501+ Prairie Dog Names With Name Generator

Prairie Dog Names are playful, charming, and often inspired by the lively personality of these social little burrowers. Prairie dogs are known for their alert whistles, tight-knit colonies, and curious nature, which makes naming them extra fun. Whether you’re naming a pet prairie dog, a plush toy, a mascot, or a character, the perfect name adds personality and heart.

Fun Facts About Prairie Dog Names

Prairie Dog Names often reflect their natural habitat—open grasslands, sunny plains, and earthy burrows. Many names are inspired by their chirping sounds, teamwork, and watchful behavior. Because prairie dogs live in large family groups called “towns,” names that feel friendly, cozy, and community-focused are especially popular. Cute, funny, and nature-inspired names tend to suit their energetic yet cautious personality perfectly.

Baby Prairie Dog Names

Baby prairie dogs are tiny, soft, and full of curious energy. Their names often sound sweet, gentle, and light. Soft syllables and affectionate meanings work beautifully for newborns. These names capture innocence, warmth, and playful beginnings—perfect for a little bundle of fluff just starting to explore the world above ground.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Pip	Small seed	Cute	English
Niblet	Tiny bite	Playful	English
Pebble	Small stone	Gentle	English
Sunny	Bright and warm	Cheerful	English
Tootsie	Little one	Sweet	American
Milo	Gentle strength	Soft	German
Coco	Sweet treat	Cute	French
Bambi	Little child	Tender	Italian
Sprout	New growth	Fresh	English
Dottie	Little dot	Adorable	English
Teddy	Brave heart	Warm	English
Munch	Little eater	Playful	English
Maple	Sweet tree	Cozy	English
Daisy	Fresh flower	Light	English
Snickers	Soft laugh	Silly	English
Honey	Sweet nectar	Loving	English
Pebby	Tiny rock	Cute	English
Poppy	Red flower	Cheerful	Latin
Tiny	Very small	Simple	English
Lulu	Precious	Sweet	Arabic

Male Prairie Dog Names

Male Prairie Dog Names often feel bold yet friendly. Since prairie dogs are protective and alert, strong but warm names fit well. Many male names highlight bravery, leadership, and loyalty while keeping a lighthearted charm that suits their playful digging and chirping habits.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Rusty	Red-brown	Rugged	English
Rocky	Strong stone	Bold	English
Scout	Explorer	Adventurous	English
Bandit	Little outlaw	Playful	English
Jasper	Treasure	Strong	Persian
Duke	Leader	Royal	English
Bruno	Brown	Solid	German
Leo	Lion	Brave	Latin
Hunter	Seeker	Wild	English
Ranger	Forest guardian	Cool	English
Oakley	From oak meadow	Nature	English
Cody	Helpful	Friendly	Irish
Max	Greatest	Confident	Latin
Tucker	Fabric worker	Casual	English
Benny	Blessed	Cheerful	Hebrew
Archie	Brave	Vintage	German
Finn	Fair	Calm	Irish
Oliver	Olive tree	Gentle	Latin
Charlie	Free man	Classic	English
Zeke	Strength of God	Powerful	Hebrew

Female Prairie Dog Names

Female Prairie Dog Names often feel sweet, graceful, and warm. Because prairie dogs are nurturing within their colonies, names that reflect kindness and gentleness are popular. Soft, melodic sounds work beautifully for a female prairie dog’s bright and attentive personality.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Willow	Graceful tree	Gentle	English
Rosie	Rose flower	Pretty	Latin
Hazel	Brown tree	Warm	English
Bella	Beautiful	Elegant	Italian
Clover	Lucky plant	Cheerful	English
Ruby	Red gem	Bold	Latin
Ivy	Faithful plant	Calm	English
Luna	Moon	Dreamy	Latin
Daisy Mae	Day flower	Sweet	English
Olive	Peace symbol	Soft	Latin
Ginger	Spicy root	Lively	English
Penny	Small coin	Cute	Greek
Tilly	Mighty in battle	Playful	German
Amber	Golden resin	Warm	Arabic
Skye	Open sky	Free	Scottish
Bonnie	Pretty	Cheerful	Scottish
Misty	Light fog	Soft	English
Nala	Successful	Gentle	African
Sandy	Defender	Earthy	Greek
Flora	Flower	Fresh	Latin

