Anyone who tells you there are rules to pet naming is a kill-joy; there are no rules to follow though perhaps there are some points you may wish to keep in mind while you are listening for the name your pet would like to be called. There is a belief that all animals have a name and you need only pay attention to discover it, but not all of us are dog whisperers or even that patient. Some of us listen and some of us take matters into our own hands but either way, what you name your pet is personal and done to please yourself. After all, it is your pet and you will be the one calling its name out loud in front of God and everyone, so you are the one who has to like it and live with it.
Naming a child after someone else is a sign of respect and honor but it seems that naming a pet after someone is a mark of ill-regard. Quite a few people may give the sage of advice of never naming a pet after a person for fear of offending them, but this is not entirely accurate: sometimes you want to offend people. This can be a topic of controversy as dubbing a suave cat or dog 'Miles' after Miles Davis is hardly an insult. A labradoodle called Marley would be incredibly cute and a yapping Chihuahua named after your Ex is just plain fun. In any event, what you name your pet is what you will be calling it for a long time, so plan appropriately. If your Ex's name makes you sick to your stomach, it probably is not what you should be calling your sweet new collie.
Short and Sweet
It is also true that shorter names are snazzier and easier to fire off when necessary. Compare "Jimbo, come!" to "Nebuchadnezzar, heel!" While the latter has its charm, it can be as awkward to say in a pinch as it is to spell. However, if you want to name your itty bitty Pomeranian Nebuchadnezzar, you go right ahead. You could sleep at nights rest assured there are very few other dogs in the world with that name. Besides, you can always shorten the name to a cute and spunky nickname like Nezzie or Nebu. There are ways and there are ways but there are always ways. It applies to wardrobes and it applies to dog names.
If, however, you are bringing home a pup that will be mainly be little Sarah's dog, you might wish to consider a more age-appropriate moniker and one she will be able to say as well. You could use the nickname in that case, you could let seven year-old Sarah declare a title - and as adorable as Poopyhead is, it might shock the grandparents- or you can choose a name a bit easier to pronounce than Nabopolassar, like Monty. Work with the family if the dog is a family pet but completely indulge yourself if the dog is yours alone.
Pop Culture Inspiration
There are some names that crop up thanks to movies or cultural phenomena that might warrant a dog's name too. Thanks to the Canadian movie Strange Brew in the 1980s, a few dogs suffered the indignity of being called Hose Head. While it may draw some odd looks, the teenage boys who used the name were not self-conscious about it at all and even delighted in the raised brows of adults and the knowing grins of their peers. Nowadays an equivalent may be Edward, Jacob or Bella. Not as catchy as Hose Head but in the same spirit and to be honest your dog really will not care what it is named as long as you feed and love it.
In All Seriousness
One guideline you may actually wish to pay attention to is to avoid the name that sounds like a command. Comanche, while powerful and noble, may actually be misheard as "come, Anche" while Legos, which are indeed delightful building blocks of fun and a super cute puppy name, could be misconstrued as "let go" and the dog could hardly be faulted. "Let go, Legos" could even make the dog think you have a small, but undoubtedly adorable, stutter.
Inspiration comes from a slew of places such as events, States, movies, songs, months, religious beliefs, authors, a quirk in the dog's behavior, books, historical figures, and the list goes on. Some of the best names come from household materials, too. The pool on which to draw is limited only by imagination and perhaps appropriateness. Do give some consideration to others around you, just a little, but mostly have fun and choose a name that will make you smile, that warms your heart and that will always remind you of your special time with your special friend. No rules necessary.
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