Where To Find Ideas For Naming Your Dog
19. The Arts & More For Dog Names
Choosing the right name for a dog can be the first step in creating a good owner-pet relationship. It sets the tone for everything else. So how do you choose a name for your furry friend? There are a number of different routes you can go. Most people start with what is familiar to them.
Characters from television shows, movies and literature are prime sources for dog name ideas. Some people will start by making a list of names from their favorite books and films. This list can include names of characters, writers, directors, actors or just about anyone else involved. Ideas for dog names can come from fiction or non-fiction books, sitcoms or soap operas, action movies or documentaries.
The Internet is a commonly used resource for people in making these lists. People can look up the names of all the characters their favorite actor has played to jog the memory and find the right one for their dog.
The most clever dog names that come from these lists are ones that relate to the pup in some way. A pudgy dog that rarely barks could belong to a fan of Kevin Smith movies. That dog could end up with the name Bob in honor of the character Silent Bob in his films. Clever dog names can also relate the owner to a dog. Someone named Tom might call his dog Jerry (as in the animated Tom & Jerry), or Archie may name a dog Jughead like the comic, or Edith if he were a fan of the classic sitcom All In The Family.
True dog lovers always seem willing to take a little time out of their day to come up with a name that works just right. Narrowing the list down to a select few, they test them out with their pet, calling them out to see if the dog has a preference. People can be surprised the first time they try this. A dog can actually respond to some names better than others, almost like he is offering his two cents on what you should choose for a name.
A clumsy pooch could respond to Kelso (from That '70s Show) better than Urkel (from Family Matters); or Popeye over Arnold (The Terminator, of course) for a muscular one.
As a pet owner there are no limitations on where you can garner ideas for dog names from. The sources mentioned above can be used, but they do not have to be. Musicians, songs titles and lyrics, politicians, poets, history, street names from your neighborhood as a child and a whole lot more can be used for ideas.
20. Heritage & Tradition Inspire Names
For many people, dogs become a part of their family. They are loved and respected as such. Dog names can be a way to honor or make a reference to someone or something that you care about. It may be a family member, a friend or someone else important to you. You might name your dog after a famous ancestor.
While some might see naming a dog after a human being as insensitive or rude to the human namesake, pet owners fall on the other side of that debate. True dog lovers take great pride in their canine companions. For many of them, naming their dog after someone is a compliment to that person. A favorite cousin Bailey who always made you laugh because you never remembered to say no when he asked you to pull his finger. Using his name is like a way of thanking him (for the laugh, not the smell). This is why, more and more, people are turning to their family trees and friends as sources for dog name ideas.
It is not uncommon for someone to name their dog after the member of their family who was the first to settle in a country. Or the first one to serve in the armed forces. People close to a dog owner that have passed away are common choices for dog names also, as a way to pay respect and homage to them.
Try researching your family tree. You might stumble across a name or an event in your family's history that could be the perfect moniker for your dog. Family coats of arms can also be an excellent source for finding dog name ideas. If your family is from Ireland and your coat of arms has the "Red Hand of Ulster" in it, maybe Ulster or Red will be your new dog's name.
As common as it has become for owners to use their own family heritage as a source of ideas, many also consider the heritage of the dog to be full of possibilities. A Scottish Terrier could be called Highlander in honor of the breed's roots. An English Setter could be called Big Ben after the famous clock. Heritage and tradition are rich resources, be they that of the owner or dog.
But places to look for ideas for dog names stretch beyond friends and family. Events and milestones important to a person can also inspire clever dog names. Whether it is the name of a famous battlefield or the first childhood classmate to pass you a note that said - Do you like me? Check the box for YES or NO, - all of these can be great places to look for possibilities.