Cute Prairie Dog Names

Prairie dogs naturally inspire adorable names. Their little paws, whiskers, and upright stance make cute names feel like a perfect fit. Light, bubbly, and affectionate names capture their social spirit and sweet expressions.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Bubbles	Full of joy	Silly	English
Cupcake	Sweet treat	Adorable	English
Wiggles	Constant movement	Playful	English
Pudding	Soft dessert	Sweet	English
Noodle	Silly noodle	Funny	English
Chippy	Little chipmunk vibe	Cute	English
Snuggle	To cuddle	Warm	English
Muffin	Small cake	Cozy	English
Pickle	Tangy bite	Funny	English
Squeaky	High-pitched sound	Playful	English
Tater	Small potato	Sweet	English
Buttons	Small and round	Cute	English
Marshy	Soft marshmallow	Gentle	English
Cookie	Sweet biscuit	Cheerful	English
Jellybean	Tiny candy	Colorful	English
Fuzzy	Soft fur	Cozy	English
Sprinkles	Tiny toppings	Happy	English
Giggles	Laughing	Joyful	English
Doodle	Little sketch	Silly	English
Peaches	Sweet fruit	Warm	English

Funny Prairie Dog Names

Prairie dogs are famous for popping up from their burrows and chirping loudly, which makes funny names a natural choice. Humor adds personality and makes introductions memorable. These names highlight their dramatic poses and expressive behavior.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Sir Squeaks	Little knight	Comical	English
Burrow Boss	Tunnel leader	Funny	English
Whistleton	From whistle	Silly	English
Dig Dug	Digging sound	Playful	English
Prairie Puff	Fluffy plains	Cute	English
Dusty Pants	Dirt lover	Goofy	English
Captain Nibble	Tiny eater	Humorous	English
Popcorn	Pops up	Fun	English
Sheriff Fluff	Fluffy sheriff	Quirky	English
Chewbacca Jr	Little chewer	Comic	Pop
Dirt McGirt	Dirt lover	Silly	English
Mr. Wiggle	Wiggly friend	Playful	English
Nibbler	Small bites	Funny	English
Squawkster	Loud caller	Comical	English
Chunk Norris	Chunky fighter	Punny	English
Squeakzilla	Tiny monster	Dramatic	English
Tunnel Tim	Burrower	Light	English
Professor Paws	Smart paws	Clever	English
Mudpie	Dirt dessert	Cute	English
Rooty	Loves roots	Playful	English

A to Z Prairie Dog Names

An A to Z list helps you explore every letter for inspiration. This style is perfect when you want variety and creativity in one place. From classic to quirky, alphabetical names make it easier to find the right fit.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Archie	Brave	Friendly	German
Bailey	Bailiff	Casual	English
Chester	Camp dweller	Warm	Latin
Daisy	Day flower	Cheerful	English
Ember	Spark	Bold	English
Felix	Happy	Joyful	Latin
Gizmo	Gadget	Playful	English
Hazel	Brown tree	Soft	English
Indie	Independent	Cool	English
Jasper	Treasure	Strong	Persian
Koda	Friend	Gentle	Native
Lulu	Precious	Sweet	Arabic
Mochi	Rice cake	Cute	Japanese
Nugget	Small gold	Fun	English
Ollie	Olive tree	Calm	Latin
Pebbles	Small stones	Adorable	English
Quincy	Estate of five	Unique	French
Rusty	Red tone	Earthy	English
Sunny	Bright	Cheerful	English
Toby	God is good	Warm	Hebrew

