You are a proud pet parent and dog owner. You are most-likely in the stages of preparing to bring your new furry family member home. Or, he or she may have just arrived. Dog owners have the exciting and fun task of naming their dog. At times this task can seem overwhelming or family members may not agree on the same name causing stress during the naming process. The importance of focusing on naming your dog as quickly as possible is essential to your dog’s well-being. This may sound a bit over the top, but it is necessary since it will come in handy during training sessions, which should take place immediately upon arriving home.
Family Decisions
If you don’t already have a name for your dog in mind, there are quick and easy ways to find the perfect name for your dog. Begin your hunt for the perfect name by having your family members write down their top three favorite dog names on a piece of paper and put it in a bowl. Read all of the names out loud to your family and see which names get a majority of the vote. Narrow down the names by popularity amongst your family members vote. Then have a final vote and the one that wins becomes the dog’s name. This is a proactive way of involving the entire family in the decision as well as keeping peace when choosing a name.
Choose Based on Personality
Every dog has his or her own personality, even if they come from the same litter. Allow your dog’s personality to be expressed through his or her name. If your dog loves to bark, name him or her yappy. Or, choose other endearing names such as sweetie, sleepy, bashful or other descriptive names based on their personality.
Meanings of Names
Many dog owners like to name their dogs by considering the meaning of the name. For example the Native American name “Nita” means Bear. If your dog resembles a furry bear, than this name is a great option. Consider meanings of names from a variety of different languages. If you have always loved a specific country like Spain, France, Italy, Japan and Russia, consider using words from those specific languages that have a meaning that will be suitable for your dog. You can choose names that are descriptive of your dog’s personality, looks or place where you found them or where they were bred.
If you are not able to easily find a name that suits your dog, try searching popular dog names lists and carefully find a name that is suitable for your dog. If you still can’t seem to come up with a name, ask your family and friends to help you. Let them know you can’t decide and give them a list of your favorite names and see which ones they find that is best suited for your dog. Once you have a variety of opinions from family and friends, it will help you make your final decision and give your dog his or her name.
Photo credit: Steve Baker/Flickr
