Short versions:

Shmoggleberry: Started of as "Spooky" because of spooky resemblance to previous cat Snoopy, but Spooky didn't fit. Used "Mog" as a temporary name until another one could be thought of. "Mog" turned into "Moggy" turned into "Shmoggy". Everything that was good & grand at the time was refereed to as "cool-berries" or "very berry nice" or something or other with the suffix of "-berry", so the cat came to be Shmoggyberry, which was very hard to say, so we got to Shmoggleberry and it stuck. I'm the only one who can say it right - its like Schmoe-g'l*beh-ray, but Shmogg (rhymes with fog) is good for short. Saying that however, I almost always call him "Beast".

Fluffy: Since we could not agree on a name after three days of puppy ownership (Joel refused to have Buffy or Willow, I refused Genghis or Attila) we just started randomly saying names in the hope that the poor pup would recognise one and answer to it. I facetiously said "Fluffy", pup walks over & licks me. We dismiss it as a coincidence an keep going. About an hour later I say "Fluffy" again, the pup's ears perk up and she rolls over for tummy rubs. Dreaded looks are swapped. Joel, not wanting it to be true, says "Fluffy" in the least appealing tone he can manage with her being so cute, and the pup smothers his ankles in doggy kisses. Much groaning is had, but pup's name has been decided. It suits her though - she has Fluff for brains.

Long versions:

The Naming of the Cat.
The Naming of the Dog.

Copyright © Vicky Chapman
March 1, 2000