Ten Tips For Finding Great Dog Names

Choosing dog names should be fun, but sometimes it can be a real drag.

Every name you choose just seems wrong.

Weeks go by and your new pup is still being referred to as "the dog", while every name you come up with is briefly considered, and swiftly disregarded.

Eventually you pick a name out of desperation, which is the worst thing you can do. Think about how long you and your dog are going to be together and how many times you are going to be calling him by that name.

So you want to choose a name that really suits your dog to a tee.

Right, let's get you started with some useful tips for choosing dog names;

1.You can't go wrong with a one or two-syllable name. They are easy to say, and easy for your dog to learn.

2.Does that mean you can't go for a more unusual name if you choose to? However, it has been suggested that names that are difficult for the dog to recognise have a big impact on training.

So if you want to name your Borzoi, Rasputin, in keeping with his Russian roots, that's quite okay. Just give him a shorter, call name, perhaps, Raz.

3.Some names sound a lot like voice commands, and can cause confusion when you come to train your dog. "Sid" can sound a lot like "sit", and "Moe" can easily be mistaken for "no".

4.Also consider whether the dog's name could be confused for that of another pet or family member. It just causes confusion.

5.Don't saddle your dog with an embarrassing name. So don't go for names like Butthead or Stinky. Think about your dog's feelings.

6.Think about descriptive names, for example names that describe his color, breed, size etc.

"Goliath" is not the best name for a Shih Tzu. And "Tinkerbell", is not particularly suited to a Rottweiller, either.

Then again, you may enjoy irony, in which case these are excellent choices.

7.Remember that dogs don't stay puppies forever. "Tiny" may seem like a good idea for your little Newfie pup, but may suit the 260-pound adult, as well.

8.Another absolute gold-mine for dog names is the origins of the breed. Your breed's home country has lots of famous people, places and traditions that will give you tons of dog name ideas. Here are a couple of examples. What about "Roma" for an Italian Spinone or "Blue" for an Aussie Shepherd.

9.Here's another good source of dog names - your hobbies and interests! Lets say you're nuts about football - you could try Marino, Namath, Montana, or just pick your own favorite player. Just follow your passion to a virtual treasure chest of great dog names.

10.Finally, where appropriate, find out a bit about the name you've chosen for your dog.