How to Choose a Name for Your Dog

Every new puppy owner has been there before: the time you need to choose a name for your dog. Picking a name can be stressful, as you want to find something that is meaningful that fits your dog at the same time. Once you pick a name, you need to stick with it as switching names on your dog can only cause confusion. Take a look below at some helpful tips on how to choose a name for your dog. These tips can help you pick the name that fits your pup just right.

1. Go with the flow.
You want to pick a name that flows easily. For as often as you will need to call for your dog, you don’t want to find yourself tripping up over the name. Try a few of your favorites out loud and see how easy it flows from your mouth. A name like KingJohnSquarePantsLightningBoltSpiderManUnicorn is great and all but pick one name that the family will call the dog. It would be very hard to say that entire name in an emergency situation and having to say all of that on a regular basis will have each family member calling the dog the name they picked which will confuse everyone not to mention the dog.

2. Give him a glance.
Take a good look at your dog. What features seem to stick out? Take some of the fun physical attributes from your dog and use them to pick a name. Let the ears, eyes, mouth, and even color of his fur guide you. The first picture I saw of Indiana she was a little tiny puppy climbing a rock. Indiana is now 100% Tom Boy.

3. Avoid the common.
Names like Spot are cute, but chances are a great deal of others have used this name too. This can cause confusion at your local vet or should your pet ever become lost. Choose a name that is more than run of the mill to let your pup stand out from the pack. Davinia would not have been my first choice but by the time she came to live with me Davinia was 8 months old and used to her name. She know only love, attention, care so I felt changing her name was not something necessary.

4. Avoid Certain endings.
Never give your dog a name that sounds like no or bad. It is confusing for them and not helpful when you are trying to teach them basic obedience.

5. Dogs live up to their name.
Avoid names like Killer or Danger or Crazy or Lazy. Dogs live up to their names. Avoid them in any language. You will be happy you did.

6. Give your dog a name that will work throughout their lifetime.
It is easy to name a puppy something cutesy but you will regret it later when they weigh 100 lbs and are old and gray. Find something that will work their entire life.

Naming your dog is a fun experience that only happens once in his life, make it a meaningful gesture! It might take a few days but the right name will come to you eventually.