Tips For Finding Names That Fit
Congratulations! After searching long and hard at the shelters, thru the newspaper and even enlisting friends and family in your search, you've found the right dog! So what's next? Giving him or her a proper name of course!
So you think to yourself, just any ol' name won't do. It's got to be unique, something different! Well, allow me to give you a few dog naming categories and ideas that will hopefully help you to come up with some really novel names for your four legged friend.
First though, when coming up with a name, here's a few things to watch out for…
1. Stay away from names that might be potentially embarrassing to both you AND your dog. The name "Stinky" might be cute at first, but once the joke gets old, think of how you'll feel a year from now when you have to call "Stinky" home at night. Embarrassing names could also apply to negative words that might rhyme with your dogs name.
2. There's been a tendency in recent years to give dogs human names. Though there's nothing wrong with this, be kind to your pooch and name him after someone you like. Also, if want to name him after someone you know, better check with that person first to see if it's alright. I'm not sure how much your human friend Max will like hearing, "Get off the couch Max!" or worse "We took Max to get fixed today."
3. If possible, keep the name to one or two syllables. Dogs not only learn it more quickly, but it makes them easier to train when they aren’t given a lengthy name.
On with the names!…
In this article I've listed just 3 of the many dog name categories that might help you to think a bit outside the box when coming up with great puppy names.
They are…
Unique Dog Names: Have you ever considered naming your dog after something that you eat or drink? I'm serious. Allow me to give you just a few examples that will hopefully get your creative juices flowing.
Bon Bon: I can see this as a good name for a small black dog.
Caviar: For a dog with expensive tastes, maybe a good Poodle name?
Jalapeno: A good name for a dog with a sometimes fiery disposition.
Crouton: Another good name for a small breed, maybe a Chihuahua?
Latte: Possibly a good name for a black dog.
As strange as it sounds, many more food and drink related dog name ideas can be as close as your refrigerator, pantry or liquor cabinet!
Cool Dog Names: The dictionary defines the word "cool" as something that's fashionable, or hip. To me, when it comes to dog names, a name that's "cool" is a name that one doesn't normally hear. One that is creative enough to be memorable, and that perhaps matches that particular dogs appearance or disposition.
Here's just a few names from my site that I put into the "cool" dog name category for starters…
Aspen, Azure, Capri, Charisma, Denali, Java, Mahala, Maui, Mignon, Nirvana, Pirouette, Rio, Sahara, Sierra, Taboo, Tiara
Funny Dog Names : By funny, I'm referring to cute boy or girl dog names that will match it's physical appearance. Here are just a few ideas…
Espresso: For an energetic black dog.
Kisses: For a small affectionate pup.
Brutus: A good boy dog name for a BIG dog.
Putt-Putt: For a dog with short legs.
Here are some additional ideas…
Big Dog Names: Barbarian, Big Foot, Butkus, Chewbacca, Genghis, Godzilla, Hummer, Terminator, T-Rex, Tsunami
Small Dog Names: Doodle, Gumball, Kewpie, Laptop, Nibbles, Widget
For additional funny ideas, think opposites! Peanut for a BIG dog, Moose for a small dog.
If you spent as much time as you did when finding the perfect dog, why not spend a little extra time in finding the perfect name? Your dog will thank you for it!
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