If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Royal Kennel Club (that’s the new name for the UK Kennel Club) figures show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels over recent years.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the UK Kennel Club recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ to lovable mongrels.
So there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or an easy to train dog.
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There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
But even when you’ve settled on a type of dog, there’s still the tricky task of choosing a name.
If you’ve opted for an adorable Staffordshire Bull Terrier then personalised gift site yappy.com can help – they’ve surveyed thousands of their customers to come up with the most popular names people choose for their lovable Staffy.
Here are their top 10 Staffy names.
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5. Roxy
Short for Roxanne, Roxy is one of the most popular female dog names for Staffy pups. It's a shortened form of the name Roxanne, meaning 'dawn'. | Getty Images
6. Reggie
Just missing out on a place in the top five Staffy names is Reggie. It's a shortened version of the English name Reginald, meaning 'mightly counsellor'. | Getty Images
7. Marley
Perhaps due to the popularity of the dog-centric film 'Marley & Me', Marley takes seventh spot in our top 10 Staffy names. It's an Old English name that means 'from the lake meadow'. | Getty Images
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8. Ruby
The eighth most popular Staffordshire Bull Terrier name is Ruby. It comes from the gemstone of the same name, which mean 'red' in Latin | Getty Images for Westminster Ken