Fido and Spot no longer top names for pooches

Melbourne, August 19 (ANI): Traditional dog names such as Fido and Rover have been laid to rest, as pet owners now prefer popular kids' names for their canine friends.

According to Animal Welfare NSW, Max, Jessie and Molly are the most common names to be carved into dog tags while long-standing favourites Buddy and Rusty appear to be firmly in the doghouse, the Daily Telegraph reported.

But for celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren, it's no surprise that owners were turning to the baby-name book - her own famous canine was named Toby.

"We consider our pets to be a part of the family now. So it's not uncommon to give them names that suit being a member," the Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying.

"It's a lot harder to keep a pet because we live busier lifestyles so when you actually decide to get a pet it has often been well thought through.

"Owners know they are adding it to the family. We include them in Christmas celebrations, birthdays and we take them on holidays," she said.

Warren also said that huge vet bills and the rise of pet insurance was an indication of how important dogs were to owners and their families.

La Trobe University psychologist, Dr Pauleen Bennett said that the name trend was because people considered dogs to have personalities - just like their friends.

"They're socially really important to us so when thinking of a name it makes sense they would be the same as our friends and family," she said.

"Dogs in a particular are so prolific in our community they ground us and don't get hooked into the anxiety of everyday life.

"We're always worried about everything around us whereas dogs just live for the moment. They are a consolidating influence on the family," she added. (ANI)