New Plymouth District dog owners let their imaginations off the leash when naming their pets

It’s said that a dog often resembles its owner – but some New Plymouth District owners see their pets as more exotic, judging from the names they give them.​

The most unusual dog names registered with NPDC over the last year show how much we love our best friends, says NPDC Community Health and Animal Services Lead Kimberley Laurence. ​

“Who wouldn’t enjoy a night in settled on the couch with a bag of corn chips and Guacamole, the family Vizla? Neapolitan mastiffs are usually big dogs with large appetites, but Jelly Bean was probably named after their sweet personality. And Tui Belles Roux tells me this is a German shepherd with a lot of character,” she says.​

Other names that leapt out of the pack included Chicabella, Chico Chan, Gyeoul Winter, and Bobo Baggins.​

Meanwhile, the five most popular dog names are much the same as last year: Bella (145), Poppy (133), Charlie (122), Luna (119) and Max (112).​

As the weather heats up, NPDC’s Animal Control Team has some tips for keeping your dog happy and healthy during the hot summer months:​

• Never leave your dog in the car – heat stroke can come on fast, even on moderately warm days. Leave your pet at home in a cool, shady spot with fresh water.​
• Give your dog two bowls of fresh water at home in case one tips over.​
• If leaving your dog at home, give it a variety of toys to keep it from being bored and barking. Puzzle-feeders and interactive toys are great options.​
• Give your dog frozen treats in a bowl or ice-cube tray. They take longer to eat so keep your dog occupied, as well as helping it keep cool on hot days.​
• Be careful transporting dogs on ute trays because the tray surface can get very hot and burn their feet. Either give them a shaded spot or pop them into a dog crate with good ventilation.​
• It’s best to exercise dogs early morning or late evening in summer, when the temperatures (and pavement surfaces) are cooler, and keep your walks/runs short so they don’t get over-exerted in the heat. Remember: dogs can get sunburnt too.​
• Walk dogs on grass or dirt tracks instead of hard surfaces and be aware of how hot our black-sand beaches can get – if it’d hurt your bare feet, it’ll hurt theirs.​
• Fleas and parvo are both more common in summer, so keep up with your dog’s vaccinations and flea treatments.​

If your dog goes missing over the summer season, you can check if it’s in NPDC’s dog pound by calling us on 06-759 6060.​

At a glance

• There were about 11,500 dogs registered in New Plymouth District at the end of June.​
• There were 309 dogs impounded in 2024/25 for wandering, attacks and other issues, down from 414 the previous 12 months.​
• As well as managing the local dog population, NPDC’s animal control service attends incidents involving wandering stock such as cattle, sheep, horses and pigs.​
• NPDC also runs dog safety talks for community groups, provides advice to animal owners, investigates dog attacks, provides dogs for adoption through the dog pound, and enforces the Dog Control Bylaw.​
• All dogs aged three months or older must be registered.