What will you call your new companion? He may be brown with long ears, short, with a coat like a snowball, or tall and muscular. Choosing a name is a big decision. It will belong to your puppy for the rest of his life.
As humans, we select names for our children based on heritage and meaning. You can do this with your puppy, but it is not necessary. Puppy doesn’t care that “Lily” is a beautiful flower or that “Jack” has English origins. He just wants to know what you want him to respond to when you call.
One rule of thumb for puppy naming is to keep it simple. It may be cute and unusual to name a dog “Crouching Tiger”, but it isn’t practical. If names are too long, puppy won’t remember it and others might not either. One simple rule to make choosing a name for your puppy easier is to keep it to three or less syllables.
Also, think about what your puppy’s name may sound like to him or her. If it sounds like a command, he may take off running or jump at the mailman instead of sitting down. Puppy names that are similar to the commands you give can be confusing to your pup. If you use these commands: sit, run, stop, quiet, stay, heel, roll over, and fetch, don’t use puppy names like Fletch, Kit, Sun, Bill, and Cole.
Pets are not people but they do deserve respect as another member of the family. You are supposed to be welcoming them into your home and your life. Names like Butt, Loser, Dummy, and Nitwit are demeaning. They encourage teasing from others who come in contact with your puppy. Most animals don’t like to be teased, especially dogs. They can respond by biting or pouncing on the unfortunate teaser. Not to mention, would you want someone calling you a demeaning name? Your puppy won’t like it either.
Dog experts recommend short names that end in vowel sounds. Most commands don’t end in vowel sounds, so puppy won’t get confused when he’s called. If you own a Dachshund, you can name him “Hero” like a hero sandwich. These dogs always remind me of a sausage without the bun. The name is short, easy to remember, and not disrespectful to puppy.
Below is a list of the more popular names for dogs. Choose a name from this list or come up with your own.
• Max
• Lady
• Lucy
• Princess
• Rusty
• Rocky
• Buster
• Shelby
• Jake
• Ginger
• Sandy
• Sophie
• Sparky
• Buddy
• Missy
Take your time when naming puppy. Consider his behavior and personality, but above all, treat him with dignity when it comes to naming him. He’ll thank you for taking the time to consider a good name for many years to come.
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