Dog Names
Tips for Choosing a Dog Name
A name is the word your dog will hear most often for the next decade or more. A little thought now makes it a good one.
Say It Out Loud, More Than Once
A name that reads well on paper does not always call well across a yard. Say the name a dozen times before committing — in a normal voice and a firm one. If it feels awkward to shout, it will feel that way for years.
Keep It Short and Distinct
One or two syllables carry best. A name that ends in a sharp consonant or a long vowel — Jack, Bo, Luna — is easier for a dog to distinguish from the rest of your sentence than a longer, softer one.
Avoid Names That Sound Like Commands
A name too close to "sit," "no," or "stay" muddies basic training. Kit and Beau, for instance, can be confused for "sit" in a dog’s ear. Choose something clearly its own.
Let Personality Guide You, Not Just Looks
A name chosen the first week rarely fits the dog you’ll know a year in. Spend a little time observing quirks and temperament before settling — the shy pup may grow into a name far different from the one its coat suggested.
Make Sure Everyone in the House Agrees
A dog answers best to one consistent name, used the same way by everyone in the household. Settle on it together before the first day home, and resist the urge to layer on nicknames until the name itself is second nature.
Did You Know?
Dogs generally respond best to short names of one or two syllables — the sharper, more distinct sound is easier for them to pick out from the rest of a sentence.
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