Puppy Name Considerations by Andrea Waggener

Puppy name choices usually just have to do with what sounds cute or what fits your puppy or what you find funny or whatever pops into your head. And of course, that’s fine. But before you land on a puppy name and stick with it, you need to think about some puppy name considerations.

Here are two important puppy name considerations to keep in mind:

1. Remember that your puppy name needs to be unique to your puppy. When you choose a puppy name that sounds quite similar to some other word that you use, your puppy will be confused. Puppies (and dogs) don’t know the meaning of words or names. They just know sounds. They associate sounds with actions or objects.

Because you use your puppy’s name often, your puppy learns to associate the sound with him. He begins to understand that when you are speaking to him, you use this particular sound, his name.

Female puppy names, for example can sound like some dog training commands. Stacey, for instance, can sound a lot like “Stay.” Dawn can sound quite a bit like “Down.”

Be sure you pick a name that won’t be confused with some command you plan to give your puppy. Female puppy names are easy to choose without getting to close to a command.

2. Your puppy name must be chosen with the public in mind. Male puppy names that might sound fun at home might not work in public.

For instance, the male puppy name, Boner, might make sense at home because your puppy loves bones, but that word has another meaning in society’s sexual vernacular. You might not want to stand in the middle of a park and yell out, “Boner!”

Keeping these two considerations in mind—similarity in sound to another word and acceptably used in mixed company—is a good idea when you choose your puppy name

About The Author

Andrea Rains Waggener, author of Dog Parenting—How to Have an Outrageously Happy, Well-adjusted Canine, offers puppy care help at http://www.puppycarehelp.com.