The Word “Floofin” Defined

After my husband and I calmed down from our wedding, honeymoon, and moving into a new home in 2008, two special things waddled into our lives: our Maltese puppies, Priscilla and Portia. I shared their story last year in this blog when we celebrated their 16th birthday. As we approach their 17th birthday in July, I want to once again shine a light on them and their legacy – a legacy they live every day by being constant reminders of why we do what we do. They inspired the name of our company, so we’ll also have to give you a little background on the word “Floofin.” Here goes!

The History of the Word “Floofin”

Since the day they joined our family, my husband Chris, aka the “King of Interesting Nicknames“, tried to refer to the girls as a pair. They are, after all, litter mates so we needed a term that included them both.

He tried things like “ladies,” “girls,” “babies,” even, “poopies…” but nothing quite stuck. One day, after many failed attempts and ignored calls, Prissy and Portia finally looked at my husband together; they were officially “Floofins!”

The Word “Floofin” Defined

At Floofins and Co. we define a “Floofin” as a furry family member. We aim to treat the Floofins in our care like our own Floofins. Though our “Co.” has many furry clients, we also care for feathered, finned, and scaled friends. They are all Floofins to us!

The Floofins’ Legacy

One of the reasons Floofins & Co. has been serving Elmhurst, IL and surrounding communities for going on 15 years now is because of Prissy and Portia. They didn’t respond well to boarding or kenneling, which inspired me to develop what I now refer to as “a kenneling alternative” – also known as in-home pet care.

When they were young pups, and, now that they have aged, Priscilla and Portia thrive in their home environment and in the care of a trusted, trained, and dedicated professional from our team. They are most comfortable at home, their needs are best met at home, and, for my husband and myself, knowing this now delicate pair is safely home gives us peace of mind no matter where our workdays and travels take us.

It’s because of Prissy and Portia that we offer these same safeguards, standards, and dedicated services to you and your pets!

Join Us in Using the Word “Floofin”

We hope this word will someday be added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. But, the consideration for that particular honor is quite complex. For a word to be entered into the dictionary on the basis of actual usage, the best way to get a word in the dictionary, says Merriam -Webster, “is to use it and to encourage others (especially professional writers and editors) to use it.” Specifically, they explain that “a word must be widely used in a broad range of professionally written and edited materials over an extended period of time.”

It sounds like we need to make friends with journalists… If you know any writers willing to help, let us know!

In the meantime, we’ve submitted our definition of the word “floofin” to Urban Dictionary. We’ll keep you posted on whether or not it gets approved. We, of course, encourage you to use the words “Floofin” or “Floofins” when describing your furry, feathered, finned, and scaled pets, especially if you’re communicating with us.

The Best Care for Elmhurst Pets & Surrounding Communities

At Floofins & Co., we’re committed to every Floofins in our care. No matter their species, age, temperament, or needs, we strive to offer outstanding service, dedicated attention, and unparalleled peace of mind to all Floofins – those the humans that love them!

If you are new to Floofins & Co. and interested in our dog walking, pet sitting, dog training, or pet photography services, please fill out our contact form. Once received, we will be in touch to further discuss your interest. Please give us a call at 630-478-8915 or drop us a line at info@floofinsandco.com. We are happy to discuss our services from Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.

Learn more about our in-home pet care new client onboarding process here. If you are an existing client, please schedule services here.