Unusual Dog Names – Top Tips On What NOT To Call Your Dog

Unusual Dog Names – Top Tips On What NOT To Call Your Dog

By Marion Herbertson

I used to bring my dog to the local off-leash park at least once a week. There was a girl with a chocolate lab puppy named Jeter. Now, I’m all for unusual dog names and naming your dog after somebody you really like… but she must have felt REALLY stupid screaming “JETER!” across the park when the pup would wander off.

Naming your dog can be one of the most entertaining parts of pet ownership; it can also be one of the most difficult decisions you have to make. My family quite regularly falls out over the issue of naming a new pet! Unusual dog names are really popular choices, but here are some helpful hints to keep in mind:

The embarrassment factor. Do you really want to be screaming your head off for “Mister Bubbles” in the middle of the night when your dog sneaks out of the yard?

Vowels carry. When you’re calling your dog, it’s the vowels that carry. Try yelling your own name: what part do you hold? It’s usually the vowels. If your name is Mike, the extra-loud version would be mIIIIIIIIIIIIIke!

Your dog’s appearance. Your cute little puppy may look like a Fuzzy-Wuzzy when he’s little, but he may grow up to be a biggy-wiggy who is embarrassed by his silly namey-wamey.

Your dog’s personality. Naming a toy poodle “Bruiser” may be a cute joke, but it could grow a bit wearing over time – and anyway, does it really suit your pup? Unusual dog names may be the order of the day, but let’s at least keep them appropriate!

Other important words. Don’t pick a name that sounds like a command your dog will be expected to follow. It will confuse your pup and complicate training for you! The eight basic training commands are: sit, stay, fetch, down, stand, leave, heel, and find. Try to keep away from these sounds.

Other names in the family. If your daughter is Holly and your dog is Molly, things are going to get a little confusing! Then again, sometimes my mother calls me by the dog’s name anyway. It can be very tiring for your poor pup to always come running when you’re calling her OR the sound-alike.

Keep it short and sweet. Even if you do want to choose from a list of unusual dog names, remember, the shorter your dog’s name is, the better! You can put a lot more authority into a short name like Max than into a long unusual dog names like Beethoven or Beelzebub.

Name changes can be confusing. If your adopted pet comes with a name you aren’t fond of, try switching it to a similar sounding name — like turning Lucky into Lucy. I must say however, that it didn’t work for us – so back to Lucky we went, much to our disgust!

Try to pick a name your dog responds to. I know a dog who came from the shelter and who was already named Coyote, but he never answered to that name. During play one day, his owner called him a moose. Well, when he heard that, he sat right up at attention! He’s been Moose ever since.

Make sure the name you pick is short enough to fit on an ID tag. And make sure your dog wears his or her tags ALL THE TIME. No matter how careful you are, your dog will find a way to escape if he or she wants to.

Are you ready for a frightening statistic? Ninety-five percent of lost dogs who are NOT wearing tags are NEVER recovered. On the other hand, ninety-five percent of lost dogs who ARE wearing tags make it home safely. Don’t count on being lucky; make sure your dog wears an ID tag at all times.

Still stumped on what to call – or NOT to call your new best friend? Maybe we can inspire you …

Traditional dog names — like Rex, Pal, Sparky, Prince, or Fido — may go over well with the nostalgia buffs. Or if you are a bit of a history buff, think about famous historical figures! Lincoln, George, or just about any important person will do when looking for unusual dog names. Names of historical bad guys like Genghis or Nero might not go over as well as some others. You know what they say about, “give a dog a bad name and …….”

Pay homage to your favorite TV or movie stars by naming your pup after an actor or actress! Bogey would make a cute name for a dog, no? If your dog has a very outgoing personality, you may just want to give them a name from the a-list!

Or proudly proclaim your loyalty to Star Trek, Star Wars, or any sci-fi series. Spock the dog would tell you to “live long and paws-per” – sorry I couldn’t resist that! But remember the short and sweet rule when choosing unusual dog names: “Luke” would make a better name than “Skywalker” unless you’re going to call your dog “Sky” for short.

Turn the ordinary extraordinary by giving your dog a name in another language. Naming your dog One sounds boring, but “Uno” for a boy or “Una” for a girl sounds exotic and adorable – be different! You can also browse lists of popular baby names for inspiration.

Look to the skies — there are plenty of interesting names to inspire you overhead in your search for unusual dog names. What about Jupiter or Pluto? How about Ursa or Rigel? A heavenly body may just have the perfect name for your little furry angel. And, talking about stars, how about naming your pet after a famous dog from stage, screen, or the pages of a book! How about Eddie (the dog from Frasier) or Tiger (the Brady Bunch family dog)? Did you read a book as a child that inspired your love of animals? Pull a name from the pages for your new friend!

If your dog is the dashing, heroic type, why not name him or her after a superhero? “Superman” may not be a good name for a dog, but the guy with the big S had more than one name. “Clark” or “Kent” isn’t bad, or you can go so far as to use his name from Krypton: “Kal-el”. There are plenty of heroes (and villains) out there to choose from!

Matching sets of unusual dog names – like Laurel and Hardy or Penn and Teller — can be cute for a pair of pups. Think about celebrity couples, entertainers, musical acts, or even fictional characters! What about “Dharma” and “Greg” for a boy and girl? Beevis and Buthead may not go down so well though – especially if some burly passer-by thinks you’re referring to him rather than your dog – oh dear, that could spell trouble!

If you’ve always loved the Disney movies, you may want to give your pup a name inspired by the house of the mouse! “Mickey” is a great name for a pup, but don’t rule out names from newer productions, too! “Sulley”, “Ariel”, “Tinkerbell” — let your imagination and your dog’s personality find the right name for your dog.

Your dog may have more presence than anything… why not name him or her for a mythological figure? “Hercules”, “Athena”, and other names from myth can lend your dog a sense of dignity and strength. I once knew a German Shepherd puppy named Zeus who went from an adorable fluffy pup to an imposing, dignified adult — he truly grew into his name!

Let the kids pick a name from their favorite cartoons and kids shows – great inspiration for unusual dog names there! You may not want to call your dog “Spongebob”, but after some tactful negotiations – and a bribe or two – you may be able to agree on a name like Elmo, Nemo or Dorrie

For an athletic breed, why not choose an athletic name? A favorite star from a favorite sport might just have the perfect name for your pup. Just keep that embarrassment factor in mind — if it doesn’t bother you to scream “Come here, Joe Montana!” when your dog gets out, then by all means, name him whatever you like. The sky – and the occasional sports star – is the limit when looking for unusual dog names.

So, to sum up, there are an abundance of great unusual dog names to choose from when naming the newest addition to your family. Let your imagination run riot. But, if you value your reputation and dignity, do remember all the top tips you have just read on what NOT to call your dog.

With years of experience in breeding, training and handling dogs, Marion Herbertson is first and foremost a dog lover. Visit http://www.advice-on-pet-care-and-pet-product-supplies-online.com/Unusual-Dog-Names.html – for more of her practical, sometimes humourous advice on pet care.

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