Abstract
Three studies were conducted of factors influencing the selection and naming of pets: a questionnaire survey of pet owners, an experimental study manipulating characteristics of a stimulus person and asking for recommendations for a pet and its name, and an archival study of a veterinarian's records. The subjects owned a variety of pets chosen for a number of reasons, especially love and companionship. Two classification systems did not show a relationship of pet names to characteristics of the pets or their owners, except that subjects' desire for original pet names was reflected in the names of their dogs. However, some characteristics of the owners were related to characteristics of the chosen pets. Females and persons preferring indoor activities owned smaller breeds of dogs. Male pets, dogs, and larger breeds were recommended more often for a male. Dogs, particularly large breeds, were recommended less often for an indoor person; larger breeds were suggested for someone living in a house.
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