Try these tips when naming your dog
Ten years ago I got a West Highland white terrier. In an effort to give her a name befitting her Scottish descent, we named her Molly and it worked out really well.
As Molly got older, we decided to get her a playmate to get her some more exercise. So two years ago we managed to get a little Cairn terrier and, again, in an attempt to give her a Scottish title, we named her Patty. This was a big mistake, and here’s why: when you let your dog outside to do their business, what do you tell them? Well, I tell my dogs to “go potty.” For a puppy who is still learning her own name, it was really confusing for her to distinguish between “Patty” and “potty.” It was a translation problem that still occasionally confounds her to this day.
You see, naming a dog should be easy, but most people don’t give it as much thought as they should. Remember, whatever name you give the dog will be its name forever. That is, of course, unless the dog decides to legally get its name changed, but that can be an expensive process and where’s the dog going to get that kind of cash?
Back in the day, people gave their dogs the same tired, old names. There were names like Rover and Fido. There was even a song about a dog named B-I-N-G-O.
Your dog’s name should be important to you. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve gotten your pooch from the pound, a pet store or from someone giving away a box of free puppies in front of a grocery store. What is important is that your dog’s name should be either simple, fun or appropriate for your pooch.
Some owners use iconic movie names for their dog, with names like Benji, Asta, Sounder, Old Yeller and Lassie. Rin Tin Tin isn’t used much anymore and Cujo is highly recommended for Chihuahuas and toy poodles. Others visit the comics for names like Odie, Ruff, Scooby Doo, Marmaduke and Snoopy.
There are a lot of people who like to see their dog’s personality or habits and traits prior to naming them. Then they’ll name them things like Wags, Slobber, Bouncer, Scooter or Speedy. This could sometimes backfire, as some of you name your dog Chewy or Rebel. Naming your dog Digger only makes him think that digging is OK to do. Dogs are smarter than you think they are. Giving a dog a name like Piddler or Jumper only leads to your canine thinking its name is “Bad Dog” or “Down Boy.”
A growing trend is to name your dog after local or international celebrities. In Canada, the hottest dog names are Gretzky, Celine Dion and Zamboni. In the United States, the top three names are Bieber, Timberlake and Bill O’Reilly. I’ve been informed that locally the top names for dogs are Faison, Stanhope, Bud Stevenson and CW. I’m truly humbled.
Some owners like to be cute with the name of their canine. Like if they enjoyed the TV show “Doogie Howser,” they’ll name their pooch Doggie Bowser. Please stop doing this.
Occasionally an owner will give a name like Brutus, Killer or Fang to a small dog. Or they’ll give a big dog a name such as Tiny, Pipsqueak, Junior or KC & the Sunshine Band.
Personally, I think that names to be avoided would be Uma, Chief Bill Thunderpoops, Patty, Dagmar, Lamont, Morgan Fairchild, Crotch Sniffer, Les Miserables and Gassy Pants. On the other hand, names I endorse (for no specific reasons) would be Hash Tag, Moxie, Sundance, Burning Man, Turbo, Hootie and Lincecum.
Right now my own dog is scratching at the door. I guess I should let potty out to go patty. Er, you know what I mean. I sure hope that she does.
Reach C.W. Plunkett at cwplunkett33@yahoo.com.
Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=138142
Posted by C.W. Plunkett
on Feb 22 2012.
Filed under Local lifestyle columnists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
Who’s a good boy ! Thanks Champ for another doggone good article. Catch you later.
I named my boxer-pitt mix Scout after one of my favorite literary characters. She now roams the backyard like an army scout. I named my black lab Lucille after BB King’s name for his guitar. I have found that dogs, through their personalities, often end up naming themselves.
Yes, you also give your pets “pet names” like we call one cat Fat Boy and the other one Gray-Gray or Mr Fluffy although these are not their given names.
My lab often makes these honking sounds when she whines, thus my wife has given her the moniker “Lucy Goosey.”
SavetheRepublic it seems that you are impartial to terriers. I have one Terrier mixed who has been my best friend for over 12 years. They are the best dogs ever. I am totally sold out to Border Terriers and if possible one day I would like to own one but not through the privilage route but through the rescue route. And Jason; if you got a Lab dog; they are some wonderful intelligent pets. Hopefully that intelligence will rub off on you.
Wow, so last week you LIE and say that Erma Bombeck stood head and shoulders over me when I am SIX FEET FOUR and this week I get omitted from your clever dog names column even though SEVERAL local dogs have been named after me. Actually, the dogs were all named Kelvin, but the owners meant me, which I get a lot.
Dang it, I gotta go! Faison and Stanhope are fighting again! Where’s that hose…
Dude, if it helps any I have a ferret named Tony…. Then again, I have another one named Erma and she’s just a LITTLE bit bigger… : )