Choosing puppy names is a breeze with these top tips
Choosing puppy names should be a simple task, but for some reason many dog owners find it as difficult as trigonometry.
They’ll spend weeks switching from one name to the next, before finally settling on a less-than-perfect name. Bad mistake!
I mean, you’ll and your dog are going to be spending many years together, so the last thing you want do do is to choose a name that doesn’t fit. Particularly if you decide to change it later, and totally confuse your dog.
The good news is that choosing puppy names is a relatively simple business, and I’ve put 10 tips together for you that make it an absolute breeze.
Ready to get started? Here’s how to find great puppy names;
- One or two-syllable names are usually a good choice. They are easy to say, and easy for your dog to learn.
- I’m not suggesting that you ignore more exotic and unusual names. But bear in mind that your dog may take some time before he becomes familiar with his name.
- So if you decide on call your dog Zerxes because you are fascinated by Persian history, that’s fine. But think about a nickname for calling, something like “Zerk” perhaps. Where possible, avoid names that are similar to voice commands. It will hamper your training efforts. “Joe” can easily be confused with “no”, while a name like “Fletch” may be confused with “fetch.”
- Also, don’t choose a name that sounds like that of a family member, or another pet in the household. It gets awful confusing!
- Don’t give your dog a name that will embarrass him. Names like Butthead or Stinky are a no-no. Dogs have feelings too.
- Think about descriptive puppy names, for example names that describe his color, breed, size etc. A ‘big’ name like “Hannibal”, doesn’t sit well with a sweet little Pomeranian. And Babycakes might not work for your Rottweiler. Of course, you may enjoy irony, in which case these are excellent choices!
- As cute as your puppy is now, remember that he will grow – normally faster than you think. “Tiny” may seem like a good idea for your little Newfie pup, but may work as well for the 260-pound adult, as well.
- An absolute gold-mine for dog names is the origins of the breed. Consider famous historical figures, locations, events and so on from your breed’s home country. For example, think “Gorky” for a Siberian Husky, “Baja” for a Chihuahua, or “Winston”, for an English Bulldog.
- And why not look at your own interests and hobbies for inspiration? Music lover? Love Country, Metal or Blues? Try Dolly, Maiden or Joplin – or your own favorite. Now think about what intests you and you’re well on your way to hundreds of great names.
- Finally, where appropriate, find out a bit about the name you’ve chosen for your dog.
If all of this still seems like a bit of a chore, there’s and excellent resource at Puppy Names HQ, with thousands of great puppy names.
