Roll Over, Rover: Lady And Bear Are The Most Popular Names For Dogs (NAPSA)—Forget Fido. The most popular male and female dogs’ names in America are Lady and Bear. Andit all has to do with a dog’s place in the family. A survey of 2007 American Kennel Club (AKC) registration statistics showed that, in addition to Lady and Bear, Belle/Bell/Bella, Princess, Mae/May, Blue, Max/ Maximus/Maxwell, Rose, Daisy and Duke round out the top-10 dog names. “It’s not that choosing Bear means dog owners were more prescient about the stock market crash than Wall Street was,” says AKCspokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Tt’s that in the past, names based on a puppy’s physical appearance or personality, such as Spot or Sassy, were popular. But as more people considertheir dogs to be membersof their family, we’re seeing human names like Jack and Molly, and names that reflect a pet’s stature in the home, like King.” So what name should you give your own dog? These AKCtips could help you decide: Short, easily recognizable names work best when it comes to getting a dog to be responsive. Consider a name such as Sadie or Rocky that’s one or two syllables and endsin a vowel. Avoid names that sound like commands. For instance, Joe sounds like “Go” when it’s called out. Photo: Isabelle Francais for AKC Bear, Lady, Max and Princess were among the most popular dog namesfor 2007. e Pick a name that works regardless of age. Fuzzie may be a great namefor a puppy, but not a good fit for an older dog. If you plan to name your dog after a friend or family member, get his or her permissionfirst. Take a few daysto test out the name you’re considering for your dog to be sure it suits him. After you decide on a name for your dog, use it as often as possible to help him more quickly learn to respondtoit. Don’t raise your voice every time you call your dog’s name. Instead, try to use his name in positive, playful settings as much as possible. For more ideas and information, or a complete list of popular dog names, visit www.akc.org.
