diff --git a/monascastatsd/client.py b/monascastatsd/client.py
index ffdd07c..34391cb 100644
--- a/monascastatsd/client.py
+++ b/monascastatsd/client.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 
 """Monasca-Statsd is a Python client for Statsd that adds dimensions.
 """
+from monascastatsd import common
 from monascastatsd.connection import Connection
 from monascastatsd.counter import Counter
 from monascastatsd.gauge import Gauge
@@ -106,24 +107,11 @@ class Client(object):
 
         name that was passed in on instantiation.
         """
-        if self._name:
-            metric = self._name
-            if name:
-                metric = metric + "." + name
-        else:
-            metric = name
-        return metric
+        return common.update_name(self._name, name)
 
     def _update_dimensions(self, dimensions):
         """Update the dimensions list with the default
 
         dimensions that were passed in on instantiation.
         """
-        if self._dimensions:
-            new_dimensions = self._dimensions.copy()
-        else:
-            new_dimensions = {}
-        if dimensions:
-            new_dimensions.update(dimensions)
-
-        return new_dimensions
+        return common.update_dimensions(self._dimensions, dimensions)
diff --git a/monascastatsd/common.py b/monascastatsd/common.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..782cca1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monascastatsd/common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+#   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+#   You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+#   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+#   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+#   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+#   limitations under the License.
+
+
+def update_dimensions(dimensions_base=None, dimensions=None):
+    new_dimensions = (dimensions_base or {}).copy()
+    new_dimensions.update(dimensions or {})
+
+    return new_dimensions
+
+
+def update_name(name_base=None, postfix=None):
+    if name_base and postfix:
+        return "{}.{}".format(name_base, postfix)
+    else:
+        return name_base or postfix
diff --git a/monascastatsd/metricbase.py b/monascastatsd/metricbase.py
index a9cf62a..55d88e1 100644
--- a/monascastatsd/metricbase.py
+++ b/monascastatsd/metricbase.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 # (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 # SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
+from monascastatsd import common
+
 
 class MetricBase(object):
     """Base class for all metric types.
@@ -54,24 +56,11 @@ class MetricBase(object):
 
         dimensions that were passed in on instantiation.
         """
-        if self._dimensions:
-            new_dimensions = self._dimensions.copy()
-        else:
-            new_dimensions = {}
-        if dimensions:
-            new_dimensions.update(dimensions)
-
-        return new_dimensions
+        return common.update_dimensions(self._dimensions, dimensions)
 
     def update_name(self, name):
         """Update the metric name with the metric
 
         base name that was passed in on instantiation.
         """
-        if self._name:
-            metric = self._name
-            if name:
-                metric = metric + "." + name
-        else:
-            metric = name
-        return metric
+        return common.update_name(self._name, name)