by Dave Nocera

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 27, 2010

Anyone who knows dogs also knows that dogs are extremely sensitive to us. Dogs communicate with us by sensing our moods and feelings. Just like a smile is contagious, a positive name for your dog influences people to communicate with her in a positive manner and she will sense those good feelings respond appropriately. If you take the opposite approach, if you name your Pit Bull Terrier "Killer”, people might fear her and she may assert domination. On the other-hand, a Doberman named "Tiny” is not only cute, it helps her develop her sense of belonging. For this reason I prefer dog names that have stereotypes associated with them, such as "Bear" for a big furry dog you want to hug or "Max" for the home defender.

Refrain from using long names like “Rumpleshillskin” [1] that you might feel embarrassed running around town yelling; your dog will sense that embarrassment and not understand it.  Also avoid adorable puppy names like “Floppy-ears”, because when she grows into a graceful canine, the name may no longer apply and changing it will only confuse her.  For the same reason, stay away from nicknames.

Ditch all potential dog names that sound like common dog commands that you might use in training, such as "Lady" which can be confused with "Lay Down". And avoid names that sound like common words your dog might hear in your home, like "Daphne", which can be confused with "Daddy".

Dogs find it easier to hear hard consonants like "D" and "K", so a name like Duke is easier for your dog to hear and learn than a name like Sam. Short names also make it effortless to call her, especially on windy days in the park. It is best to limit her name to one or two syllables.

Both dogs and humans are pack animals, your choice of name shows others how you view your dog and helps her find her place in the pack. So keep her name short, sweet, and positive. And whatever name you choose, stick with it. Lastly, if you need inspiration there are plenty of on-line resources [2] [3] with lists of great dog names to choose from. Good luck!

Sources

[1] Rumpelstiltskin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpelstiltskin

 [2] Dog Names
http://www.petyourdog.com/dog_names.html

[3] More Dog Names
http://www.k9kloud9.com/dog-names.aspx

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