Top Tips for Naming Dogs

All things being equal, you and your dog are going to spend a long time together and you are going to be calling his name many, many times over.

So choose wisely!

Spend a few days getting to know your pup, studying his habits, personality and character before deciding. The last thing you want is to choose a name that doesn’t fit and has be changed later on.

And there are even more important reasons to make the right choice.

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance, the US's oldest pet insurance provider, giving your dog the wrong name can result in learning difficulties, behavioural issues and problems with recognition.

No pressure then!

Here are our top 10 Tips for Naming Dogs;

1. One or two-syllable names work best. They are good for calling, they roll off the tongue easily, and are easy for your pet to recognize.

2. Want a more exotic name? Great! Try it out, say it out loud, think about calling your dog by it. How does it sound?

If “heel Rumpelstilskin” seems a bit of a mouthful you may want to reconsider, or think about using a “call name” (in this case maybe ‘Rum’, or Rumble”).

3. Be aware of choosing dog names that sound similar to voice commands. Joe can sound like “no” to your dog, Fletch can sound like “fetch”.

4. Similarly, don't give your dog a name that sounds similar to other pet's (or family member’s) names. It just causes confusion!

5. Avoid names that will embarrass you when you call your dog - imagine you are at the dog park, and have to call “Butthead”. How does that make you feel? More importantly, how does it make your dog feel?

6. Certain names work better with certain types of dog. A Pomeranian called “Magnus” or a Pitbull named “Tinkerbell”? I don’t think so!

7. When choosing names for dogs, also consider the origins of the breed. For example, Guinness may be suited to an Irish Wolfhound, Pierre to a French Bulldog.

8. Remember that your puppy will grow (often faster than you think), so while “Fluffball” may work for the cuddly Newfoundland pup, it might not suit the 130-pound adult.

9. Can’t come up with any good dog names? Think about your interests and hobbies. Are you a football fan, a music lover, a movie buff? All of these can provide inspiration for great dog names – how about Quarterback, Hendrix or Bogie?

10. It’s a good idea to know and understand the meaning of your puppy’s name. That's a breeze these days, but no need to spend hours searching Wikipedia. We’ve done all the leg work for you.

Simply check out our themed pages, browse and pick.