by S.Stillwell

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: February 24, 2009

Puppy Names: Picking the Best Name for Your Pet

There's no need to be overwhelmed by the seemingly endless number of puppy names available for your pet. Picking out puppy names is as easy as asking yourself a few questions about you and your dog.

Boy Dog Names or Girl Dog Names?

You may be tempted to pick out male dog names or female dog names before you get your puppy, but you should refrain from doing so until you have had your dog for a few days. Every dog has a unique personality and you should take a little time to get to know him or her before you pick a name. If you can't resist picking puppy names before you have your dog, at least pick a wide array of both girl dog names and boy dog names to be prepared for either gender.

Popular Dog Names or Unique Dog Names?

Decide whether you prefer popular dog names or unique dog names. Some pet owners prefer to stick with the classics while others prefer puppy names that make people laugh or take notice.

If you are a dog owner who prefers popular dog names, then you more than likely already have an idea of what name you want. If you haven't already narrowed down a list of puppy names, you can check baby name books or websites for popular baby names (they often hold true for popular pet names as well) or ask friends and co-workers for the names of the dogs they had while growing up since popular dog names tend to remain the same year after year.

If you prefer unique dog names, you have a wide array of options available. Some great places to find unique dog names include baby name books or websites (particularly those that include many ethnic names), the bible, or a dictionary. A popular method of creating a unique dog name is to pick a single word characteristic of your dog and translate that word into another language. For example, a sleepy dog could be named Sovnig (Norwegian) or a red dog could be name Raudonas (Lithuanian).

Be absolutely sure about the name you pick before you start calling your dog by that name. Dogs pick up on their own names quickly and changing names can be confusing to them.

Picking out puppy names should be a fun activity, so don't stress out about it. Above all, remember that your dog will love you no matter what you name him!

Learn more about this author, S.Stillwell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.