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| Meet Buddy, an 11 year old German Sheppard |
Choosing an appropriate name for a dog is important. Here are some tips on picking a proper name for your pooch, as well as names that should be avoided.
It is estimated that a pet parent will call out the name of their dog
approximately 35,000 times over the course of their pet's life. A name
that is going to be repeated over and over again needs to be easy for
the dog to understand, appropriate for the the owner to say, and truly
suit the dog.
Dog Names Should Contain Two Syllables
A dog should be given a name that he can recognize and respond to
quickly. Long names with more that two syllables may confuse the animal,
as it will take longer to say, and longer for your dog to recognize it.
This is especially important when calling the dog, or relaying a
command. For instance, "Rover! Sit!" is much more quickly understood
than something like, "Mr. Snickers the Third, stay!"
It is also thought that using a two syllable name for a dog is better
than one with just a syllable. Just like people, dogs learn that
certain intonations in speech can convey specific meanings. This comes
into play when disciplining a dog. For instance, if the dog is doing
something wrong, you may draw out the syllables of their name, getting
their attention and conveying your displeasure all at the same time. For
instance, if the dog picks up something in its mouth and you say,
"Fiiiidoooo....," the dog will come to understand that their behavior is
inappropriate.
It would be more difficult to do this if the dog's name had one syllable, like
Spot.
Think about it. If you said, "Sppoooooooot..," the dog would most
likely not recognize the name, look at you as if you had lost your
marbles, and then continue to chew on your tennis shoe.
Choose A Name You Can Call Out in Public
A name like "Piddles" may be cute when the dog is an eight week old
puppy, but not when it's a full grown Labrador Retriever. You my find
yelling out, "Piddles! Come!" at the dog park a little embarrassing.
The same is true of using proper human names, like
Nancy or
Robert. You may be naming your dog after a good friend or close family member, but that person may be less than impressed.
These names, once again, can cause sticky situations when calling the
dog in public. If someone named Nancy happens to be in the dog park
while you are trying to control your dog with the same name, she may not
appreciate being told to sit or lie down.
What is The Best Name For a Dog?
Many people choose to name their dogs after the physical traits of the animal, like
Patches. Others name their pet after a quality in their personality, like
Buddy, or
Rascal. These names tend to be the best because they are distinctive, and suit the dog.
If you feel that you must give a dog a long name like
Mr. Snickers The Third, you can shorten it to just
Snickers
when you are addressing the animal. Breeders give their dogs long names
that describe the animal's pedigree, but use a nick name when actually
addressing the dog.
In the end, only you can decide what name is best for your dog. If
you can't decide, try a few out - see which one you like best, or to
which one the dog seems to respond to the most. A pet parent seeks to
develop a bond with her dog, and the bond begins the first time you say
her name. When you say it and your dog responds to it, that is the name
both of you will carry in your hearts for a lifetime.
References
Dog Park.com, "What to Name Your Dog" Accessed 9 Sept. 2011
wikiHow.com, "Name your new puppy or dog" Accessed 9 Sept. 2011
Article and Photograph by Ian Shoust for Suite 101
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