Much like baby names, popular dog names typically change from year to year… or a least a majority of them. Some, steadfast, have stayed at the top of the list for many years.

Before choosing a list of possible names there are a few things you should remember that will make things easier for everyone. Never name your dog after someone living in the same household, as this could cause a great deal of confusion.

It is best to choose a popular dog name that is easy to pronounce and won’t be the cause of embarrassment should you have to call the dog home, at four o’clock in the morning, when your entire neighborhood is deathly quiet.

If you are under the impression that ‘Spot’ or ‘Rover’ is still the most popular name of the day, you are wrong. In reality, human names place high on the majority of lists. This is probably due to the fact that most people do not think of their dog as a pet… but as a cherished family member.

Among the popular names for female dogs are ‘Abby’, ‘Sadie’, ‘Missy’, ‘Dakota’, ‘Ginger’ and ‘Molly’. Popular names for male dogs include: ‘Casey’, ‘Max’, ‘Sam’, “Jack’and ‘Cody’.

Many pet owners make the decision early on to name their dog after a trait they hope the animal will exhibit. Popular names in this category include: ’sassy’, ‘Bear’, ‘Angel’, ‘Precious’, ‘Prince’ and ‘Queenie’.

It has always been tradition to name a dog based on his ancestry. Common names for dogs of French descent include the following: ‘Claudine’, ‘Bisou’, ‘Geraud’, ‘Jean-Claud’, ‘Matisse’, ‘Pierre’, ‘Nadine’, ‘Renault’, ‘Lissette’ and ‘Esme’.

If a new puppy is of German descent, the following popular dog names are wonderful choices. Please consider ‘Adler’, ‘Blitz’, ‘Fraeulein’, ‘Gunther’, ‘Heidi’, ‘Otto’, ‘Max’, ‘Rainer’, ‘Mozart’ and ‘Trinka’.

Scottish dogs are commonly named these popular choices:’Bryce’, ‘Bonnie’, ‘Armstrong’, ‘Maisie’, ‘Murdock’, ‘Peyton’, ‘Scotty’ and ‘Ramsey’.

Popular Italian dog names include: ‘Gino’, ‘Aldolfo’, ‘Ghita’, ‘Marco’, ‘Paolo’, ‘Carmella’, Rosa’ and ‘Ernesto’.

This is just a small example of the selection of popular names to choose from. Deciding on just the right name is part of the fun of being a pet owner. It is up to you to figure out how popular you want your dogs name to be.

To make his trip as comfortable as possible, take your dogs’ favorite blanket and chew toys. If you have a small dog and will be traveling in the vehicle with enough space to accommodate his bed consider bringing it along, as well.

Keep in mind the old saying ‘a little comfort goes a long way’. This holds true for all travelers, even furry ones.

Pack plenty of extra water bottles and even more importantly…enough of your dogs regular food for the trip, it at all possible. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination only to discover that your dogs specific brand of food, is not available.

As a pet owner,you are probably aware of the problems that often occur when you have to switch pet food brands, for whatever reason. It’s rarely an easy transition.

In addition to extra water, you might want to pack your dogs’ water bowl. Some dogs are persnickety and will not drink from anything other than their favorite bowl. If this is the case with your dog, you certainly don’t want to find out about it while traveling.

Make sure you are traveling with a first aid it. This is so important, even if you are traveling by yourself.  You never know when an emergency or accident may arise. It’s always better to be safe, than sorry.

When traveling with your dog, you should also pack a spare leash and collar, proof of identity (make sure he is wearing valid tags, or better yet a microchip) and your dogs medical records.

If you will be crossing any national borders, during your trip, your dog must be up to date as far as vaccinations are concerned… specifically Rabies, Bordatella and Lyme disease.

I’m sure no one has to remind you of the dangers associated with leaving your dog unattended in a hot car. You may be surprised to learn that heatstroke is the leading cause of pet deaths.

Within outside air temperature of 80° it would take only 30 minutes for your dog to begin suffering from the effects of heatstroke and brain damage.

If you know, ahead of time, that he will be left unattended during short lunch or bathroom breaks consider purchasing an automobile pet vent. They are very inexpensive and can be installed in no time.

Remember, traveling with your dog can be a very enjoyable experience for both of you, if you take the time to pack wisely. You won’t regret it!

Canine health insurance has improved immensely over the past few years. Currently, more services are covered than ever before.  Many plans include a pet wellness protection rider, as well. In truth, this type of insurance is much like medical insurance carried by you and I.

