How to decide on the name for your dog

Once you’ve found the perfect dog, the next step is to come up with the best name to suit your new canine companion.

29 Mar 2016 By Andrew Clarke Comments

Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

  • Some dog owners use the animal’s breed as a source of name inspiration. For example, a German Shepherd could have a German name, a Shih Tzu could have a Chinese name.
  • Use a name inspired by the dog’s physical characteristics. A Dalmatian could be “Dot” or “Dotty”, and a Poodle could be “Curly.”
  • You can also draw inspiration from your hobbies. You can name a dog after your favourite pop stars, cheese, Renaissance artists, popular composers, wine, whatever you’re into!

What’s in a name:

  • Make sure to choose a name that you (and your family) will like. Remember you will be using the name for a long time, so it should be something that you like and are comfortable using.
  • Do not give your dog a name that is somehow embarrassing or offensive. Steer clear of curse words, rude slang, insults, or racial and cultural slurs. Calling a dog “Poopface” in the park is just embarrassing.
  • Renaming older dogs can be confusing for them. If you really REALLY want to give your dog a new name, make sure that it’s new name sounds very similar to the old name (unless it’s name is Poopface).
  • In general, avoid naming your dog after a relative or a close friend. This might offend the person. The dog wouldn’t really care, but might come running to you if you were talking to a similarly named relative or friend.

Sounds about right:

One-or two-syllable names are ideal. This could save you the pain of having to call your dog with a seven-syllable name every time it runs away from you at the park or when you are calling it to come inside the house.

Avoid dog names that sound a lot like training commands. For example, Joe or Bo sounds a lot like “no.” Giving your dog a name that sounds similar to a training command might end up confusing it. Imagine having your dog stop in its tracks or cower whenever you yell “Joe”! Common training commands include sit, down, fetch, stay, or heel.

Should you choose a long name, for example, Lord Hubert Snufflepants, have a one- or two-syllable nickname that you can easily use. Lord Hubert Snufflepants could always be “Hub” or “Snuffle.”

Trying out the new name for a couple of days is ideal, if your dog responds to it’s new name well then your work is done.

29 Mar 2016 By Andrew Clarke Comments

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