Twin Prairie Dog Names

Twin prairie dogs are a double dose of cuteness, and their names often match in style, theme, or sound. Coordinated names create a sense of harmony and playfulness, making it fun to call them together. Many owners choose rhyming, complementary, or contrasting names that reflect their personalities or physical traits.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Peanut & Butter	Perfect pair	Cute	English
Salt & Pepper	Contrasting colors	Playful	English
Tango & Cash	Dynamic duo	Fun	English
Chip & Dale	Famous duo	Sweet	English
Nib & Nibble	Tiny bites	Adorable	English
Dash & Dot	Quick and small	Cheerful	English
Tic & Tac	Rhyming pair	Silly	English
Sunny & Sky	Bright and open	Light	English
Pippin & Pop	Tiny and fun	Playful	English
Sugar & Spice	Sweet & fiery	Cute	English
Peanut & Jelly	Classic pair	Friendly	English
Bumble & Bee	Busy bees	Cheerful	English
Flip & Flop	Comical pair	Silly	English
Chip & Chomp	Tiny eaters	Funny	English
Sprinkle & Sprinkle	Sweet duo	Cozy	English
Wriggle & Wiggle	Active twins	Playful	English
Twix & Twirl	Fun duo	Cute	English
Tiki & Toko	Rhythmic pair	Exotic	Hawaiian
Clover & Lucky	Fortune & joy	Cheerful	English
Puddle & Splash	Water-loving	Silly	English

Royal Prairie Dog Names

Royal names give your prairie dog a majestic or noble flair. Inspired by kings, queens, and legendary figures, these names reflect dignity, confidence, and elegance. Perfect for prairie dogs with strong personalities, these names can also be humorous when paired with their tiny size for an adorable contrast.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Prince	Noble leader	Regal	English
Duchess	Noble lady	Elegant	English
King	Ruler	Powerful	English
Queenie	Royal female	Charming	English
Duke	High rank	Classic	English
Baron	Noble title	Bold	English
Lady	Refined	Elegant	English
Sir Whiskers	Knightly honor	Playful	English
Princess	Royal daughter	Sweet	English
Earl	Nobleman	Sophisticated	English
Majesty	Grandeur	Powerful	English
Lordie	Gentle lord	Cozy	English
Regal	Royal essence	Elegant	English
Empress	Supreme female	Strong	English
Scepter	Authority	Majestic	English
Crown	Symbol of power	Bold	English
Monarch	Supreme ruler	Noble	English
Noble	Honorable	Gentle	English
Royalty	Supreme class	Elegant	English
Prince Charming	Storybook hero	Sweet	English

Nature Inspired Prairie Dog Names

Prairie dogs live in open grasslands, so nature-inspired names suit them perfectly. These names often reflect elements of the earth, plants, animals, and the weather, connecting your prairie dog to the world they inhabit. They’re ideal for those who love outdoorsy vibes.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Meadow	Open field	Calm	English
Sage	Wise herb	Gentle	Latin
Willow	Graceful tree	Soft	English
Clover	Lucky plant	Cheerful	English
River	Flowing water	Peaceful	English
Fern	Woodland plant	Fresh	English
Pebble	Small stone	Cute	English
Oakley	Strong tree	Bold	English
Rainy	Soft rain	Cozy	English
Sunny	Bright sun	Cheerful	English
Dune	Sand hill	Earthy	English
Aspen	Graceful tree	Calm	English
Birch	Slender tree	Elegant	English
Maple	Sweet tree	Warm	English
Ivy	Climbing plant	Gentle	English
Pine	Evergreen	Strong	English
Moss	Soft greenery	Cozy	English
Blossom	Flowering	Sweet	English
Aurora	Dawn light	Magical	Latin
Breeze	Gentle wind	Peaceful	English

Color Inspired Prairie Dog Names

Color-inspired names highlight your prairie dog’s coat or eye color, creating a personal and visual connection. From natural shades to bold, vibrant tones, these names emphasize beauty, personality, and charm.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Cocoa	Brown shade	Warm	English
Rusty	Reddish-brown	Earthy	English
Ebony	Deep black	Elegant	English
Snowy	White	Pure	English
Goldie	Golden	Cheerful	English
Silver	Shimmering metal	Sleek	English
Hazel	Brown-green eyes	Soft	English
Blue	Sky or eyes	Calm	English
Scarlet	Red	Bold	Latin
Ivory	Pale cream	Elegant	English
Chestnut	Brown	Natural	English
Sable	Dark brown	Sophisticated	French
Ash	Gray	Cool	English
Copper	Metallic brown	Warm	English
Onyx	Black stone	Mysterious	Greek
Jade	Green gem	Peaceful	Chinese
Amber	Golden resin	Warm	Arabic
Pearl	Lustrous	Gentle	Latin
Ruby	Red gem	Bold	Latin
Opal	Iridescent gem	Magical	Sanskrit

