Pet Names: How to Choose The Perfect One!

 Rover, Tyler, Shadow or Max? 

Choosing pet names is a lot of fun, but with so many options, it can also be a challenge!  The most important thing to remember is to pick a name that you like and that also works for your pet’s look and character. With this in mind, here are 10 pet naming tips to help inspire you and keep you on the right track:

1) Find out the sex of your pet.  This may sound like a very obvious tip but many pet owners have suddenly realized,  sometimes years down the line, that their ‘Jack’ is actually a ‘Jill’!

2) Keep it simple. One or two syllable names are easiest to call out and for your pet to understand.  If you really want a long name like Sergeant Pepper Paws, make sure it can be shortened everyday use, and that you like the shortened form.

3) Avoid names that sound like commands. For example, the name “Fletch” sounds very much like “Fetch”, which may confuse your pet (of course this tip only applies to pets that will actually obey you, such as dogs).

4) Don’t decide on a name that you will be humiliated to call out in public.
 I named one of my first childhood pets, a calico cat, “Chocolate Fart Bum”.  It was immediately changed to “Chocky” when my mother took her for her first trip to the vet!

5) Let your creativity run wild. You could choose  humorous pet names, cute pet names, regal pet names, pet names related to your interests…whatever it is that appeals to you!   

6) Let your pet’s appearance inspire you.  When you first get a new pet, it may take you a while to get to know its true personality,and as your pet matures,  its behavior may change.  Your pet’s appearance, on the other hand, is much more likely to stay constant. Instances of naming pets by their appearance include Noodle for a Dachshund and Oreo for a black and white cat.

7) Look to your pet’s breed for inspiration.  For example, you could  pick a French name for your Bichon Frise, a Scottish name for your Scottish Fold or an African name your Rhodesian Ridgeback.

8) Use pet naming books and websites for ideas.  These resources will provide you with hundreds if not thousands of possibilities ranging from the most popular to more exotic pet names.

9) See how your pet responds.   Come up wit  a shortlist of names that you like and then try calling them out to your pet.  Its response just might help you pick the perfect one!

10) Be respectful – names that demean your pet are a no-no.

By using these pet naming tips, chances are you won’t go wrong. And if you do go wrong…don’t worry, you won’t be the first person in history to change their pet’s name. I should know!

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