Following the epic season finale of the critically-acclaimed gangster TV drama, Peaky Blinders, the name ‘Shelby’ has appeared in the list of the nation’s top doggy names for 2022.
The nationwide poll, conducted by the UK’s leading joint supplement brand for dogs, YuMOVE, found the hit TV show, starring Cillian Murphy, has clearly left a mark on the nation’s dog owners, who have named their beloved pets in commemoration of the show’s leading family of Brummy tearaways.
‘Alfie’ swooped in at number three on the list of the top male dog names, again suggesting that Blinders-mad Brits have been inspired by Tom Hardy’s character, Jewish gang-leader, Alfie Solomans.
The research was conducted in response to the recent 300% spike in online searches for ‘adoption centres near me’* suggesting many broody Brits may be gearing up to welcome a new fur baby into their homes this spring.
‘Max’ stole the stop spot for Brits, followed by ‘Dave’ at number two – and it seems they’re not alone – sharing their preferences with some of the nation’s best loved celebrities and Hollywood superstars.
Heidi Klum named her beautiful German Shepherd, Max, who lives alongside her two other dogs, fellow Sheppy, Freddie and Irish Wolfhound, Anton, who she adopted on National Dog Day back in 2019.
And Gogglebox’s Malone family may well have bucked the trend after melting hearts with their incredible Rottweiler, Dave.
Topping the list of female dog names were ‘Bella’, ‘Daisy’ and ‘Poppy’. American actress and singer, Selena Gomez, revealed her gorgeous mixed-breed pooch, Daisy, on Instagram back in 2021, after adopting her in lockdown last year.
Charlie landed the top spot as the nation’s top unisex name – a sentiment echoed by actress Mischa Barton, who is regularly pictured out and about with her loveable spaniel, Charlie by her side.
Coco also featured in the list, adopted by Ariana Grande for her Dachshund-German shepherd mix – the first of her 10 rescue dogs.
Jayne Laycock, resident vet at YuMOVE commented; “Spring is a popular time of year to welcome a new dog into the home. However, before you start to consider names for your new pooch, which we know people love doing, there are lots of other important decisions. Firstly, make sure you thoroughly research the traits of the breed you’re looking to buy or adopt to ensure it’s an appropriate fit for you and your lifestyle. For example, some dogs require a lot more physical exercise than others, some are more suited to rural living and some will require even more specialist care and training. Likewise, consider the age of the dog you’re looking to get – puppies require a lot of time, effort and training, so if you’re looking for something a little more ‘seasoned’ - then perhaps look at a rescue dog that’s a little older that’s already house trained. Whether you end up getting a younger or an older dog, you can still explore the world together keeping each other active for life.”
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