Tips for Naming Your Pet

Some useful tips in choosing a name for your dog or cat :

• Please remember that the pet-name you choose will used dozens of times a day to call, praise and perhaps scold.

• Pick a name that your pet can easily recognize. Animals respond better to one or two syllable names.

• Choose a name that’s both easy to call out and one that you are happy calling out. Calling out "Jack" or "Zoe" in the park may be far less embarrassing than calling out than "Death Breath".

• For dogs avoid names that sound like the standard commands of No, Stay, Sit, Come, Down or Fetch. For example "Joe" is probably too close to "No". It can be difficult for dogs to tell the difference between similar sounding words.

• If choosing a long name keep in mind the shortened version. A long name will inevitably be shortened, but it may ruin the effect that you were originally looking for.

• The pet’s breed heritage can provide some useful inspiration. For example Orientals( Siamese and Burmese), German (Shepherds, Dachshunds and Schnauzers), French (Poodle), Scottish (Terriers), or Irish (Wolfhounds and Setters). The Human Name and Foreign Name categories may assist here.

• Waiting a few days to study your pets behavior can help pick the right name. The Personality, Affectionate and Appearance categories may assist here.

• Pick a name that will grow with the pet. For example "Kitten" may be less appropriate for a full grown cat.

Other than this, be adventurous!

Naming pets has far more leeway than naming children, where thought has to be given to peer group acceptance, blending first and last names and how the initials may appear. It may be surprising, but more than half (50%) of all Pet Names are either human names or nicknames. People largely name their animals as they would name themselves. Another fifth (20%) of names are based on the Pets appearance or personality. A black cat becomes Blacky or Midnight, and active dog Comet or Dash. We know how difficult it can be to think of a name for your new pet. So, because we do not want your puppy to think its name is, hey pup; hey dog; I told you NO! or come here you stinker, we decided to make a list of names for you to choose from. When choosing a name for your dog, be sure not to choose one that is similar to a command. Such as the name "Bo" sounds a lot like the negative command "No". These names will most likely confuse your dog.

Please note: we do have names such as "Bo" listed because not all of our visitors speak English as their main language.