Bringing a new dog into your home is an exciting time. As you go about preparing your home and purchasing supplies, one of the things on the back of your mind is, “What are we going to name our dog?” Your dog’s name is more important than you think. Below, we’ve detailed why a dog’s name is essential and provided you with a bit of inspiration in case you’re stuck trying to pick out a name for the new dog you’re bringing home this year.
Why A Dog’s Name Matters
There should be some rhyme and reason that goes into choosing your dog’s name. Scientists believe that dogs have the language ability of a two-year-old human child. They only hear sounds, and they interpret these sounds like a command that prompts them to act. A distinguishable name allows you to send a signal to your dog and issue commands.
For instance, imagine you say to someone, “Come over here and sit in this chair.” How would your dog know that keywords like “Come” and “Sit” aren’t directed toward them? The answer, of course, is the dog’s name. A name allows your dog to determine that you are talking to them when issuing commands.
If you take your dog to a training class, you’ll discover that you are supposed to say the dog’s name before issuing a command. For instance, “Lucy, sit” is far more effective than “Sit, Lucy.” This article in Psychology Today titled, “The Art and Science of Naming a Dog” provides a bit more insight into why dog names are so critical.
How To Name Your Dog
When it comes to naming your dog, the opportunities are endless! For instance, one of our readers owns a beautiful Golden Retriever named Apollo. Their reasoning for settling on Apollo, however, was a bit complex. In Greek mythology, Apollo was the God of the Sun, rather appropriate for a Golden Retriever. The dog’s mother’s name was Lyric, which the family took to mean “God of Music.” So, the family named their pet entirely based on Greek Mythology.
While this worked in this case, you may not need to be so complicated. Other readers of ours own an English Bulldog named Jerry. When we asked them how they settled on Jerry, they responded, “It just fit!”
You’ll want to choose a unique dog name with distinct sounds that allow you to communicate effectively with your pet. You should also make sure that the name is easy and fun to say for the entire family, including your children. As a rule of thumb, try sticking with names that are two to three syllables long. Dogs will likely respond more quickly to these names, making it easier to get through training.
What About Rescue Dogs?
Another common question that arises when naming a dog involves pets that have been rescued. Many people who adopt wonder if they can change the dog’s name. If you find yourself in this situation and wish to change your dog’s name to something more personable, you’re in luck. Many dog trainers believe it’s ok to do so.
Renee Payne, a certified dog trainer in New York, told CNN, “Dogs don’t have a concept of identity the way we do. It might be confusing if you change [the name] regularly, but everyone I know calls their dogs several different nicknames. You can always add on; you just want to have some consistency. It has to be something you consistently call them.”
Another certified dog trainer, Amber Burckhalter, goes a step further in saying that changing the name of an adopted pet could be in its best interest. She told CNN, “It would be a good idea to change their name if they were rescued and were mistreated and that name is the name that was used. You don’t want them to have a negative association. It should be a new life, new owners, new name.”
The Best Dog Names Of 2019
No matter if you’re bringing home a puppy or adopting a rescue, you should sit down with your partner or family and try to come up with a name for the pet. The name could have meaning to you, or it could be something entirely random. Remember that it should be short and easy for the dog to understand.
If you need some inspiration, consider some of the names found below. These are the top dog names that owners are using in 2019. First, we’ll start with the top 20 names for male dogs:
- Harley
- Romeo
- Jakie
- Sparky
- Sam
- Tyson
- Bentley
- Chewy
- Brute
- Anki
- Sammy
- Leo
- Charlie
- George
- Teddy
- Tarzan
- Walter
- Dexter
- Rex
- Duke
The following are the top 20 names for female dogs in 2019:
- Bella
- Daisy
- Harriet
- Indie
- Jelly
- Fiona
- Xena
- Sasha
- Penelope
- Emma
- Shadow
- Jasmine
- Trixie
- Olga
- Phoebe
- Sandy
- Wendy
- Cookie
- Willow
- Pearl
Looking for something a little more outside of the box. These are the “coolest” dog names that owners are using in 2019:
- Ace
- Ash
- Bruce
- Felix
- Flint
- Gunner
- Jax
- Winston
- Zeke
- Angel
- Fara
- Loki
- Nel
- Piper
- Rebel
- Sage
- Zora
Lastly, if you’re looking for a country-inspired dog name, consider these:
- Rocky
- Bear
- Ollie
- Diesel
- Indy
- Daisy
- Sadie
- Ruby
- Penny
- Gracie
What Do You Plan On Naming Your Dog?
Do you plan on bringing a new puppy into your home this year? If so, we want to hear from you! Have you picked out a name for your dog? If so, how did you choose this name? Let us know in the comment section below.
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At GeoZoo, we love dogs – and all other types of pets! We’ve sought to create a place where pet lovers can share their enthusiasm and love for animals with one another. We continually seek to provide our readers with knowledge about dogs and other pet breeds, assisting everyone from first-time owners to seasoned veterans. No matter if you’re looking for a funny video or an in-depth How-To article, you’ll find it on our site. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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