Brave Prairie Dog Names

Brave Prairie Dog Names capture courage, boldness, and a fearless spirit. These names are perfect for prairie dogs that are adventurous, always exploring new tunnels, or standing guard in their colonies. Strong-sounding and inspiring names highlight their confident and daring nature while still keeping a playful edge.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Valor	Courage	Strong	English
Hunter	Seeker	Bold	English
Thor	God of thunder	Powerful	Norse
Ace	Top performer	Confident	English
Blaze	Fire	Fierce	English
Maverick	Independent	Adventurous	English
Arrow	Sharp and fast	Bold	English
Titan	Giant strength	Strong	Greek
Scout	Explorer	Brave	English
Knight	Protector	Noble	English
Ranger	Forest guardian	Cool	English
Leo	Lion	Brave	Latin
Rusty	Earthy strength	Rugged	English
Odin	Wisdom & power	Majestic	Norse
Storm	Force of nature	Fierce	English
Jet	Fast & sleek	Bold	English
Hunter	Skilled tracker	Adventurous	English
Duke	Leader	Regal	English
Thorin	Brave leader	Strong	Norse
Griffin	Mythical beast	Fearless	Greek

Calm Prairie Dog Names

Calm Prairie Dog Names suit relaxed, gentle, or shy prairie dogs. These names often evoke tranquility, soft sounds, and peaceful vibes, making them perfect for prairie dogs who prefer lounging in their burrows or observing quietly. Names inspired by nature or soft textures work especially well.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Whisper	Soft sound	Gentle	English
Cloud	Soft & light	Calm	English
Breeze	Gentle wind	Peaceful	English
Misty	Light fog	Relaxed	English
Sage	Wise & soothing	Soft	Latin
Willow	Graceful tree	Gentle	English
Pebble	Small stone	Cozy	English
Dewdrop	Morning dew	Soft	English
Frost	Cool & calm	Gentle	English
River	Flowing water	Peaceful	English
Harmony	Balance & peace	Gentle	English
Snow	Pure & soft	Calm	English
Moss	Soft greenery	Cozy	English
Lullaby	Gentle song	Calm	English
Feather	Light & soft	Gentle	English
Olive	Peaceful	Soft	Latin
Aurora	Dawn light	Tranquil	Latin
Sky	Open & serene	Calm	English
Aspen	Graceful tree	Gentle	English
Meadow	Peaceful field	Calm	English

Energetic Prairie Dog Names

Energetic Prairie Dog Names reflect lively, active, and playful prairie dogs. These names are great for little diggers who zoom through tunnels, chatter constantly, and love socializing. Vibrant, fast-paced names match their spirited personality perfectly.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Zippy	Fast-moving	Playful	English
Dash	Quick & lively	Energetic	English
Sparky	Bright & lively	Cheerful	English
Bolt	Fast like lightning	Bold	English
Rocket	Speedy	Fun	English
Bounce	Jumping high	Playful	English
Flicker	Quick motion	Lively	English
Pogo	Energetic jump	Silly	English
Turbo	Speed & power	Exciting	English
Whisk	Fast motion	Playful	English
Wiggles	Constant movement	Joyful	English
Fidget	Always active	Lively	English
Blaze	Fiery energy	Bold	English
Zoom	Speed & motion	Fun	English
Sprinter	Quick runner	Energetic	English
Jolt	Sudden energy	Bold	English
Taz	Spirited	Wild	English
Flip	Acrobat	Playful	English
Skippy	Bouncy	Cheerful	English
Pep	Lively spirit	Energetic	English

Lazy Prairie Dog Names

Lazy Prairie Dog Names fit laid-back, sleepy, or chill prairie dogs. They are perfect for burrow loungers who love napping and slowly exploring the grasslands. Soft, cozy, and relaxed names reflect their easygoing personality.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin
Snoozer	Loves naps	Cozy	English
Dozer	Sleepy	Gentle	English
Slumber	Sleep	Calm	English
Napper	Loves resting	Soft	English
Chiller	Relaxed	Cool	English
Snuggles	Loves cuddles	Warm	English
Drift	Floating	Calm	English
Yawn	Sleepy	Playful	English
Cozy	Comfortable	Gentle	English
Mellow	Relaxed	Calm	English
Pillow	Soft & comfy	Gentle	English
Dreamer	Loves daydreams	Peaceful	English
Lazybones	Easygoing	Silly	English
Drowsy	Sleepy	Calm	English
Lull	Gentle	Relaxed	English
Napperella	Sleepy fairy	Cute	English
Softie	Gentle	Sweet	English
Cuddlebug	Loves cuddles	Cozy	English
Sloth	Relaxed	Lazy	English
Dozy	Sleepy	Soft	English

