Dog Names for your new puppy

How do you choose your dog’s name?

With so many dog names to pick from, it can actually be a challenge to name your new lovable fuzz-butt, we know.

Here is a very effective and fun method for naming your new bundle of joy:

Pick up to 10 names that YOU absolutely love from the list bellow, then wait… Wait to bring your puppy home and get to know them for a few days.

Contrary to popular (human) belief, your dog does not need a name, so don’t worry about him being confused later on. They do not have names in nature, so this is not an integral part of his upbringing and he is not desperately waiting to learn what his name is.

There are plenty of other puppy raising to-do’s (that actually matter) for you to worry and obsess over. Let the name not be one of them.

The naming process

Once you have lived with your puppy for a few days to a week, it’s time to start testing the names you previously selected.

Take out your list of dog names and while looking at your puppy, say each name to yourself first. See how it feels and check it against these criterion:

• Does it match them? Do they look and feel like a Zoe or Mak?
• Will you be comfortable saying it over and over and over (and over… you get the point)?
• Are you able to call it out, loud and clear, over a big distance - for example, when you have to call them in an off-leash area or in case of emergency?
• Will you be embarrassed to yell it out in public?
• Will you be shortening it most of the time to the point where you should just pick the short version for their name?

At this stage, be willing to let go of any and all of your “favorite” dog names and be open to adding more names to the list as some fall off.

Don’t rush this. There is no rush, really, I promise. You can wait more days if you are not sure or nothing you have tried feels right.

Does your puppy like their name?

Once you’ve worked through the list of dog names, you should be left with no more than 5 “finalists” that feel good to you. It’s now time to test which one is the winner. Here’s how:

When you puppy is awake and alert, but not overexcited or otherwise distracted (for example he’s walking around the house or laying down calmly), call out the first name on the list in a high pitched happy voice, almost like a song, and watch for:

• perked up ears
• solid eye contact
• tilt of the head in a “huh?” type motion
• coming towards you

Test this under various conditions and in different environment (like outside and at home). The perfect name will result in all 4 of the above on a consistent basis.

Once the name has set in, the “perfect” one will produce that solid eye contact and recall each and every time (if you do not over use it, but that’s another topics for another time).

That’s it!

Have fun naming your puppy and don’t forget to spend as much (no, MORE) time obsessing over rules, order and consistency with all his routines. That’s much more important!

Dog Names - Ideas to choose from

Feel free to add your dog names ideas in the comments, too!