Naming Your Puppy

Which Name is Most Important?

Your pup may end up with several names:

• Call Name. The name you use every day is your dog’s “call name.” This is primarily what we are talking about here.
• Registered Name. Dogs that are registered, say with the American or Canadian Kennel Clubs, also have a more formal name. Our only guidance there is to follow your breeder’s guidance and represent its heritage in naming your pup. Don't forget this name will follow it for its lifetime.
• Litter Name. Some breeders name pups in the litter. Others use collars or other marks to distinguish pups.
• Nicknames. And of course, nearly every dog also has nicknames or pet names, affectionate names that show our dogs we love them.

Of these, it’s the call name that matters the most to your dog. This is the name that your dog will learn best and will cue it that you are talking to it.

Choosing a Call Name

If you haven’t chosen your pup’s name yet, we have some suggestions that will help you communicate with and train your dog.

1. Short. Dogs respond more quickly and often to single-syllable, crisp sounds rather than long or soft sounds. “Glee” gets a better response from a dog than “Una.”
2. Hard consonants. Dogs respond better to names with hard consonant sounds in the name, such as “k” versus “f.” So, “Parks” is better than “Flyer” even though the hard sound is at the end of the first name.
3. Doesn’t sound like a command or cue. Avoid call names that sound like commands or cues you intend to use, especially the first part of the name. “Kumquat” and “come” are too close for most dogs. You may find your Kumquat spends much of its time confused and thus doesn’t respond well to its name or come. If you are committed to a name the sounds like a cue you planning to use, change the cue. So if you were going to say, “Hurry up” to tell your pup to potty but you want to name it “Harry,” then change the cue to “Go Potty” or "Get busy."
4. Easily said. You are going to use this word over and over during your dog’s life so make sure it rolls off your tongue and everyone in your family can say it with relative ease.
5. Carries outside. Head outside (or into your car) to test to see if your chosen name can be heard for a long way. Try it with various tones, too. We especially want to be sure the name can be yelled clearly when you are under stress, for example your pup is heading for a road.
6. Not embarrassing or too common. Finally, consider that you often use your dog’s name out in public. Choose a name that isn’t embarrassing or so common that you will be calling the same name as five other owners at the park.

Have fun choosing your dog’s name but keep in mind these six recommendations as you do so. Your dog will thank you!