According to 2008 data from VPI pet insurance, the list below shows the 50 most popular female dog names in America. Looking for a classic name for your furry pal? This list is a great place to start!
1. Bella
2. Molly
3. Lucy
4. Maggie
5. Daisy
6. Sophie
7. Sadie
8. Chloe
9. Bailey
10. Lola
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According to 2008 data from VPI pet insurance, the list below shows the 50 most popular dog names in North America!
1. Max
2. Buddy
3. Rocky
4. Bailey
5. Jake
6. Charlie
7. Jack
8. Toby
9. Cody
10. Buster
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The American Kennel Club have released their 2009 registration statistics, which reveals the top ten most popular dog breeds in the United States. The Labrador retriever took the title as the most popular pup in America for the 19th year in a row.
The Yorkshire terrier was knocked out of the number two spot, by the German shepherd.
“Labs have been America’s top dog for nearly two decades due to their loyal and gentle nature,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “But the German Shepherd Dog has gained ground recently, quite possibly due to the increased attention they receive for their security efforts at home and abroad.”
Here’s the list! Did your favorite dog breed make the cut?
1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Bulldog
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu
During their trip to witness the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, two Fayette County, Pennsylvania commissioners will deliver a letter that could potentially change the life of the new president and the first family.
The inauguration of Obama as the 44th president will take place today, and commissioners Vincent A. Vicites and Vincent Zapotosky left Monday to head to Washington, D.C.
In their possession will be a letter from Zachary William Shiley to Malia Obama, the oldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama. Shiley, a fourth-grade student at Wharton Elementary School in Farmington, is offering a 6-week-old female labradoodle puppy to the first family.
The puppy, born Nov. 26, was the only offspring that survived the litter of 11-year-old Hillary, a chocolate Labrador and 1-year-old Bullet, a black labradoodle.
Zachary Shiley said the family has been calling the dog Vegas because his mother was in Las Vegas, Nev., when Hillary became pregnant. It also was her idea to offer it to the Obamas, he said. Shiley describes the puppy as a little shy but “very smart and friendly.” Shiley added that Vegas is full of energy as well as a blessing.
“We want her to have a good home, and what could be better than the White House… A dream come true,” Shiley wrote in his letter to Malia Obama. “I almost forgot, the puppy is free,” Shiley wrote. Included with the letter are two photographs of the puppy with an American flag and Shiley with the puppy. Vicites said while he knows it is a long shot that the Obamas would end up with the Fayette County puppy, the puppy has to come from somewhere.
[Source: HeraldStandard.com]
A Kentucky-version of Cruella DeVille is suspected of swiping a litter of puppies and their mom - only this time they’re 10 Yellow Labs instead of 101 Dalmations. And instead of turning them into coats, as the dastardly Disney character wanted to do, the owner of the purloined pooches suspects the thief plans to mate the pups with poodles to create Labradoodles.
“That’s the kind of designer dog (President-elect) Obama is looking to get for his daughters,” said Jeanne Lane of Gravel Switch, Ky. “I’m just sick with worry about the dogs.”
Lane is the owner of Penn’s Store, which claims to be the oldest country store in the country. She said the momma dog, Dixie, and the daddy dog, Boston, appeared on her doorstep one day last September and “we adopted them.”
“We tried to find their owners and had no luck,” Lane said. “So we took them in and built them a little shed behind the store. The customers loved them because they were so loving to everyone who came in.” Dixie had her litter two weeks ago “and they were just the cutest, fattest little puppies,” Lane said.
Then, last Wednesday, they vanished. Lane said she went to feed the dogs and noticed Boston’s dog collar had been torn off and he was “looking so sad.”
“Then I realized Dixie and the puppies were gone,” she said. “I was heartbroken. But I knew they couldn’t have gotten out by themselves and I knew they wouldn’t have wandered off on their own.” Lane said she called the sheriff and while she waited recalled recently receiving a call from a “pushy” woman who claimed to run a dog rescue operation in central Kentucky.
“She was telling me I let the Labs run loose and wasn’t taking care of them,” said Lane. “I told her I was taking good care of Dixie and Boston, but she kept insisting she could do a better job.” Lane said she has shared her suspicions with the law. Boyle County Deputy Sheriff Derek Robbins is hot on the trail of that woman - and the missing Labs.
“I’m keeping Boston beside me all the time, because I don’t want to lose him too,” Lane said. “I really feel like I have a Cruella DeVille situation on my hands.”
[Source: Daily News]
US actor Mickey Rourke appears with his Chihuahua, Jaws, in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ new spay and neuter ad campaign.
“Have the cojones to fix your dog,” Rourke, pictured holding Jaws in his arms, says in the print ad. “When dogs get knocked up, puppies get put down because there aren’t enough homes for them.”
“I became a little more aware of how many dogs are abandoned or put to sleep each week — it’s staggering,” People.com quoted “The Wrestler” star as saying in a video posted on PETA’s Web site.
