Living With Dog: Dog Names: How To Choose

When it comes to dog names the list of possibilities is endless. Choosing a name for your furry child can prove even more difficult than naming your flesh and blood child. That is because with dogs we are not limited to only what sounds nice. There are names for personality traits likes Happy and Prissy. Sometimes physical appearance alone invokes a name such as Patches or Spot. Dogs are named after people, places, popular culture, and foods. Be careful if naming after a friend or family member. Not everyone will appreciate the gesture. Basically any word can become a dog name. The key is to really make your dog know and love his or her name. Only then will it truly fit. Try not to use your pet’s name when scolding him. The name should be used only in positive situations. You do want your dog to come when you call him don’t you? Dogs will respond to the tone of your voice. They do have a tendency to respond better to two syllable words especially those with a –y or –ie sound ending. But, this is a name that you will probably use quite frequently so it should be something you enjoy saying and are not embarrassed to use in public. Your dog will learn it eventually.

There are the classic dog names that never seem to leave our minds. Who can look at a dog without thinking Fido, Rex, or Rover? In the early 1900’s some names that were common in the U.S. were Prince, Jim, Brownie, Dick, Sport, and Shep. They seemed to favor the single syllable more at that time. Ancient Egyptians had quite a few interesting names for their dogs including Reliable, Brave One, Blackie, Good Herdsman, The Fifth, and Useless.

Here is a list of some of the most popular dog names in the United States from 2010-2011. (The order is not exact as names vary by region.):

Max
Buddy
Bella
Bailey
Lucy
Molly
Daisy
Rocky
Charlie
Maggie

So, what is my dog’s name? You ask. Well, it’s Alfalfa. I know that does not exactly follow the two syllable rule nor does it end in a ‘y’. I admit it does not roll off the tongue easily either, but Alfalfa knows his name and he comes when he’s called. People smile when they hear the name and it has meaning for my husband and for me.

There is no right or wrong when choosing dog names. Just put some effort into it and see what you come up with.

So, what’s your dog’s name?