I just think it's fairly narrowminded to assume that someone is a jerk or a moron because you think of a certain thing when the pet's name is spoken.
Guster Girl,

Wow!

I respect your right to disagree with my opinion. I feel it is unfortunate that you feel that I am "narrowminded" Yes, I do realize that there are jerks who call their dogs King and Princess. However, why can't I judge any person for any reason? Am I not allowed? By whom? I think we all make judgements every single day.

Canis Amicus asked for our opinions about names that might be considered mean. I gave my opinion. And you gave yours.

I admit that I am slightly annoyed at the way you express your disagreement with me Guster -- that because I have an opinion that is counter to yours, that I am narrow minded and that you are the open minded one? Does that mean that you are right and I'm wrong? I don't know that either of us knows the divine truth and is right here. It seems to me that the tenor of your post comes across like you are being quite judgemental of me (which is ironic because that is exactly you accuse me of).

My opinion about derisive dog names is weighed on my experiences where I rescued/adopted pets from abusive homes where the owners gave their animals (what in my opinion) were disrepectful names. I already mentioned the Toker the Kitten who was flea ridden, sickly and was being denied vet treatment for worms, and being starved to death by his drug addicted owner.

Here's another: Over two years ago, I adopted a wonderful Australian Cattle Dog who was surrendered to a kill-shelter by its owner of 7 years. The family got 'tired' of the dog shedding and they put it out in the yard full time. The dog developed behavioral problems such as crying squealing 24 hours a day to be let back in their house and the dog was being left outside in thunderstorms and bad weather. Their dog was named Scrappy. This family surrendered Scrappy to the Animal Control Officer when he came to issue a ticket because of the neighbor's repeated complaints about poor Scrappy crying out in the backyard 24/7 being kept out in all kinds of weather with very inadequate protection.

Yes, I judged the name Scrappy. As his new owner, it was my right to assess anything that is in his best interest. And I had a personally had a problem with the name Scrappy because that is how this family treated this beautiful and well trained dog. (In his first year of life they had sent Scrappy to an expensive obedience school when he was a pup; but they didn't go to the training themselves because they thought they 'knew enough'). When this family got tired of him, when he wasn't a cute puppy anymore and he was shedding on their rug, they disposed of him outside like he was a scrap to be discarded. And when this fully housebroken and well trained dog started crying all day and night because he had been banished to their back yard, instead of letting the dog back in, they surrendered him to the animal control officer. (True, it did give this dog an opportunity for a better life, for which, I am grateful).

But, why get a dog in the first place (7 years prior) if you are going to banish it to the back yard because he blows coat twice a year? What do you think them banishing this dog to the yard did to him? It hurt him deeply.

Now I realize that to some people, the name scrappy can bring happy thoughts like "scrappy doo" the cousin of scooby doo. And personally, I like Scooby Doo from my childhood. But to me, this dog having the name Scrappy reminded me of how his previous owner's didn't appreciate their own dog because when they tired of him, they dumped him like he was an entity to be discarded. This dog was about to be euthanized at the shelter because most adopters don't want a 7 year old dog. And this dog does not have a scrappy personality. He is calm, doesn't jump on people, and is a polite gentleman. There is nothing Scrappy about him. There was a negative association with me and that was all that mattered. I am not saying there is anything wrong naming one's dog Scrappy. I am saying that I personally had a problem with this dog being named that and it definitely didn't suit him.

This dog never once soiled in my house. He was afraid to jump on the furniture. He knew all the commands. He never once did anything rude or nasty when I brought him home. His only quirk is that if there is a thunderstorm, he runs and hides under my desk. I'd expect this type of phobia after being banished out to a yard on a chain 24/7 by the last owner.

Because he was 7 when I adopted him, I didn't want to extremely change his name to something foreign sounding to him. Since he does a happy little dance when he is going for a car ride, getting a treat, or his supper, I named him Happy which does rhyme with Scrappy. And the name suits him because he is a very Happy and extremely content dog.

(Please don't email me if your dog is named Scrappy and he is well treated. My point is that I personally associated the name Scrappy with the negative treatment of his previous owner. You bet I have negative feelings towards what these people did to that dog. As a human being, I am entitled to my feelings. So, I changed the name. If you love your dog Scrappy and he is well taken care of, then that is cool with me. It doesn't mean that I think that all dog's named scrappy are abused by their owners. )

Maybe there are so-called 'open minded people' who claim that a name doesn't affect their first impression of an animal? But there is a lot of well known evidence based on research in human psychology to indicate that, with people, first impressions truly do count. When the average person hears a name that sounds mean, I tend to believe it does influence their perception. And people do judge others every minute of the day. It happens and that is simply reality.

If my personal experience has 9 times out of 10 been that people who disrespect their pets tend to give disrespectful names, then those experiences will undoubtedly influence my perceptions. What is so awfully wrong with that?

I somehow doubt that I'm the only person in the world who would unfavorably judge an owner who I am meeting for the first time who call's their dog "stupid" as being disrespectful to their dog. Even if that owner was so nice and met the dog's physical needs, I'd always personally feel in my heart that I think it is a shame that they gave an animal as beautiful and loving as a dog such a disrespectful name. Also there are levels and magnitudes here. Like I think it would be worse to call a dog Stupid than Scrappy. Just in case I need to say it again -- JUST MY OPINION.

In respectful disagreement with ya Guster,
Anna Lisa