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Naming Your Puppy or Dog

Picking just the right name for your pooch isn't always easy, especially when the whole family has an opinion. From old and reliable dog names to new and catchy monikers, there are literally hundreds of thousands of names out there for your pet. Which one is right for your four-legged friend? Keep reading to learn how you can pick the perfect name for your pooch!

Sources of Inspiration for Pet Names

Sometimes, you'll know your pup's name as soon as you meet him. For example, if a large spot covers most of your dog's face, Spot might be the perfect name for him!

Often, however, people need a little more inspiration to come up with the right dog name. Pet names can come from a number of inspirations, including:

a childhood sweetheart
a favorite place
a favorite song
the color of your dog's fur
your favorite activity.

Some people might even choose to name their dogs after their favorite TV characters. For example, a Seinfeld fan might decide to name her new pugs Cosmo and Newman! When trying to pick a name for your pet, keep an open mind: A source of inspiration could come from anywhere!

However, remember that you want your dog's name to express his personality, not just yours. Therefore, one of the best ways to choose a name for your dog is to simply observe your new pal and follow your heart.

Don't feel as if you need to name your pooch as soon as you bring him home. Often, people name their pet only to find out later that another name would have fit the dog's personality better suited.

Teaching Your Pet His Name

Repetition is key when teaching your pet his name. Use the dog's name as frequently as possible when you play with him, feed him and groom him. Also, make sure you use his name when rewarding him for good behavior.

In the beginning, you'll want your pup to associate his name with good things, so avoid using it in stressful situations or when you are punishing him. You want your dog to link his name with positive experiences, not negative ones. If he grows up associating his name with bad experiences and with getting in trouble, he will be unlikely to come to you when you call him.

Popular versus Unusual Dog Names

Believe it or not, there are trends in dog names just like there are in baby names. One year, Fido might be the most popular dog name. Twelve months later, Spot might take the prize.

If you want your pooch to be the most popular in the park, you might want to pick a name that ranks high on most people's list of names. If you want your dog to be seen as a pooch that marches to the beat of a different drummer, however, you might want to pick a more uncommon or unusual name. A dog named Sir Scruffy is sure to turn heads!

Matching Names

Do you have two dogs to name? If so, you might want to consider matching their names. Here are some classic combinations:

Bert and Ernie
Fred and Ginger
Salt and Pepper
Scooby and Scrappy
Snoopy and Woodstock.

If you have three pups, you might consider one of these trios:

Princess, Queen and King
Rose, Violet and Tulip.

Using Heritage for Inspiration

Sometimes, certain breeds call for certain names. If your new friend is a French poodle, for example,you might want to name her Mimi or Fifi. An appropriate name for a German Shepherd might be Baron, and Valentino might be fitting for an Italian greyhound.

Think about finding your pet a name from its country of origin. To learn popular names in other countries, you might consider picking up one of the country's baby naming guides. These books offer a ton of names as well as their meanings.

Did You Know …
Did you know that the Italian Greyhound didn't originate in Italy? This breed originated in the Mediterranean basin, possibly in the area we now call Greece and Turkey.

Italian greyhounds, also known as miniature greyhounds, earned their names when they became popular in Italy in the 16th century.

What to Avoid

When naming your dog, it is important to avoid a few things. Keep these tips in mind when choosing a name:

Dogs can more easily understand names that contain multiple syllables. Avoid single-syllable names, as your pet could more easily confuse it with other sounds or words.
Avoid names that are similar to commands that you will eventually teach your dog. For example, if you want your pet to learn the command "stay," you probably won't want to name him "Ray."

If you have more than one pet, keep their names phonetically distinct. If you have three dogs and name them Huey, Dewey and Lewey, for example, they could become confused.