How do I find the right dog name for my four-legged friend?
Buddy, Luna, Emma and Balu are among the most popular dog names in Germany. You can find out here which names for four-legged friends are still causing a furore and what you should definitely consider when looking for a suitable dog name.
Contents:
- The dog's name - a decision for the dog's life
- What do the dog names mean at the breeder?
- How do I recognize a good dog name?
- How do I find a suitable dog name?
- Why Are Meaningful Dog Names So Popular?
- Can I give my dog a new name?
- What should I consider when choosing a dog name?
- What male and female dog names can I choose from?
- Top 10 puppy names from the puppy club
The dog's name - a decision for the dog's life
His name accompanies the dog throughout his life: it is the sound he hears most often and knows best. Most dogs already have a name when you get them from a breeder or animal shelter.
Every purebred breed has a kennel name, which is appended to the dog's name like a surname and which must meet certain requirements depending on the association. The breeder assigns the first names according to the alphabetical scheme: In the first litter, the puppies are given first names with A, in the second with B and so on.
Dog names are also helpful in training. If your four-legged friend associates something positive with this word right from the start, such as your attention, a game or going for a walk , he is automatically awake and receptive when he hears his name. For him it is the signal: “Attention! Something is about to happen!”
What do the dog names mean at the breeder?
If you bought your puppy from a breeder, it already has a name. This breeder's name is made up of the first name and the respective kennel name. The kennel name is basically the surname of the dog.
When assigning the first name, the first letter usually indicates to which litter the breeder belongs a puppy. The first litter will be named with the letter 'A', the second will be named with 'B' and so on. A Sheltie with the designation "Dagmar von der Grünen Wiese" is therefore from the fourth litter of the kennel "von der Grünen Wiese".
Maybe you like the chosen first name of the breeder so much that you can keep it straight away. If not, you'll need to come up with your own dog name.
How do I recognize a good dog name?
The choice of name is important because your dog will carry it in good health for many years. The best way to narrow down the wide range of options is to first select variants that your four-legged friend can easily get along with.
Dogs orientate themselves by the sound of the words and not by the meaning. Therefore, look for suggestions that are easy to pronounce. This will help your puppy learn its name quickly.
How do I find a suitable dog name?
Once you have sorted all dog names according to these criteria, it is now a matter of choosing your personal favourites. There are no limits to your imagination. You can find inspiration for choosing a name at:
- Your favorite films and series
- Portals with baby names
- well-known personalities
- Fairy tales and legends
Other possibilities offer sonorous place names such as Paris, Bronx or Reno. Plant names (lily, flora, iris...) can also be very original.
It is also important that the name is appropriate to the type and size of your dog. Dog names for small dogs like Picolo, Fips or Bambino quickly cause ridicule when they are worn by an adult St. Bernard or a Great Dane. The same applies to a small dog - here a name like Hector, Zeus or Wotan is out of place.
Why Are Meaningful Dog Names So Popular?
If you are looking for special names for dogs, it is exciting to read through the meaning of given names. In this way, the character or special features of your housemate can be aptly described. Such dog names are often unusual and attractive at the same time.
Some examples:
- Ramon = "the protector"; for a guard dog
- Fiona = "the white"; for a white bitch
- Pan = "shepherd"; for herding dogs such as Collies or Australian Shepherds
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Can I give my dog a new name?
Puppies can easily be renamed if you don't like the breeder's name. Most puppies are given away by the breeder between eight and twelve weeks of age. At this point, the animal has not yet gotten used to its name.
For older dogs - whether from a shelter, an animal welfare organization or a previous owner - you should carefully consider whether you give the animal a new dog name:
- If the dog associates negative experiences with its name, it may make sense to give it a new one.
- As a rule, stray dogs from abroad have not yet gotten used to a name: Here, too, you can easily choose a new dog name.
- If you take over an older dog from a previous owner, you should not change the name: for the dog, getting used to a new home is exhausting enough. If you don't like the name of the animal, decide on a dog name that sounds similar or the same.
Renaming your dog takes some patience and a lot of training . But with love and an extra portion of treats, you can definitely do it!
What should I consider when choosing a dog name?
With these tips, owner and dog will be happy when choosing a name:
- Short dog names with two syllables are easier to call out when walking the dog than long ones. If you decide on a longer name, make sure that it can be shortened easily. Nobody calls their dog by a name like Leonardo during stressful canine encounters. Sooner or later it becomes Leo.
- With a dog name from the top ten you are very much in vogue, but rest assured: when you call it up on the dog park, several dogs will come towards you.
- Choose a name that rolls off your tongue and that you and everyone in your family really likes.
- Choose a name that fits your dog's breed and size. Strongly demeaning names quickly trigger amusement in large dog breeds. You'll also get a laugh when you name your dachshund Hercules.
- Avoid names that sound like classic commands, such as Matz (down) or Bruce (foot). This will confuse your dog.
- Would you like to give your dog the name your best friend reserved for her child? This is not a good idea and will quickly lead to unnecessary arguments.
- It is often useful if you can tell the sex of the animal by the name: this way you don't have to ask whether it is a male or a female.
The most important thing when choosing a dog's name is that it "works" - and you'll notice that after a few days at the latest.
Which ones can I choose from?
Today, dog names are often indistinguishable from human first names, as can be seen from the list of the top ten: Names like Paul or Emma not only appear in dog names, but also in the top ten most popular first names for people. That was not always the case: in the past, many owners gave their four-legged friends typical dog names such as Hasso, Pluto or Fiffi. Today the selection is much larger and you can get creative. If you are looking for a suitable dog name, you can choose between the following types:
- Dog names from mythology like Thor, Freya, Juno, Apollo or Zeus
- Dog names of popular foods and drinks like Nacho, Pepper, Whiskey, Toffee or Peanut
- Names of famous movie characters or other celebrities like Harry (Potter), Frodo (Lord of the Rings) or Leia (Star Wars)
- Dog names from well-known films or series such as Beethoven, Hachiko, Toto or Rex
- Names of famous cartoon characters such as the Tramp, Baloo, Simba or Minnie
Top 10 puppy names from the puppy club
Are you still looking for a cute name for your darling on four paws? We have determined the top ten puppy names from the puppy club!
Number | Feminine | |
1 | Luna | Balu/Balou |
2 | Nala | Milo/Mailo/Milow |
3 | Bella | Charly/Charlie |
4 | Maya/Maya | Buddy |
5 | Frieda/Frida | Bruno |
6 | Emma | Rocky |
7 | Lilly/Lilli | Leo |
8 | Amy | Loki |
9 | Lucy | Lucky |
10 | Kira | Sammy |
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