Looking for dog naming tips? Before searching our site for the right dog name, we’d like to offer you a few ideas that will hopefully make your job easier, and ensure your puppy gets the best name possible.

It’s been estimated that your dog will be called by the name you’ll be choosing for it, over 30,000 times during the course of it’s life time. It’s also been estimated that 1 in 5 puppy owners want to change their dogs name in the first year they have it. But by following these simple dog naming tips in the beginning, you can avoid common naming mistakes, and, your dog can avoid the confusion of mid-life name changes.

After these tips…where do I start?

Should you want more specialized listings, our Names By Breed page will give names we felt might better match specific breeds of dogs, and our Cool Names are perfect for dogs too cool for the ordinary.

Here's our dog naming tips for new owners...

2. Does the dog name rhyme with something negative? Or maybe with the name of a family member or friend? Once discovered, kids might jump all over this and treat your dog differently, causing you to be one of those 1 in 5 people who want to change their dogs name!

3. Be mindful that your dog might outgrow it’s name. The name Buttercup might be appropriate for a cute puppy, but not when it becomes a full grown Great Dane!

4. Keep it to one or two syllables. Dogs not only learn it quicker, but it makes them easier to train as well.

5. Pick a name that matches your dogs appearance or personality. The name Electra might be a good name for an energetic pooch, but not for one that like’s to sleep all day.

6. Avoid names that sound like common commands such as Go, Stay, Sit, etc. This might cause confusion for your puppy when trying to train it.

7. Watch out for trendy names that might cause embarrassment once the trend is passed. Do you want people to realize from your dog’s name that you were once a big fan of Disco?

8. Beware of the common trend to name dogs after people. Though doing so is not a bad thing in itself, if you name your pup after a friend or family member, they might take offense. How will your human friend Sam like it when he hears…“Get off the couch Sam!” or worse…“I took Sam to get fixed the other day”…

9. Ask your dog what he thinks! Since it’s going to be his name, you might want to narrow your search down to your own 5 favorite names, then try them out on your dog. You’d be surprised how well he responds to some, yet yawns at others.

10. If you’ve adopted an older dog, it’s best to keep it’s current name so that it doesn’t become confused. If for some reason you must change it, consider a name that sounds similar or rhymes.

Although giving your dog a good name is important, what your dog really craves is the love and attention that comes from a good owner…..like you!