A Dog By Any Other Name: What to Call Your Pup

11/09/2015 - Blog

You’ve found the perfect pooch, your dream dog, the constant canine companion that you’ve been looking for. Your home is puppy-proofed, and you’ve already made plans to join our puppy training in Wimbledon (of course you have!) – now just one thing remains. What do you call your new friend for life? As Shakespeare said, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and your puppy will be adorable whatever moniker you bestow upon it, but you may wish to take a few things into consideration when you make your decision. How Common Is It? Max is a great name for a dog. Unfortunately, so many people think so that it’s currently one of the most common names for a male dog. Do you want to follow the crowd, and risk confusion when somebody else in the park shouts for their Max and your dog goes bounding off to join them?

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How Odd Is It? At the same time, you might not want to choose a really peculiar name. Take a moment to think how you’ll feel shouting it across a park, or responding when it’s called out in your vet’s reception. Of course, your dog may have a unique personality, in which case an odd name might suit them just fine!

How Long Is It? There are inevitably times when you’ll want to get your pet’s attention quickly; an over-long name not only takes too much time to say, but it’s also not as easy for your dog to recognise. This is why, when you watch dog shows like Crufts, you’ll notice that many of the champions have long pedigree names, but are known at home by a much shorter alternative.

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Does It Date Your Taste? Elsa is also currently a very popular name for dogs – apparently, some people still can’t let it go! While naming your dog for popular movies, songs or even video games can be a great way to reflect both your taste and your dog’s personality, remember that a dog is for life – and will you still be proud of that choice in another ten years’ time?

Does It Suit Your Dog? Names often have a sense of personality; think about whether it matches your dog – or whether you’ll want it to. After all, if you call your puppy Miss Chief and they go on to live up to everything that hints at... well, you have only yourself to blame!

Who Me?

Once you’ve made your choice, it’s important to stick to it and call your pet regularly by their name, rather than using terms of endearment – this will help them to recognise it and learn to respond to it. For further puppy training advice, or to book your place in one of our classes, get in touch with us today on 07739 815 265.
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