A Dog Name is Something To Be Chosen Carefully

How important is a dog name? Well let's think about this.

How often do you call your dog? Who will hear your dog's name? Will you be writing to anyone about this dog?

Now that you think about the times you'll use the name, maybe you should put some thought into what that dog name is.

I mean, if you have a Great Dane who weighs 120 lbs, you might not want to call him something like Baby or Tiny. Or you might... it's a personal thing. Personally, Tiny would be hilarious to me.

I can just imagine calling, "Tiny, come here boy!" While a neighbor is watching and for the first time sees this "Tiny." Now that could be an interesting look to receive!

Maybe you have a dog that has a bit of a fiesty side nd you think it's a good idea to call him "Killer." Maybe you weren't thinking about the little old lady that lives by herself next door... waiting for "Killer" to go home so she can get to the grocery store.

Are these extremes? Of course! But, haven't you heard some dog names that just didn't seem... right?

My dogs have some sort of silly names. Actually, my Black Lab, Sadie, had a carefully chosen name. I was pregnant with my first child when we got Sadie. She was six weeks old and clever as they come.

Sadie was very majestic in all her movements and attitudes. So, we decided to look at our baby name book and see what we could come up with to suit her.

Sadie is actually a pet form of Sarah, which means "lady" or "princess" in Hebrew.

It totally fit her and is the best suited dog name I think we could have given her.

Two of her sons, however, were not so fortunate. See, two years ago Sadie had a litter of 7 pups, which we did not intend to keep. We already had four dogs and didn't need any more.

We cared for the pups though and watched them grow each day. My husband and I would swap stories about the cute little things they did.

The dogs all looked so much alike that we found it confusing to talk about them without names. Eventually, names started emerging on their own.

For example, there was one brown dog in the mix. (How he got this color and look is a mystery.) So we called him Brownie. Not the cleverest of names, but it helped us identify him.

Next there was Tipper and Bubba, who we ended up keeping. Tipper has a tiny patch of white on the tips of his front paws... hence the name "Tipper."

Bubba, as his name might suggest, is a big brute. He's the biggest and the meanest of the litter.

But, if we knew we were going to keep these guys, we might have gone a different route in choosing a dog name. Bubba doesn't exactly say, "Son of a princess," but his attitude definitely does.

So here are some examples of the different ways a dog name can make a difference.

My advice? Think about all the times you'll use the name. Find out a little about who your dog is before giving him a name. And, think of yourself 10 years older than you are now... will you still like to say that name and think... I chose that?

About the Author:
Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest in canines provides the motivation for her site. To learn more about dogs or to find gifts and toys for them visit her site at Dog Gifts and Toys for Dog Lovers.

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

The Gifts We Give Our Dogs

Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar... Read More

Why Cats Flip For Catnip

If you've ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh... Read More

How To Get Your Pet To Strike The Pose: Tips For Photographing Your Pet

If you have ever tried to take a picture of... Read More

Love Your Animal Companion? Spay or Neuter

Ozzie, my four-month old Rottweiler peered up at me with... Read More

Crate Training Tips: How to Crate Train Your Dog

A crate is a valuable and useful training tool. Its... Read More

Crate Training Dogs & Puppies- FAQ

1) Why should I crate train my dog? ... Read More

Essential Fatty Acids for Parrots

You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential... Read More

Which Of These Horse Catching Mistakes Do You Make?

The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More

So are you ready for a Boxer Dog?...

An easier and more pleasant journey with your chosen Boxer... Read More

Our Childrens Story

One we must regrettably share with our children for they... Read More

Do You Make These Mistakes Loading Your Horse Into A Trailer?

Mistake #1:"Here, Kitty Kitty..."Unless they have been educated, new horse... Read More

The Truth About Dog Food

These days, it's hard to know what decisions are the... Read More

Dog Boutiques ? Perfect Pampering for Your Pooch!

Believe it or not boutiques for dogs are everywhere. Nowadays,... Read More

Love of Horses

My love of horses began at the age of 11... Read More

Good Dog Care Is Vital

Dog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More

The Grave of Gelert

Just south of Snowdon, in the grey-stoned village of Beddgelert... Read More

Cold Weather Pet Care

As we find ourselves in the middle of winter, it's... Read More

Buyer Beware: Purebred Dog Myths

Every month I am approached by dog owners of my... Read More

Preparing Your Home For a New Puppy

While excitement and anticipation will be at the top of... Read More

Your Dogs Health Is At Risk!

Dogs should be living to age 20 or more. That's... Read More

Im Allergic To My Cat!

Having a cat allergy came as something of a surprise... Read More

Nikki and Benny, My Therapy Visiting Dogs.

My two therapy dogs, Nikki and Benny, bring joy to... Read More

Electric Dog Fences: Keep You Pet in the Yard and Out of Places You Dont Want Them to Be

Electric Dog FencesIs an electric dog fence something for you?... Read More

How Intelligent is Your Dog

It is entirely normal to look for signs of intelligence... Read More

Dog Behavior Training: Methods of Working with a Shy Dog

Shy dogs are more common than most people think, but... Read More