There are questions you should ask before making a final determination on the provider, who is right for you and your dog.

A good place to start when researching your options is to ask your veterinarian for a recommendation. Most veterinarians will be able to point you in the right direction and give you their unbiased opinion as to the provider that will work best for you.

Once you get an initial recommendation you should be prepared to conduct a bit of additional research, before deciding on anything concrete. With the convenience, of the Internet, it is quite easy to perform this task, right in the comfort of your own home.

Be forewarned, many providers will not cover pre-existing conditions.  However, some will cover them as long as they are deemed temporary and have been nonexistent for least six months. Unfortunately, some types of breed specific hereditary conditions are not covered by any currently available policy.

Look for a policy that offers renewals after a specific period of coverage, typically one year. Insurance providers which base their premium increases on the age of your dog instead of the dollar amount of veterinary claims filed, are usually less expensive. 

Beware of providers who increase your premiums on a quarterly basis or those who are not equipped to offer you and your dog with the same coverage, from year to year.

Obviously, you want to go with the pet health insurance company who can provide the broadest range of coverage, for your dog. The majority of providers offer more than one level of coverage.  It goes without saying that you should purchase the deluxe plan, if at all possible.

Let’s face it, your dog is part of your family. Take the initiative to purchase health insurance for him, from the beginning.  Doing so will ensure that he will receive the best of care during an emergency or in the unfortunate event he should be diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Full-grown, they weigh 7 to 8 pounds and stand approximately 10 inches high. They have a life span of 11 to 12 years.

Affenpinschers were originally bred to exterminate the rat population, in kitchens, stables and granaries. While they do possess similar characteristics of terriers, they are actually classified as a pinscher-schnauzer breed.

These delightful animals have a coat of shaggy, dense, hair which looks quite un-kept and rather harsh. This coat is roughly 1 inch, in length, on the dog’s shoulders and body. Hair on the legs, neck, head, stomach and chest is longer but less harsh looking in appearance.

By the time Affenpinschers reach the age of maturity they have longer hair on their heads, beard and eyebrows. They also sport a mane of hair at the neck area, as well.  Coat colors range from gray to black and silver and even red. Although, the most common coat color is black.

Their long, scruffy, coats protect them in inclement weather. Surprisingly, this breed sheds very little and requires only minimal grooming. However, they should be brushed on a weekly basis.

Affenpinschers are very active, but it is not absolutely necessary to provide them with a great deal of space, in which to run. An indoor exercise regiment will work as well when combined with leashed walks, a few times each week. For this reason they are a good choice for someone living in an apartment or condominium setting. They are climbers who love to bark. Because of this, outdoor supervision is recommended.

Two well-known traits of the Affenpinscher are agility and dexterity, which can be quite amazing. As a rule, they are spunky, somewhat bold and quick witted. Normally, they get along with other animals that they have been raised with. Unfortunately, because of their tendency to protect their belongings they are probably not the best choice for families with young children.

Affenpinschers are prone to hip dysplasia and collapsed tracheas, as are many small breed dogs. For this reason, it is recommended that you use a harness instead of a collar when walking your Affenpinscher.

Shelters are not the only place to find the perfect dog, to welcome into your family. Contact local breeders in your area. Many times they will have older dogs for sale, for a variety of reasons. Usually it is because the dog is too old to compete in show or beyond breeding age.

When you adopt an older dog, chances are you won’t have to deal with normal puppy behavior.  For the most part, older dogs are housebroken, don’t chew on the furniture and are calmer in temperament.

Before making a final decision you should learn as much as you can about the dog you are considering. Of course, it might be impossible if he is a shelter dog, but if you are adopting him from an individual there are questions you should ask.

Inquire about his temperament. Does he get along well with small children and other animals? You should ask about his daily routine. Does he require a special diet or room outside to run?

If it all possible, it is also advisable to introduce the dog to other family members before the final adoption procedure. This will eliminate the inconvenience of returning the animal, due to an incompatibility of some sort.

When you adopt an older dog, you should give him several days to get used to his new environment, before beginning any new obedience training. It will take him a bit of time to get settled in… to understand where he eats, sleeps, etc.

One drawback of adopting an older dog is the fact that he may have medical problems, not associated with a puppy. Even so, he should not let that stop you from doing so. As long as the medical condition is not catastrophic, many times you will find it quite easy to deal with. The rewards are much greater than the possible inconvenience of minor health issues.

Adopting an older dog is perfect for individuals or families who don’t want to deal with the stress of raising a puppy.