6 Tips for Choosing the Right Name for your Dog

When bringing a new dog home, there are many decisions to be made. Where will the dog sleep? What will the dog eat? What tricks will you teach the dog? One of the arguably most important decisions to be made, though, is what will be the dog’s name? Subconsciously, a name helps shape what you and others think of your dog. What are the first thoughts that come to mind about a dog named Buttercup, Killer, or Max? Listed here are helpful tips to choose the perfect name for your new pup.

Narrow down the type of name you would like

The majority of dogs are given human names, which speaks highly of how we see our pets. Some people are put off by the idea of a human name for a dog and instead choose names based on the dog’s appearance (i.e. "Spot" for a Dalmatian or "Shadow" for an all-black dog). Others name their dogs after objects (i.e. Daffodil or Pumpkin) or hobbies (Gunner for someone who likes to hunt or Tempo for a running enthusiast). First choosing a naming category can make the decision easier.

Choose a unique name

This tip is especially important if you plan to take your dog to dog parks, play dates, or daycare. The top five most common names for male dogs are Bailey, Max, Charlie, Buddy, and Rocky, while the top five female names are Bella, Lucy, Molly, Daisy, and Maggie. If you are ever in a situation where you need to get your dog’s attention out of multiple dogs, having a unique name is key.

Keep syllables to a minimum

A one or two-syllable name is useful when needing to convey information quickly to your dog. For instance, if your dog runs out the front door and towards the street, yelling "Sam, no!" will be more effective than yelling, "Mr. Peabody, stop!" The difference between one syllable or five could save a life.

Choose a name that makes you happy

Dogs are extremely sensitive to their human’s emotions. Do not choose a name until everyone in the family can agree on one they all like. If little Timmy chooses the name "Stinkbutt" but Mom and Dad cannot stand the name and have a hard time happily calling it out, the dog may confuse this consternation as displeasure towards him or her, and become sad and confused.

Wait a few days to make your decision

Take time to observe your dog’s personality. If you are dead-set on the name Gabriel, but the dog is more of a Brutus, it is better to find this out early on rather than after the dog has already learned his or her name.

Use your dog’s heritage as inspiration

Germanic names such as Kaiser, Elke, or Fritz may be appropriate for a German Shepherd or Weimaraner, while Japanese names such as Keiko or Akiko may be fitting for a Shiba Inu. Exotic names are not only great conversation starters, are guaranteed to be unique!

When choosing a name for your dog, the most important rule is to have fun and be happy with the final result. A name that makes you smile will ultimately make your dog cheerful, which should be most important!

You’ll find more information that will help you enjoy every day with your dog at www.86pets.net