This post has nothing to do with visual thinking. This time it's aimed directly to the warm, fuzzy heart of what we really mean when we refer to "user experience". It's not about how fast we reply, it's not about how efficient our systems are, it's not about the efficacy of our databases and CRM capabilities. User experience is about making our customers feel good about doing whatever it is we'd like them to do.
We got a puppy a few weeks back. That felt good. It was just the breed my daughter had hoped for: a Bichon Frises. That felt good. Everyone was happy: the daughters, the parents, the breeder, the puppy. That felt good. After much contemplation and introspection, we finally settled on a name: Snowball. (He is a Bichon after all.) Yes, that felt good.
I filled out the official paperwork and wrote the check to get Snowball registered with that most august of bodies, the American Kennel Club. Having never had a purebred anything before, it took me a while to answer all the questions and get the papers mailed. In the end, though, it felt good; we're now part of "The Club", I thought with secret relish.
Then I got the response. And I quote...
The dog name you selected cannot be used because AKC has already registered the full allotment of this breed with your requested name.
So that we may continue processing your application, please print a VALID name choice in the space below."
Well, excuse me Mr or Ms. Club-to-whom-I-am-a-paying-member: I need to tell my daughter she can't call her puppy Snowball because that has exceeded your allocation and is therefore an invalid name?
WHAT?? The doggie name police?
Let this be a lesson to us all: we're seeing what happens when an organization forgets that it exists to serve its members, not the other way around. I think I'll pass on this membership, thanks. It seems the American Kennel Club doesn't know much about dogs and why people choose to befriend them. People outside The Bureaucracy, anyway.
I suppose I could be reading too much into this. But it feels good.
* This is not a photo of our Snowball. To protect the innocent, I pulled this photo from the online database of non-valid Snowballs.
Everything from darling little slip on flats in Christian Louboutin’s fabulous Tattoo design with the Christian Louboutin name prominently displayed on the toe to the extremely classy.
Posted by: christian sandals | April 22, 2010 at 12:43 AM
the puppy police have taken him why he is so good
Posted by: viagra online | January 06, 2010 at 06:30 AM
Call your baby "Snowball Roam" - blast the AKC if you need to... how many doggies have that name? My doggie's name is "Dallas." He was a rescue Sheltie and the sponsor closed her eyes, after opening a map of the United States and picked a spot...Dallas, Texas I suppose there is an allotment of people who live in that city. Forgettaboutit. Oh, and BTW, don't ask me about how he became known as "Dawish."
P.S. I LOVE puppies, and doggies of all kinds (except the fierce ones that bite). And... I paint doggie portraits for therapeutic value (for me that is), and my friends like their custom doggie portraits. Check them out at http://www.zazzle.com/dleyva08
Tell your daughter that her puppie's name is like hers... with a first name and a last name... "Snowball Roam" - after all, the puppy is part of the family too!
Posted by: Deborah Leyva | August 21, 2009 at 04:20 PM
I vote for AKCFAIL.
Posted by: Pet owner | August 15, 2009 at 10:14 AM
You can stil call your dog Snowball. It just won't be registered officially as such. It's like horses. They often have a registration name and then the name they go by in day to day life.
Posted by: Lobstah Johnson | August 06, 2009 at 12:52 PM
There's almost always a difference between the name you register with and the name you use, at least here in the UK with the KC. Usually the breeder registers a litter, with a Kennel name and litter name, then you just call the dog what you want, which may reference the official name or not.
Posted by: Rachel | August 02, 2009 at 11:37 PM
I'm voting for SNOWBALL001.
Posted by: bill | August 02, 2009 at 07:45 PM
I had a similar thought as I wrote the check... why am I doing this?!
My breeder told me that if I signed up that I should use the name of her kennel for the first part, and litter name after that... Kalorin J {dog name}. Helps when building the family tree.
Call me anything but late for supper.
Posted by: Mike J | July 30, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Nah, I don't think you are overreacting. This sort of thing happens more than it should and I am sure all of the commentators here can give examples.
Posted by: peterpixel | July 28, 2009 at 06:42 AM
Being a dog guy I loved your AKC post! You forgot to mention that if you want your dog to have a really-long-high-falutin-hoitie-toitie-dog-name-registered -and-official you have to pay extra for the extra letters. (I guess disk storage costs are hitting everybody.)
Matt
Posted by: Matthew McDermott | July 28, 2009 at 05:01 AM
What, they didn't give you suggestions, like snowball24 and so on? ;-)
I feel with you, i'm from the country that invented the "Bürokratie".
Posted by: Gerold Braun | July 28, 2009 at 01:35 AM
Your position is noted. Stand by for further action.
Posted by: The Beaurocracy | July 27, 2009 at 09:11 PM