Dog Owner's Manual › Chapter 2: Bringing Your Dog Home › Selecting a Name for Your Dog ›

Selecting a Name for Your Dog

Picking a name for your dog is a highly personal decision. However, a few rules may guide you in your quest.

  • Dogs have an easier time identifying a multisyllabic rather than a monosyllabic name. Consequently, Rover is better than Spot.
  • Use the dog’s name often. Repeat it while petting, holding, or playing with it.
  • Do not use the dog’s name with an angry tone or when disciplining it.
  • Make sure the dog’s name doesn’t sound like a commonly used command word. For instance, "Ray" and "stay."
  • If an adult dog has already been assigned a name, keep it. While "Bon Jovi" might not have been your first choice, trying to alter it will only add to your pet’s adjustment issues.

expert tipEXPERT TIP: Owners who bestow human names on their canines (Jenny, Ben, etc.) tend to hold their dogs in higher regard.

Comments (4)

Chapter 2: Bringing Your Dog Home

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I'm bringing home an 8 yr. old male bluetick hound on Thursday (today is Saturday). Do I need to crate him inside the house at night? Should I provide shelter for him outside & keep him out at night? Thanks.

barked by christie neill on Aug 16, 2008 AT 7:57 am PDT
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Your expert tip is full of crap. My pets have pet names because THEY ARE PETS. They are still my family but they don't have to be called Jennifer or Scott to be held in high regard. I have Cleo (cat) , White Socks Jr. (cat), Capone, Kodiak, Precious, Ladybug (all ferrets) and I'm bringing home Zzyzx in a week. (Purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgi pup)

barked by Jessica Banks on Apr 14, 2009 AT 8:08 am PDT
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Here are explanations about the way dogs are named in different countries: one letter per year or one letter per litter. Affix (kennel name), and an array of letter per year since 1926 in France. http://www.braquedubourbonnais.info/en/dog-name.htm

barked by Michael Comte on Nov 13, 2009 AT 2:13 am PST
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"•Dogs have an easier time identifying a multisyllabic rather than a monosyllabic name. Consequently, Rover is better than Spot." I don't agree with this My dog's name is Ace. He didn't have any problems learning his name. Also, my other dog's name is Mandy. I didn't name her this because I held her in a higher regard at all. I named her this, because I was listening to the song "Mandy" and she started yippy a happy yip. She picked her own name. I love both of my dogs equal, and hold them to the same regard. You are wrong on that point too sorry.

barked by angie johnson on Nov 17, 2009 AT 12:50 pm PST
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Quirk BooksThe Dog Owner's Manual is a basic guide to dog care.
The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides dog owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!