VPI Reveals the Seven Tips Every Pet Owner Should Know Before
Making a Decision
BREA, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Did you know that giving your pet
the wrong name can result in learning difficulties, behavioral issues and
problems with recognition? According to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the
nation's oldest and largest health insurance provider for pets, you might want
to think twice before naming your new four-legged friend.
"There is an art behind picking the perfect pet names," says Dr. Peter
Weinstein, VPI Medical Director and Immediate Past-President, California
Veterinary Medical Association. VPI offers the following tips for choosing
the most appropriate name for your new dog, cat, bird or reptile:
* One-syllable names, like Max and Sam, make learning and recognition
easier for your pet. Two-syllable names also work well because
animals listen for the first syllable sound.
* Be aware of choosing names (such as Joe, Neil) that are similar to
voice commands used for obedience: no, sit, come, heel, down, talk,
etc.
* Don't give your pets and your children similar names or neither will
know who you're calling.
* Choose a name that is easy to call out and won't embarrass you (as you
shout it through your neighborhood at 7 a.m.); consider choosing Happy
over Stinky.
* Consider choosing a name based on breed lineage. For example, pick a
name like Murphy or Riley for an Irish Setter or Kerry Blue Terrier.
* Name your pet based upon behavioral aspects noted in the first week or
so. Examples: Lovey, Hoppy or Crazy.
* Plan for growth -- a puppy will no longer be a puppy after a year, so
consider that Tiny may not be the best choice for larger breeds.
Dr. Weinstein's guidelines may help explain why, for the second year in a
row, "Max" has taken top honors as the nation's most popular pet name,
according to VPI research. A survey of VPI's 300,000-plus policyholders
showed that Bailey, Buddy, Molly, Maggie, Lucy, Jake, Daisy, Rocky and Sadie
rounded out the top ten rankings for 2004.
Dr. Aine McCarthy, VPI Director of Veterinary Marketing, believes that
this year's top pet names speak to a promising trend in the pet world. "Human
names for pets are very common these days, because more and more people
consider their pets as family members," she explained. "This is a wonderful
indication that the human/animal bond is stronger than ever."
For a complete listing of VPI's most popular pet names for 2004 please
visit http://www.petinsurance.com/petnames.
About Veterinary Pet Insurance
Veterinary Pet Insurance is the nation's oldest and largest health
insurance plan for pets. The company was founded in 1980 and is committed to
making the miracles of veterinary medicine affordable for all pet owners. VPI
plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for medical problems and
conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional
vaccination and routine care coverage is also available.
Policies are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California
and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company,
in Madison, Wisconsin.
For more information about VPI Pet Insurance policies, call 800-USA-PETS
(800-872-7387) or visit http://www.petinsurance.com. VPI's parent company,
Veterinary Pet Services, Inc., is an SEC-reporting company whose stock is not
publicly traded.
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