How to Choose the Perfect Prairie Dog Name (Expert Tips)

In my experience, choosing a prairie dog name is much more than picking something that “sounds cute.” I personally recommend observing your prairie dog’s behavior closely before deciding. Their temperament, energy levels, curiosity, and even playfulness often hint at the kind of name that will suit them best. Most of my family and friends have noticed that prairie dogs with high energy respond better to short, lively names, while calmer ones thrive with gentle, soothing names.

• Observe behavior: Temperament, habits, energy level, curiosity, calmness, or playfulness often suggest names that feel natural and fitting.
  
• Real-world observation: I often see prairie dogs mimicking sounds, exploring tunnels, or interacting socially—these moments often inspire their perfect names.
  
• Behavior-led naming: I personally believe matching the name to personality creates a deeper, emotionally accurate connection.
  
• Age considerations: Names that suit juveniles may not always fit mature animals; babies often respond to soft, short names, whereas adults may suit stronger, bolder names.
  
• Long-term fit: I recommend names that will grow with the prairie dog, reflecting personality evolution over time.
  
• Keep it short and clear: In my experience, prairie dogs recognize sound patterns better with simple, concise names.
  
• Ease of pronunciation: Short names improve bonding, responsiveness, and training success.
  
• Avoid confusing sounds: Names that overlap with commands, cues, or everyday words can cause stress or delayed responses.
  
• Clarity prevents confusion: Clear, distinct names make routines smoother and reduce frustration for both pet and owner.
  

By following these insights, I personally believe you create a more natural and emotionally fulfilling connection that lasts as your prairie dog grows.

Name Psychology: How Names Influence Human–Prairie Dog Bonding

I’ve spent years observing the way prairie dogs respond to names, and I can confidently say the right name profoundly affects bonding and communication. Most of my family and friends have noticed that prairie dogs quickly become more attentive and affectionate when consistently addressed by names that suit their personality.

• Recognition: Prairie dogs learn and recognize names through repetition, tone, and positive association. In my experience, a clear, short name makes it easier for them to respond reliably.
  
• Emotional attachment: Meaningful names transform animals from simple pets into cherished companions. I personally recommend choosing a name that resonates emotionally, which strengthens trust and familiarity.
  
• Training impact: I often see that prairie dogs with distinct, easily pronounced names respond faster to commands and adapt more smoothly to routines. Clear differentiation helps prevent misunderstandings and supports behavioral learning.
  
• Bonding reinforcement: Using a consistent name encourages attention, engagement, and playful interaction, enhancing companionship over time.
  

From my experience, naming is not just labeling—it’s building a shared language, emotional connection, and long-lasting relationship.

Naming Comparison Table

Below is a curated comparison of popular and thoughtfully selected prairie dog names. Each name has been chosen based on its meaning, tone, and the personality traits it evokes, giving you practical guidance when selecting the right fit for your furry companion.

Name	Meaning	Tone	Origin	Personality Trait
Pip	Small seed	Cute	English	Playful & Curious
Rusty	Red-brown	Rugged	English	Adventurous & Bold
Willow	Graceful tree	Gentle	English	Calm & Nurturing
Dash	Quick & lively	Energetic	English	Active & Spirited
Clover	Lucky plant	Cheerful	English	Friendly & Social
Squeaky	High-pitched sound	Playful	English	Talkative & Alert
Hazel	Brown-green eyes	Soft	English	Observant & Caring
Pebble	Small stone	Cozy	English	Calm & Grounded
Scout	Explorer	Adventurous	English	Curious & Brave
Bubbles	Full of joy	Silly	English	Playful & Cheerful
Ember	Spark	Bold	English	Spirited & Confident
Sunny	Bright & warm	Cheerful	English	Optimistic & Social
Pippin	Small & lively	Sweet	English	Playful & Energetic
Thor	God of thunder	Powerful	Norse	Brave & Protective
Luna	Moon	Dreamy	Latin	Calm & Gentle
Niblet	Tiny bite	Playful	English	Curious & Affectionate
Cocoa	Brown shade	Warm	English	Relaxed & Friendly
Maverick	Independent	Adventurous	English	Bold & Spirited
Snuggle	To cuddle	Warm	English	Loving & Cozy
Rocket	Fast & daring	Energetic	English	Lively & Confident

