Music royalty reigned supreme, with AC/DC, Lady Gaga and Elvis popping into the charts, and even Taylor Swift’s fan brigade made the list, with some pet dogs now also being referred to as Swifties. The list also featured some real-life royals with Prince George, Prince Louis and Prince Harry also making the cut.

Tongues are wagging for designer pooches named Gucci, Celine, Loewe, and Louis Vuitton, while others hitched a doggy ride as Porsche, Holden, and Aston Martin.

Tyrion and Jon Snow from Game of Thrones were popular picks for dogs while Harry Potter took the lead role with his support cast of Hermione and Ron Weasley and Voldemort also making the cut.

Other pet owners cooked up some foodie names including Angus Beef, Pretzel, Bao, Cheeseburger and Cheetos.

Bupa Pet Insurance annual Top Dog Names list also revealed the usual suspects – Luna ranked number one, followed by Milo, Charlie, and Coco. Bear and Molly also entered the top 10 this year.

Bupa General Insurance General Manager Lachlan Davidson said: “Bupa Pet Insurance’s top dog name list for 2024 showed how much pop culture icons and beloved characters have influenced the names we give our furry friends.

“Given the star power of Taylor Swift and Beyonce, it’s not surprising she’s now in our list. We often sing our pet’s praises so we may as well give them some star power.

“For many of us, our pets are our family and pet parents are giving their beloved family members names that hold special meaning to them or nods to their favourite pop culture heroes. It certainly makes the local dog park an interesting place to be.”

Mr Davidson said traditional names remained popular among many dog owners.

“A pet is for life, so it can be safer to choose a name that’s not just the latest trend on TikTok and that’s why we continue to see fur favourites like Leo and Frankie remain in the top 10 year after year,” he said.

Mr Davidson said with ongoing cost of living challenges, pet insurance can help cover unexpected vet expenses.

“We know household budgets are under financial pressure, and our pet insurance policies provide customers with coverage choice, helping their pets receive the care they deserve,” he said.

The list, based on Bupa Pet Insurance policies, shows size doesn’t matter with big dogs like Labradors, Border Collies and Golden Retrievers making the top 10 list as well as the smaller bundles of fun including the Maltese Cross, French Bulldog and Miniature Dachshund. 

The cat’s out of the bag with Ragdolls, Tabbies, Burmese, and Domestic Short Hairs among our most popular cat breeds. 

National data reveals there are about 28.7 million pets living in 6.9 million households throughout Australia, with almost half those homes having a dog for a housemate, while a third have a cat. 

Bupa General Insurance General Manager Lachlan Davidson said what all pets had in common, whether they were dogs or cats, was that they were paw-fect for companionship and cuddles. 

“Aussies continue to embrace paws and claws, and our popular furry pets reflect the wide-ranging choices, needs and lifestyles of pet parents,” Mr Davidson said. 

“Besides being cute and cuddly, Cavoodles are able to fit in with many house settings – from large homes to small city apartments, they just make for the perfect housemate.”

Despite cost-of-living pressures on households, many families continue to own pets, but a national PetSure survey showed 21.5% of owners reduced preventive care including routine check-up appointments while some skipped treatment for fleas, ticks, and worms. 

Bupa Pet Insurance claim data shows gastrointestinal complaints, skin allergies, ear infections, eating foreign objects and eye problems were among the top claims for dogs. 

While for cats, injuries from accidents, gastrointestinal diseases, skin allergies, eye problems, dental issues and urinary tract disease are leading to pet bills. 

Mr Davidson encouraged pet owners to remain vigilant with their pet dog or cat’s health. 

“Many conditions when not treated early can lead to more serious complications,” he said. 

“With the ongoing financial impacts to household budgets, pet insurance can help cover pets’ medical expenses should something unexpectedly occur. 

“Since the pandemic, pet ownership continues to increase, and we’ve seen a 10% increase in the number of people taking out Bupa Pet Insurance.”

Top 10 Dog Breeds 
1. Cavoodle 
2. Maltese Cross 
3. Golden Retriever 
4. Labrador 
5. Border Collie 
6. French Bulldog 
7. Miniature Dachshund – Smooth Haired 
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier 
9. German Sheppard 
10. Golden Doodle (Groodle) 

Top 10 Cat Breeds 
1. Domestic Short hair 
2. Ragdoll 
3. Domestic Medium Hair 
4. Domestic House Cat 
5. Tabby 
6. British Short Hair 
7. Domestic Long Hair 
8. Burmese 
9. Unknown Cat Breed 
10. Ragdoll Cross 

Source: Bupa Pet Insurance data based on insurance policies July 2023 – June 2024

Claims for skin conditions topped the list of most common claims followed dogs with stomach conditions and ear conditions.

Showing anything is paw-sible when you have a dog, there are some things that should not be in a doggy bag - some mischievous Bupa dogs have swallowed corn cobs, earphones, chocolate, socks and even a BBQ skewer, landing them on the vet’s bed.

PetSure vet advisor Dr Kylie Mitchell said all dog owners needed to be mindful of what was lying around the house or accessible to curious pups.

“Dogs are naturally curious and many like to chew things they shouldn’t like socks, food, or food packaging. Common human foods like chocolate, items containing artificial sweeteners, or ingredients like onions are toxic for dogs and can result in death if enough is consumed.

“Regular checks of boundary fencing to prevent escapees can help avoid road accidents and dog fights. With storm season approaching, it’s particularly important to ensure pets are safely contained to avoid mishaps and escape during storms.”

Dr Mitchell also said pet owners needed to act quickly if they noticed their dogs scratching themselves.

“They may think a dog scratching is normal but it’s not. Being itchy is very uncomfortable so if a dog is scratching a lot, a trip to the vet for assistance is important,” Dr Mitchell said.

Bupa General Insurance General Manager Shannon Orbons said pet owners had increased peace of mind when it came to costs – especially for expensive treatments.

For pet owner Sophie, she received 80 per cent back on her $14,000 claim after her dog Beta had rare eye surgery to help the Shiba Inu with an eye condition that left him blind from birth.

“It's a very, very complex surgery. It took 7 to 9 hours with three specialists involved in the surgery,” she said.

“He's not just an animal, he's like my family member.

“I would recommend everyone who has a pet to get insurance because you never know what will happen. Some dogs are just unlucky they carry some kind of disease in their body from birth, and then you wouldn't want to give them up because of financial situation.”