A dog's name is very important! Here are some pointers to help you find the best fit for your new addition to the family.

Your dog will have their name all their life and will learn to respond to it. In this way, it becomes an important part of their education. Once learnt, they will learn to follow orders and recognise when you are addressing them.

In theory you can call your dog anything you like, but in reality some names may cause more problems than others.

Choose a name that's easy to understand

It is important that the name of your dog be easily pronounced so that they can learn to recognise it quickly.

A name of only one or two syllables would be easy for a dog to remember and recognise. Longer choices are less recommended as dogs don't tend to register more than two syllables per word. If you're set on a long name, you can always shorten it into a nickname.

It is preferable to choose words that don't contain the same sounds as daily words, especially words like 'sit' or 'no'. These could cause behavioural problems as your dog may associate you calling them with an order and either one may become less effective. Example: think of how dogs think you're talking about biscuits when in fact you said ‘Brexit'.

Double-syllable names such as 'Loulou' or 'Mimi' are typically the easiest for dogs to understand.

A name that fits the dog

In order to find a name to give your dog, you can use their gender, their personality, their size and their breed to narrow down the choice. Sometimes, the right one may just click upon seeing their their face or personality.

Some pet parents play with irony and give their dogs names that are the complete opposite of their appearance or personalities, to make the choice more amusing.

Avoid things that are offensive or embarrassing

This isn’t a name just for inside the home! While it may seem amusing at first, if you’re embarrassed to call out to your dog in public, it won’t be very effective. Consider calling to them in the park and how comfortable you doing so.

This applies to any pet, but see the tweet below for a perfect example.

Avoid friends’ dogs names

Do you ever get confused when you hear a stranger say your name in public? Only to realise they were talking to someone else? If you know the names of the local dogs where you plan to exercise them, try avoid a name already chosen. It could prove confusing for them, especially with a dog they encounter on a regular basis.

How did you choose your dog's name?

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