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 Border Collie 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 pup.
Here are their top 10 Border Collie names.
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1. Skye
Top dog when it comes to Border Collie names is Skye. It comes from the Norse word for 'cloud' and is the name of the largest island in the Inner Hebrides. | Getty Images
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2. Meg
Meg is the runner up when it comes to popular Border Collie names. It's a name of English origin, short for Megan or Margaret, and means 'pearl'. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Max
Taking the last podium place for the most common Border Collie names is Max. It's a shortened form of the Latin name Maximilian, meaning 'the greatest'. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
4. Jess
Jess takes fourth spot in the list of Border Collie names. It's a shortened form of the name Jessica, meaning 'god beholds'. | Getty Images