Check it out, your dog isn't a person.  Don't treat it like one.  It doesn't get a middle name, and don't give it a regular name you might give to a person.  I just saw somebody post a status that they had given their dog a name something like "Michael Edward Wilson".  Ridiculous.  Then they commented that they had decided on their name and were excited about their "new addition".  Your dog isn't a baby either.  It's not your child.  It's a pet.  It's not cute to do this shit, contrary to what you think, and if you don't have kids, it's insulting.  Your dog does not require even close to the kind of care and support a child does.  Can you/would you leave a 1 year old baby at home?  HELL no. Can you do that with a 1 year old puppy?  As long as your house - or at least the area the dog is in - is pet-proofed.  Do you have to teach your pet life lessons?  Nope, you make sure they are house-broken, and after that it's easy.  I've had pets, I know, so don't argue with me on this one.  Children - for the first few years - require 24/7 care, so to call your pet a "kid" or something similar.... like I said, it's insulting.  /Endrant