It’s always so exciting to have a new pup in the family, and giving your new best friend a name is one of the most fun parts of the whole thing. A quick look at one of those baby naming books will show you that the possibilities are endless, so it can be really hard to choose!
Keep these helpful tips in mind when you’re working to narrow down your choices. In the end, the name is as much for you as it for your new pup. Make it something you like!
- Make the naming process a family affair! Get everyone involved. One of your family members may come up with a name that you never would have thought of. If you wind up with too many options, take a vote. This is a fun activity that can be incorporated into family game night or simply as a way to bring everyone together for some quality time.
- Try to choose a name that is simple and easy for your new pet to understand. Avoid lengthy names. While longer names are often funny and clever, they can leave your pet confused.
- Avoid names that sound like the commands you will be using. Try to stay away from words that rhyme with “sit”, “stay”, “heal”, etc. You want to make training easy on yourself and your new dog.
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- Choose a name that you will be happy to use for the rest of the dog’s life. Remember that you will be using it in public. Don’t name your dog something that you will be embarrassed to say in the vet’s office, around extended family, around the neighborhood, and in dog parks.
- It is usually a good idea to wait until you’ve brought your new dog home before choosing a name. This makes it easier to name your dog something that suits his personality. Waiting is also helpful for people who are having trouble choosing a name. Once you spend some time with your dog, the right name will often come to mind.
Naming your new family member is a fun process with results that will last through the life of your pet. One this is for sure: your dog is bound to love his new name as much as he loves you.
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