Page 1 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names To Barney For his infinite patience and perserverence in training me to be a model dog owner! And for introducing me to the joys of being a dog’s best friend. Please do not copy this book Richard Cussons has spent many many hours compiling this book. He alone is the copyright holder. He would very much appreciate it if you do not make this book available to others who have not paid for it. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding. Copywright 2004 by Richard Cussons. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of Richard Cussons. Page 2 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names Contents Contents The ultimate A-Z of dog names 4 How to choose the perfect name for your dog 5 All about dog names 7 The top 10 dog names 13 A-Z of 24,920 names for dogs 14 1,084 names for two dogs 131 99 names for three dogs 136 Even more doggie information 137 And finally… 138 Bonus Report – 2,514 dog names by country 139 Page 3 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names The ultimate A-Z of dog names The ultimate A-Z of dog names Of all the domesticated animals around today, dogs are arguably the greatest of companions to man. This can be mainly attributed to the strong social structure created by the human-canine pack. Add to this the fact that horses are not very practical in your front room, and cats continue to hunt relentlessly, even when you feed them like a king! It is little surprise that dogs are the most suited to becoming our ‘best friend’. This book is aimed at individuals and families who are considering, or have decided to, become dog owners. It is important that your dog has a name that suits you both; as hopefully you will be using it for many years to come. We hope that you enjoy using this book as much as we enjoyed putting it together and wish you many happy years with your new companion. Richard Cussons. www.all-about-puppies.com. May 2004 Page 4 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names How to choose the perfect name How to choose the perfect name for your dog The book is separated into chapters, covering how to choose a dog’s name, the dog name top ten, The ultimate A-Z of dog names, plus dog names for 2 dogs, and for the die-hard dog lovers amongst you, dog names for 3 dogs! To choose the perfect name for your dog follow this simple 5 step plan. Step 1 Read the ‘All about dog names’ section carefully. It will help focus your mind on the basic and start to give you some good ideas. Note down any themes or ideas that may help you narrow your search. Step 2 Next go through the A-Z and note down any potential names. If you, your family, best friend or dog etc come from one of the listed countries then dog names by country section may be the best place to start. The other sections for two and three dogs may give you further ideas. Step 3 List your choices down on a piece of paper together with reason why you chose each name.s Step 4 Once you have your shortlist of names narrow it down to three. I know this sounds hard but you can do it if you really try! If your family is choosing, get them all to list all their favorites then choose three. All these names must meet the basic criteria given in the ‘Where to start’ section. Page 5 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names How to choose the perfect name Step 5 Pick a name! If you have followed the steps above then we are sure you will have picked the perfect name for your dog and wish you both many years of happiness. What still can’t decide? If you can’t choose a name and the family still can’t agree, there are a number of ways to choose your new best friends name, which will decide the matter once and for all! The Top Hat Put the names in a hat and pick one (The rule is that the first name out is the winner. No second goes or best of three!) The Debating Society (Needs more than three people) Each person has one minute to say why their favorite name is the best. A vote is cast once each person has had his or her say. Heads & Tails (Great with kids this one) Each person has to choose heads or tails. Then someone tosses a coin. Those that win stay for the next round. They choose head or tails again, the coin is tossed and the winners stay in until there is only one left. That person gets to choose the name. (You can make this game more visually appealing by getting those who put choose heads to but their hands on their heads and those that choose tails to put their hands on their butts!) All Alone? If you alone are making the decision then it should be simple; just choose your favorite! If you are stuck, get a friend or relative to choose three names then battle it out as above. Remember The important thing is that the name you choose for your dog meets the criteria given in the ‘Where to start’ section. And, once you have chosen a name and shared it with your dog, you MUST stick to it. Page 6 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names All about dog names All about dog names So you've brought home your new puppy, you've already bought a bunch of toys, and the kitchen floor is lined with newspaper. It's time to name your new animal friend but you’re running short on ideas. Choosing dog names can be hard if you aren't feeling very creative, so here we give you a head start with the basics and some great ideas to help you choose the perfect puppy name. Of course, your new puppy may be a top notch pedigree, registered with a kennel club, in which case it may come with a name already allocated – but that doesn’t prevent you from choosing something a bit more personal and down to earth for everyday usage. Where to start? Naming a pet should be a fun experience for all involved. Let everyone give their opinions and submit their ideas. You may elect to let one person decide, or perhaps put all of the ideas into a hat and pull a name out at random. Whatever process you choose, there are a few points worth considering before you make the final decision. The basic check list Avoid common (and not so common) mistakes with our comprehensive check list: Pick a name your dog can easily recognize. Dogs usually respond better to one or two syllable names. If you do want to go for a dramatic and unusual long name, consider whether you can easily shorten it to something a bit simpler for your dog to understand. Choose a name that's both easy to call out and one that you are happy calling out. Remember, you will be calling your dog's name out in public places at times and shouting out “Parsnip“ in the local park, may leave you feeling a little embarrassed! You also want a name that will work well when you are straining your voice to call your pet as he disappears into the sunset chasing after a rabbit! Avoid dog names that sound like the standard commands of No, Stay, Sit, Come, Down or Fetch. For example "Joe" is probably too close to "No". It can be difficult for dogs to tell the difference between similar sounding words. Page 7 of 155 The ultimate A-Z of dog names All about dog names Wait a few days and study your dog’s behaviour. A puppy's behaviour can be a great source of inspiration for dog names. Study your puppy’s antics and dog names will come flooding in. Dog names you choose say as much about you as they do about your pet. They show how you view your dog and your relationship with them. But other people may judge your dog’s character by reference to its name and might therefore react negatively or fearfully to a ‘dominating’ name when meeting it. It is a good idea to use a dog name that conveys the image you want your pet to have. Pick a name that will grow with the pet. For example "Tiny" may be less appropriate for a full-grown dog. Above all have fun and choose a name you really like. Your puppy or dog will undoubtedly become your best friend and only you can find just the right special name. Some inspiration Okay, so we’ve covered the basic ground rules, now it’s time to get your thinking cap on. You’ll find thousands of possible dog names in our index, but here are a few suggestions for coming up with your own inspirational name. Traditional It may be surprising, but more than half of all dog names are either human names or nicknames.