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Top Dog & Cat Names for 2009

Basenji Puppy Pen
  • Found this on the Public Relations newswire. No doubt the vampire movies are starting to influence our naming decisions.

    'Bella' Beats Out 'Max' for Top Dog Name
    BREA, Calif., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ – For six years in a row, Max ruled the top spot. But in an upset that is sure to have dog owners talking, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, has declared Bella the most popular dog name of 2009. VPI crunched the numbers on its more than 475,000 insured pets to determine this year's most common names, and Bella beat out Max by more than 400 dogs. Fans of Max, however, can rest assured that for cats, that name is still top dog - er, top cat.

    Dogs Cats


    1. Bella 1. Max


    2. Max 2. Chloe


    3. Bailey 3. Bella


    4. Lucy 4. Oliver


    5. Molly 5. Tiger


    6. Buddy 6. Smokey


    7. Maggie 7. Tigger


    8. Daisy 8. Lucy


    9. Chloe 9. Shadow


    10. Sophie 10. Angel


  • My mom picked Bella because of Supernatural. One of the boys was Dean but she didn't use Sam since that is my husband's name. Instead she went Clark for Clark Kent and Blaze for Johnny Blaze, there was a superhero theme to their puppy names. Clark and Dean have new names but Bella and Blaze kept their puppy names.

    My girl Sophie was named for the character in Howl's Moving Castle.

  • Buddy is at #6. I named him that because he's very friendly and will be your buddy. What's funny is when we walk by people and they automatically say to him "hey buddy". And I'll say "how'd you know his name"! They laugh and say "really"?

  • Well…
    I have a cat named Lucy, my cat that passed last year was Daisy and the cat before that was Molly..The names are right, just the wrong type of 4 legged..lol.

  • I picked Abbey because I just wanted her to have a sweet feminine little girl name (what was I thinking?) and now every other dog we meet at the park is Abbey including a dalmation and a golden retriever!

  • Cant help saying that I am glad my dogs/cat names arent there :D. I really do like unusual names for my pets…

  • Oooh, I love Supernatural!! :D

    Why is Maya not on that list? I think thats a lovely name :D (I know, i know, im biased…!)

  • I like Maya. :)

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  • Naming my litter. questions!!?!?

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    misspodhradskyM
    @Buddys: I agree, well said Robyn. A very well rounded reply, and I appreciate your time in explaining the options that are out there. I am not one who advocates adopting ONLY from a shelter or rescue. I love to hear that it happens, but totally respect the choice of wanting a pedigree. I just hope that anyone who breeds for what ever reason does follow responsible guidelines for the prospective new owners, health and welfare of the puppies, dams and sires, and of the wholesomeness(?) of the breed of choice. I do have a waiting list for the future puppies (besides the ones that myself and the co breeder are keeping.) I also have a contract that states for any reason the puppies are welcome back at any time for any reason and i highly urge this to my potential owners (i say required but we all know that people fall through loops when you say required) anyways All of my dogs are health tested and the sire is health tested too. Fanconi, eyes, thyroid, and the hips I am waiting for results but she isnt in heat yet so i hope i will get it before they are bred. Trust me, I also know how rescues are. I have rescued (www.foreverfriendsrescue.webs.com) since 2008 when i rescued my first dog scheduled to be put down that day i went into the pound, and i never really stopped) so i know the effects that bad breeders can have on the dog population. Which is why we need to have more responsible breeders out there. Ones who do the health testing, ones who care where there puppies go, ones who want to help the breed, ones who give a $h!t. I love this breed. They are my world and i just cant live without them. They chose me. I chose them. Its the only breed that is right for ME. and I know this. I love showing (only been to a few so far, as i am fairly new) but i love it and i enjoy meeting new people that share the love of basenjis too and I enjoy the fun and sport of it. I really want to do what is right with breeding, which is why i have waited to find a good breeder to help me along and to help guide me as my mentor. Miah is a wonderful dog, so close to standard. and so pretty. nice pedigree and the most supurb temperament also. With my mating (dorsey x miah) I expect great things! Me and my co owner are really excited as is the sire owner. We cant wait for this litter. I know breeding is a huge controversy because of all the unwanted pets in the world, but i have been there with rescueing and if i truely didnt feel like my dog was worthy of it, and i truely didnt feel like I could do it CORRECTLY, i honestly wouldnt. but thank you for your input. I know you care, as do we. but i really am trying to do it right. Spent lots of money getting tests done, and finding a really nice bitch to start with, and getting the knowledge. (I got my first basenji 11 years ago! and i have researched and experienced the whole time!) After 11 years, i feel i am finally ready to take the step and breed my bitch to start my kennel where i want to continue to show and create loving, family pets. as well as fun things like coursing and agility, etc..
  • Call Name?

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    eeeefarmE
    Not to mention what you will call them when you're angry! :) I also like two syllable names, but often end up using one syllable, e.g. "Perry" sometimes gets "Pay", and my horse, "Hero" often just gets "Roe".
  • Honest Names

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    Shaye's MomS
    Although "NO" became what Shaye most heard, along with " drop it" (she's too quick for "leave it," so "drop it" has replaced that) and "get off the table" and "stop digging the screens" (on the porch), lately we have been firmly saying her name, then squirting her in the face with a squirt bottle. Amazing how well that works - of course the entire house is getting wet but she's getting the picture that when we pick up the squirt bottle and show it to her, she'd best stop whatever it is she's doing. Gemma, of course, responds to "stop" and "leave it." Must be the "other" kind of dog in her….
  • The Name Game

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    MacPackM
    We once got a puppy with a 12 year old male (and an older female). For the first week the adults kept their distance from the girl pup, but within a couple of weeks my male and the pup were inseparable. She hung from his neck with those wicked teeth and he hardly ever growled at her, she was his little shadow and they adored each other. Adults will make terrible noise and flash fangs at the pups, especially at about 6 months when they are teenagers, but most pups ignore it all! Male dogs are usually very sweet and good with pups…females are, well, bitches.
  • Help with registered names

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    L
    @Andrew: Booger is FINALLY registered with his proper name. We've decided to use "Griffin" in our dogs' names as a reference to the half lion/half eagle mythical creatures. The Egyptians borrowed them from other civilizations & used them in art depicting hunting scenes. So Booger is now "Griffin's Pick of the Litter." Very nice choice…cute name. :)
  • Names ?

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    P
    sweeet :) thats a cute name