I personally recommend using this table as a starting point. In my experience, selecting a name that aligns with your prairie dog’s personality, age, and energy creates the most harmonious and enduring bond. I’ve found that careful observation combined with emotional intuition leads to names that feel natural, joyful, and deeply connected for both owner and prairie dog.

Conclusion

Choosing the perfect prairie dog name is a meaningful and rewarding experience that goes far beyond just picking something cute. In my experience, observing your prairie dog’s personality, energy, and behavior provides the most accurate insight into which names will suit them best. I personally recommend selecting names that are short, clear, and easy to pronounce, as prairie dogs respond better to simple sound patterns, improving bonding, training, and responsiveness. Most of my family and friends have noticed that names reflecting temperament—whether playful, calm, or adventurous—enhance the emotional connection and create a sense of familiarity. I’ve spent years watching how meaningful names transform prairie dogs from adorable pets into engaging, interactive companions. By considering age, personality, and long-term growth, you can choose names that remain suitable from baby to adult, ensuring your prairie dog’s identity evolves naturally with them. Short, distinctive, and behavior-inspired names prevent confusion, reinforce positive interactions, and strengthen the human-animal bond. Overall, a thoughtful prairie dog name is a key step in nurturing a loving, joyful, and emotionally satisfying relationship that both you and your prairie dog will cherish for years.

FAQs

What are good names for baby prairie dogs?

Good baby prairie dog names are often short, soft, and sweet, like Pip, Niblet, or Pebble. In my experience, names that are gentle and playful match their small size and curious nature, making it easier for them to recognize and respond. Simple sounds also aid early training and bonding.

How do I pick a name based on a prairie dog’s personality?

Observe behavior closely. Playful prairie dogs respond well to energetic names like Dash or Bubbles, while calm ones suit gentle names like Willow or Pebble. I personally recommend letting behavior guide the choice, as it feels natural and strengthens emotional connection.

Can prairie dogs recognize long names?

Prairie dogs respond best to short, clear names. In my experience, longer names or complex sounds can confuse them, slowing training and reducing responsiveness. Names with one or two syllables are ideal for recognition and bonding.

Should I consider coat color when naming?

Yes, color-inspired names like Cocoa, Rusty, or Snowy often reflect physical traits and make names more personal. I personally believe matching visual characteristics with names enhances attachment and creates a natural, memorable identity.

Are twin prairie dog names different?

Twin prairie dogs benefit from coordinated or complementary names, like Peanut & Butter or Dash & Dot. I’ve found that rhyming or paired names make it fun to call both at once while preserving individuality.

How does age affect name choice?

Baby prairie dogs often respond best to soft, playful names. As they mature, stronger or bolder names may suit their growing personality. I personally recommend selecting names flexible enough to match developmental changes over time.

Do names affect training success?

Absolutely. Clear, short, and distinct names improve training speed and responsiveness. Most of my family and friends have noticed that prairie dogs with easily recognized names learn commands faster and show stronger behavioral consistency.

Can a funny name work long-term?

Yes, humor in a name can enhance personality and bonding, but I personally recommend balancing cuteness with clarity to avoid confusion during training or daily routines.

Should I avoid names that sound like commands?

Yes, overlapping sounds can confuse prairie dogs. I personally believe keeping names distinct from common commands reduces stress, prevents miscommunication, and improves responsiveness.

How do I know if a name “fits”?

Observe their response. In my experience, a prairie dog that perks up, chirps, or approaches when called shows the name feels natural. Names that match temperament, behavior, and personality create an emotional bond and long-lasting connection.