7 Puppy Naming Tips

You've picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Then you went from breeder to breeder or humane society to humane society, meeting and greeting pups until you find just the right match.

Now what? He needs a name!

Over the course of its life, you will use your dog's name more than 35,000 times. So be sure you're picking a name you can live with and love.

With these seven simple steps, the key to finding the perfect puppy name is at your fingertips!

  • Dogs understand short commands. Easy names with two or fewer syllables work well.
  • Your puppy's name shouldn't sound like any commands. "Stacy" and "stay" are too close for comfort. Such a name will only confuse the issue.
  • Remember, you'll be using your pup's name in public. "Boner" may be cute among your fellow fraternity members, but it won't go over well at the veterinarian.
  • Make your kids part of the decision process. Kids like it simple, too, so if calling your Champion Cavalier King Spaniel "Bootsie" works for them, consider keeping the hoity toity name strictly for AKC purposes.
  • You may think it's an honor to name your pup after you're favorite Uncle Norbert. Naming your baby after him may keep you in the will, but naming your puppy after him won't.
  • If you're bringing home an older dog, ideally, stick with the name it already owns. Can't stand it because "Barney" was the first boy who broke your heart? Then stick with similar sounds when choosing a new dog name. "Barney" morphs into "Farley" easily.
  • Once you've chosen a name, try it out for a day or so. You'll know right away whether it's a keeper. If not, there's always more puppy names on your list!

Take a look around you. Everywhere you are, you'll find a variety of terrific ideas on what to name your pooch.

At first glance, a couple things will stand out about your new puppy. Enjoy him or her for a day or two and take these into consideration.

  • Appearance. What's your dog look like? His color, size, and personal style inspires a variety of name choices. "Stubbs" would be a great name for a dachshund pup. Or you may call a cream colored cock-a-poo "Buffy."
  • Personality. Given a couple of days, your new dog's personality will really shine through. Try "Cuddles" for the sweet little guy who loves to get cozy or "Puddles" for the pooch who can't seem to find the doggie door.

If you want to go beyond the basics, many famous dog names or foreign dog names can fit the bill. Consider these favorite puppy names when making your decision.

  • Celebrity puppy names. Today, pooches have more celebrity following than their famous owners. Chew on "Lola," a name used by both Hilary Duff and the Osbournes.
  • TV dogs. "Scooby" and "Astro" come to mind if you want to honor a famous TV pup.
  • Movie dogs. Cool movies and cool dog names seem to go hand in hand. Cool Hand Luke's "Blue" would be a fitting label for a variety of dogs. Or try "Bodie," from the weeper Steel Magnolias.
  • Comic dogs. "Snoopy" will always be a favorite, but also consider "Daisy" or "Odie."
  • German dog names. For starters, try out "Fritz" or "Kaiser."
  • Irish dog names. "Finn" fits well for any pup, as does "Murphy," which just happens to mean "hound of the sea."
  • French puppy names. "Pierre" and "Gigi" are top contenders for any dog, especially those with a little oo-la-la in their genes.

The choices are endless. However, with these simple tips and some thought, before long, you'll have found the perfect puppy name!

Want to find a puppy name? The author, Jennifer McVey, uses her free time searching for common and not-so-common names for your canine friends. As webmistress of http://www.favorite-puppy-names.com, she delivers a comprehensive dogs name list along with great naming tips to help make the puppy naming process easy and fun!

In The News:


News24

Tropical storm and disaster preparedness for pets
Tri Parish Times, LA - Sep 5, 2008
As Tropical Storm Gustav heads toward the Gulf Coast and develops into hurricane strength, Banfield, The Pet Hospital would like to remind family members ...
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Times Online, UK - 7 hours ago
Pedigree cats are also among the pets needing new homes as owners face rising living costs. Anne Power, a co-ordinator for the Ragdoll Rehome Group, ...

WNCT

Pet care facilities available during storms
ENC Today, NC - 2 hours ago
When it comes to major storms, residents and local officials must do as much to prepare pets as they do for humans. "All people really need to do is what's ...
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Dear Heloise: Thanks for telling pet owners to put COLLARS WITH LICENSES for identification on their pets. Please also continue to recommend microchips. ...

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Houston Chronicle, United States - Sep 5, 2008
Won't my pet become overweight? Get answers. Readers debate the benefits of holding off on neutering for a couple of years. Join the discussion. ...

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Salt Lake Tribune, United States - Sep 5, 2008
Visit the Utah Animal Adoption Center, 1955 N. Redwood Road, or visit www.utahanimaladoptioncenter.org. For more information, call 801-355-PETS.
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The Best Friends Rapid Response Team provided 3000 pet carriers when it learned some animals were turned away from buses because they didn't have their own ...

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By Diane Wagner, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer Pets are not forgotten in Floyd County’s emergency readiness plan for handling a major disaster. ...

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