You’ve bought your new dog, got them home and they’re settling in well. You’ve bought the bed, dog treats and a food bowl but hang on, isn’t there something missing?
Deciding on a name for a new dog can be fun, but not always easy — and it can say as much about you as it does about your new pooch.
Naming your dog is one of the most important aspects of welcoming him or her into your family. It’s always a good idea to agree on a single name for your new puppy or dog with all other family members to get buy-in. If possible, choose a name before they arrives home, as temporary nicknames have a habit of sticking! A short name is easier for your dog to learn, and for you to call.
Two-syllable names always work well and are easy to give a happy-sounding inflection and try not to don’t pick a name similar to those of other pets and family members, as this could also lead to confusion.
Changing a name
If your new puppy or dog already has a name, but you don’t like it, it is fine to change it — there are no unlucky superstitions attached to doing so, as there are with race horses!
If you are taking on a rescue dog with an unknown history, or who is suspected of having been mis-treated, a change of name may even be a good idea. As well as reflecting a fresh start, a new name will not be associated with any punishment, fear, or trauma they may have experienced previously.
Most dogs, of any age, can learn a new name easily — simply follow the steps right.
When not to use your dog’s name
It’s important to create positive associations with your dog’s name, so don’t use it in a cross or exasperated voice, or in connection with anything he views as unpleasant, such as calling him to you to be given medication. Try not to continually call their name just for the sake of it either, or they may start to ignore it.
Teaching your dog his name
Having decided on the perfect name, you then need to teach it to your dog. Along with toilet training, this is pretty well the first part of any formal training you do with them— and if you have more than one dog, it will help in differentiating between verbal cues given to each pooch.
Whether taking on a puppy or an older rescue dog, the process is the same:
Say his name in a bright, cheery voice. If he looks at you, praise him, and give him a treat, so he learns that whenever he hears his name, nice things happen. You will be paving the way for future success, as this is also the first essential step in achieving a really good recall later on.
Repeat his name just before you put his lead on, make a fuss of him, give him his tea, invite him to play a game, or do anything else that he thinks is fun or enjoyable.
Ask everyone else in your home to occasionally call the dog’s new name and give him a treat too.
Have lots of these sessions throughout the day. Practise in lots of places: different rooms in the house, outside in the garden as well as outdoors away from the family home.
Once they have learned their name, you can use it to gain your dog’s attention before asking them to do something. There is no need to use his name if he is already looking at you and paying attention
Finally, don’t stop! Continue reinforcing your dog’s name in a positive way throughout his life with praise, petting and occasional treats as this will pay dividends in the long term.
Finding inspiration
Stuck for a name? Inspiration can be found all around you: there are books of doggy names, and many online sites are stuffed with suggestions. With recent years seeing an increase in human names, reflecting the way in which dogs are often regarded as fully-fledged members of the family, you’ll also find plenty of choices in baby-naming lists too.
Alternatively, you might choose from characters in favourite books, films, or TV shows — Sherlock, Watson and Harry (Potter) have apparently all gained in popularity. But not all heroes to name your dog after need be fictional: Dogs Trust Manchester named two homeless hounds after gold medal-winning Team GB cyclists, Laura Trott and Jason Kenny.
Fido, Lassie, and Rover
Although Fido, Rex, and Rover are rarely used these days, they remain a generic ‘everydog’ name, like Joe Bloggs or John Doe for humans. Fido is Latin for ‘faithful’, and probably dates back to ancient times. Abraham Lincoln owned a dog called Fido. As the first presidential dog to be photographed, his name became popular in the USA as a result of his fame.
Lassie is a fictional character created by Eric Knight – a female Rough Collie, and is featured in a short story that was later expanded to a full-length novel called Lassie Come-Home. And Rover was a common name for hunting dogs in both Britain and the USA during the 18th century.
Comments