Rourke famously thanked all of his dogs — “the ones that are here and the ones that aren’t here anymore” — when he took the stage to accept his Golden Globe for best actor Sunday night.
“Sometimes when a man is alone, that’s all you’ve got is your dog,” he noted. “They meant the world to me.”
[Source: Market Watch]
The RSPCA is threatening legal action against dog owners who ‘over-dress’ their pets. Officials claim that putting on items such as boots, all-in-one trousers and hoodies, could be harmful to dogs and lead to prosecution for owners if they feel an animal’s welfare is at risk.
Canine couture is big business and the increasing trend among owners to dress their pets fashionably has even led to top designers including Vivienne Westwood and Ben de Lisi creating dog outfits. The luxury Harrods store in London also has an annual fashion show called Pet-a-Porter where canines take to a ‘dog-walk’ and parade in a variety of daring outfits.
Experts said there are a few occasions where dog clothing is acceptable, such as with small dogs and short-haired varieties.
Jess Bland, professional dog walker and pet sitter from My Pet Friend, said: ‘Dog clothing certainly serves its purpose when it’s cold and wet, but it has to fit properly. Although dogs would survive in the wild, they’re generally used to being indoors. There is a case that they need coats in the winter, especially shorter-haired dogs and smaller dogs.’
However, Lynn Williams, founder of dog charity Happy Dogs said: ‘To see a little dog dressed up in boots, I think, is a little over the top. You can buy anything fashion-wise for your dog. I have an extreme love of the dog, but I don’t like to see them dressed up as little human beings. I don’t think they like it either. It’s unnatural.’
Dorset RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said: ‘Dog owners should be aware that under the Animal Welfare Act that came into force in April 2007 they have a duty of care to ensure that all of their pets’ needs are met. One of those needs is to express normal behaviour and it could mean that with restrictive clothing they are not able to do that properly. We’re concerned that any pet should be viewed as a fashion accessory. Taking on an animal is a long-term commitment. It’s quite humiliating and sends out the wrong message about pet care. We’ve seen trends in recent years brought about by the rise in celebrities with “handbag dogs”. This usually leads to people taking on pets because they are “fashionable” and sadly that means many are neglected.’
What are your thoughts on this? We would never let our pups be unhappy or humiliated!
[Source: Daily Mail]
Mickey Rourke won the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama at the Golden Globes this evening for his lead role in The Wrestler.
Rourke thanked his agent, director, producers, co-stars, etc. and then he told the audience he’d like to thank his dogs–both the ones that are still with him now, and those that had passed on.
“Sometimes when a man’s alone, all you got is your dog, and they mean the world to me”, the star said.
[Source: Examiner.com]
The Obama family is nearing a decision on the breed for the first dog.
Before President-elect Barack Obama began his interview on the ABC program “This Week,” which was broadcast Sunday, his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, asked the host, George Stephanopoulos, to slip in this question: “What kind of a dog are we getting, and when are we getting it?”
When asked, Mr. Obama laughed “They seem to have narrowed it down to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound,” he said, adding that the next step is to canvass shelters.
“We’re closing in on it,” he said. “This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary,” a reference to the recent withdrawal by Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico as his original selection for that post.
Both breeds — a Labradoodle at top, a Portuguese water dog below — were chosen to reduce Malia’s allergy to dogs and have big Democratic backers. Senator Edward M. Kennedy owns two Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash, which often flank him as he walks the halls of the Capitol. Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has a Labradoodle (part Labrador retriever, part poodle) named Brother.
Fulfilling his promise to get a dog is just one of the personal decisions that Mr. Obama and his family face as they settle into Washington.
Mr. Obama said the family planned to visit a number of churches to see “what’s comfortable.” Every president since James Madison has attended St. John’s, the Federal-style Episcopal church across Lafayette Square from the White House. But several predominantly black churches are eager to lure the Obamas, like Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, where Bill Clinton twice attended inaugural prayer services.
One family matter that appears to be going well is the Obama girls’ transition to their new school, Sidwell Friends.
“They seemed to thrive,” Mr. Obama said in the interview of their first week at the private school. “I’m trying to figure out why it is that they don’t seem to be fazed by anything.
“People think — you know, folks think I’m cool. They are a lot cooler than I am. They just don’t seem to be intimidated.”
[Source: The New York Times]
Jackie the wily pooch is one New Yorker who just couldn’t wait until opening day to see the Mets’ new stadium.
The stray dog was spotted sniffing around Citi Field for several days before animal control officers were sent Wednesday to rescue her. She led them on a run through the stadium, which is still under construction. New York City Animal Care and Control spokesman Mike Pastore said, “She was around home plate, ran up the first base line and ducked into the stands.”
Rescuers nicknamed the 40-pound shepherd mix Jackie. Pastore said she was jumpy and shaking when they caught her, but was able to pet her once she calmed down.
Jackie was taken to the agency’s Manhattan shelter. She could be adopted as early as Saturday.
[Source: Newsday.com]