After weeks of researching dogs, dog food, dog health, where to buy a puppy, dog treats, and dog nutrition you’ve finally decided to go out and get a puppy. You should be very proud of yourself. Hey, you worked hard to make sure you got the right dog for your children, your home, and yourself. But the one thing you thought was going to be sooooo easy now appears to be the most difficult – deciding on a puppy name.
Your puppy’s name will stick with them for years to come, and you want to make sure their name is as cool in ten years as it is today. Naming your last dog “Weird Al” was cool in 1992, but when you were playing fetch with him in the park in 2002 and you had to call out “Weird Al, come here boy.”, you were a little embarrassed, admit it. In the following I will outline some strategies that will help you make a great decision when deciding on a puppy name.
Dog’s respond to short and easy commands i.e. sit, lie down, roll over, shake, etc. Princess Dandyridge Brandywine is the name of a cavalier featured on the show Sex and the City. The character Charlotte adopts the dog and renames her Elizabeth Taylor. Both are bad names because of the length. Essentially you are asking your dog to remember an eight syllable string of sounds – not likely. Stick to one or two syllable names. Your dog will respond to them quickly and have less confusion.
Also important to remember, don’t give your dog a puppy name that rhymes with or sounds like one of the commands you intend to teach them. The name Stacy is far too similar to the command stay. If you try to teach your dog their name and the command stay, you may end up having a dog that stays put every time you call her or comes to you every time you ask her to stay. So please, for your dog’s psyche, stay away from puppy names like Jay, Grey, or Ray.
Most importantly, obscene puppy names are not a good idea. Names that contain the root word of any four letter words should never be used, ever. They are not funny, will never be funny, and in the end you are going to look like an idiot every time you take your dog to the vet. “Sir we can now see … um … oh my goodness …” Don’t be that guy.
Giving your dog a great puppy name should be fun. Their name should reflect a playfulness or ferocity that is relevant to their breed. Golden retrievers and German Shepherds sound great with names like Sport, Buddy, or Jack. Chihuahua’s with names like Chico, Speedy, or Shaky are always acceptable. Within a few hours of owning your dog their personality will come out and help you name them. Pay attention to these subtle signs, they will help you come up with a perfect puppy name.
Good luck!
