How to name a dog

Your long-held dream has finally come true – you will have a dog, or rather a small puppy. You have already decided on the breed, bought everything you need for it: a bed, bowls, toys. The only thing left to do is to choose a name for your dog.

How to come up with a dog name

Experienced dog handlers and breeders advise you to consider the following points when choosing a name for your dog:

1. The name should be short – no more than two syllables: Ray, Sean, Chico.
2. Dogs are very sensitive to the sounds “k”, “p”, “z”, “s”, “h”, so it is necessary that the chosen name contains the corresponding letters: Castel, Zeno, Reggae.
3. The nickname should not resemble a team. Cass is consonant with “Fass”.
4. Do not give your dog a name that is too common: Rex, Toby, Jurai, so that he does not get nervous when another animal is called.
5. Don’t give your puppy an obscene or unpleasant name. Not everyone will appreciate your wit.
6. If you have an adult dog, when choosing a name for it, try not to make it too different from the previous one. Shiro is Chiro, Sam is Rem.

If your pet is of “noble blood” and has a passport and pedigree, the breeder or owner gives it a name, but it must begin with a certain letter. All puppies from the first litter are usually named with the letter “A”, and from the second litter with “B”. The name of the kennel must be added to the pedigree in addition to the name. The official nickname is used at exhibitions; at home, some common name is used, and a diminutive form of the official nickname is possible. For example, Patricia is Pat, Leopold is Leo.

What to look for when choosing a nickname

When choosing a name for your pet, you should pay special attention to the following factors.

External signs

1. Size. Small puppies can be called cuddly names: Knopa, Businka, Mimi. Large ones are masculine: Porthos, Lion, Hercules. It is also possible to name them vice versa: St Bernard – Mouse, and Yorkie – Gulliver.
2. Colour of the coat. A black dog can be called Moor, Black. A white dog can be Snowball or Blondie. Black and white – Domino or Yin-Yang. A grey puppy may be named Grey, Argentum. A red dog will have a nickname: Orange, Rudik.
3. Special signs. If the dog has a fluffy tail, it can be called Fox. For its long muzzle, it can be nicknamed Pinocchio. A dog with large ears can be Eeyore.
4. Voice. For a sonorous bark, the dog can be named Bell, for a loud one – Thunder.

Breed

Often, owners name their pets after prominent personalities or favourite characters from films or cartoons that are somehow related to the dog breed.

1. English Bulldog – Churchill, in honour of the British Prime Minister.
2. American Staffordshire Terrier – Tyson, in honour of the American boxer.
3. St Bernard – Beethoven from the film of the same name, Missy from Beethoven 2.
4. Labrador – Marley from the film Marley and Me.
5. Dachshund – Figaro from the film Four Taxi Drivers and a Dog.
6. Chihuahua – Chloe from the film Beverly Hills Baby 2.
7. German Shepherds – Mukhtar from the film “Come to Me, Mukhtar”, Scoot from “Christmas Adventures”.
8. Cocker Spaniel – Lady from the animated film Lady and the Tramp.

Character

When choosing a name, it is impossible not to pay attention to the peculiarities of the animal’s character.

1. A small, funny puppy can be given an equally funny nickname, such as Mushka or Moska.
2. An intelligent and cunning dog can be Foxy, Ultra, Lucky.
3. An active, restless dog can be called Meteor, Pirate.
4. An affectionate puppy can be called Angel, Buddy, Milkie.
5. A strongly developed pet can be Thor, Titan, Hercules.
6. A dog with leadership traits can be called Caesar, Khan, Sheriff.

The most popular dog names for boys

Most often, boys’ dogs are named according to their character traits, and their appearance and manner of behaviour are also taken into account.

Alabai, a Central Asian shepherd dog, is a respectable breed with a large build and a formidable appearance, so its name should be appropriate: Terrible, Thunder, Nuker, Goliath, Spartacus.

The name of a hunting dog should sound short and clear to make it easier to give commands:

• The hounds bark loudly, and their nicknames match: Bass, Thunder, Horn, Howler;
• Greyhounds are agile and tireless chasers, so nicknames are better suited to them: Wind, Frisky, Golden Eagle;
• hounds are graceful and noble animals. The best names for them are Bond, Frant, Carat;
• Spaniels are distinguished by their extraordinary endurance, so they are often called: Howl, Sniper, Bros;
• dachshunds are very smart and tireless, they are called: Joker, Charlie, Sherlock.

Beijingers are Chinese by origin, so their nicknames are often Chinese: Ju, Ting, Niu, Chan, Shen.

The most popular dog names for girls

When choosing a name for a girl dog, the most important role is played by the appearance and character traits:

• The refined terriers are often called in an English-speaking manner: Cheryl, Iron, Darcy;
• the beautiful husky, who comes from the north, can be called: Gerda, Umka, Purga;
• Ukrainian mongrels are usually called: Motka, Zhulka, Zhuchka;
• a fluffy spitz, thanks to its appearance, can be given both a funny and affectionate nickname: Plushie, Toffee, Snowball, Doll;
• a small inquisitive pug, grunting like a pig, looks funny, so the name should be appropriate: Peggy, Zhulka.

Funny nicknames for dogs

Dog owners often give their pets unusual names that match their hobbies.

Examples of original dog names:

• Schumacher – for a car racing enthusiast;
• A button – for a seamstress;
• Brush for a painter;
• Alpha – for a mathematician;
• Peony – for a gardener;
• Zeus – for a fan of mythology;
• Juliet – for a theatre performer.

Choosing a name for a dog is undoubtedly not an easy task. If you are unable to decide on a name for your pet, let it do it for you. You just name the nicknames that you like, and the one that he responds to, that’s what you call him.