. as well, along with France, Germany, Norway, Australia and the Republic of Malta. They all competed with puppy politeness and sportsdogship (a new word culled from these games).
With their heartwarming performances, some of these dogs may soon launch their names into the top 10 dog names list for good. Names like Louie, Jasmine, Vince, Abby, Nelson, Balto, Beatrice, and who could forget Mojo and Cleo? Contestants from The Puppy Games each year have the chance to mark their territory (cleanly) and go down in history with the top dog names in the world.
Today's Top Dog Names
Everyone wants to be the top dog, but there is only room at the top of the mountain for one name. That name is Max. And on the next mountain over, Molly sits atop it as queen. At least according to Veterinary Pet Insurance.
VPI, the largest provider of pet insurance in the United States, has put together their list of the top 10 dog names for both sexes. The list was compiled following analyses of the more than 450,000 pets insured by VPI in 2007. Max is riding a five-year title reign for top male dog name.
Max also comes in at number one on the American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals' list of top dog names. Other monikers that appear on the lists of both organizations include Buddy, Bella, Bailey, Jake, Lucy, Daisy, Maggie, Molly and Charlie. The trend you will notice stretching all the way through the top 100 dog names is that they are most often one or two syllables long and very easy to pronounce.
Keeping the name short and sweet makes it easier for the dog to learn and easier for you to use on a daily basis. VPI executives also note that these names are generally easy to discern from common commands given to dogs, avoiding further confusion on the part of the pooch.
VPI has also pointed out that many of the names on their dog list can also be found on the Social Security Administration's list of common baby names. Max, however, does not appear to dominate the baby world like he does the canines, as he is closer to number 200 than number 1 on that list. Generally, though, this supports the other noticeable trend in top dog names. Human names are becoming far more commonly used for dogs than they have been in the past.
The best dog names are ultimately up to the dog owner and what he or she feels works best for their pet. It is completely subjective, which is one of the things that makes picking a name for your dog that much more fun. But if you want to know what the most commonly used ones are from year to year, they can be found on the ASPCA's and VPI's top dog names lists. Max and Molly are eager to protect their spots.
