Having a Hard Time Naming your Dog?

History has shown us that people have been naming their dogs for as long as they have kept them. The earliest known pure-bred dog was the Saluki, named after the town of Saluk in Yemen. Rock carvings dated to 7000BC show a very strong resemblance to the Saluki. The earliest domesticated dogs seem to be the Egyptian Pharaoh Hounds which date back to at least 4000BC and who played a signifigant role in the Egyptian royal family. Archaeological digs from around the world have given us proof that mans best friend was given a name. We know many ancient Egyptian dogs' names from leather collars as well as reliefs, stele and statuary. They included such names as Brave One, Reliable, Good Herdsman, North-Wind, Antelope and even "Useless". Other names come from the dog's appearance, such as Blue or Snow, while still other dogs were given numbers for names, such as "Seven". Many of the names seem to represent endearment, while others convey merely the dog's abilities or capabilities.

Naming a dog today has become a challenge as more and more people become dog owners. We all want our pet to have that unique name which no one else has. However there are certain common sense guidelines that should be followed when naming your beloved puppy.

1. Remember, you will be using and calling out this name up to a hundred times per day and many thousands of times in the life of your dog. Choose a name that rolls off the tongue easily. Most trainers and breeders suggest a two syllable name. Your puppy will find it easier to learn and you will have an easier time saying it.

2. Choose a name that stays away from common command words (sit, go, down, fetch, no etc). Name like Brown, Sitah, Bogo, Fletch or Beau can confuse a puppy being trained to behave, as well as older dogs whose health and hearing are fading.

3. Remember, your dog will be with you for a long time, so a name that seemed cute and adorable while he was a puppy may not be such a great name in her later years. Poopsy or Stinky may not be appropriate names to use in public when your dog gets older. You will need to guide small children should they be allowed in on the process as they will always go for the cute and embarrassing.

4. Using your dog's unique appearance, personality and capability are great ways to come up with a name. Your Beagle could be Patches, your Rhodesian Ridgeback could be Big Red, Ridge or Lion and your new Shar Pei could be named Wrinkles. A stubborn pet could be named Rebel or Renegade. A fast dog could be Swifty or Bullet and a beautiful and proud dog could be named Princess or Queenie.

5. Let your dog decide her own name by narrowing down the choices to a few, then calling the names to your dog. Whichever one he comes to could be the one. Conversely, you could place the chosen names on separate paper and let your dog decide by sitting on the name she wants.

6. Remember not to call out your dog's name when you are angry or disciplining your dog as he will start to associate the name with unpleasant happenings and ignore the name when called. Name training should be done in a positive manner when you are playing with him, praising him and rewarding him. Use his name frequently so that he learns to associate his name with pleasant happenings.

However you decide to choose the right dog name for your new pet, be comfortable in the fact that you are not alone in the difficult task of choosing a name. Just remember to choose the name you and your dog are most comfortable with and you won't go wrong.