The Savvy Yinzer’s Guide To: Dog Names

Your dog called, and he wants a different name.

What is it with you people? How hard is it to give a dog a great name? He’s let loose at the dog park to meet Genghis, Kawaii and Delilah, and you expect him to be just another Buddy?

The naming of dogs is a skill you can learn, and your new dog will love you for it. (And you’ll look groovy, too.)

Here are some ideas …

Vintage Names Are Always a Great Idea

Ask yourself, what would Jane Austen name this dog? And you might come up with Emma, Dashwood, Biddy, Braithwaite, Elinor, Fanny, Henry, Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Baddeley (the butler!), Mr. Bragge or Bertram.

Or imagine yelling at Selina Suckling to get off the couch.

Twist a Famous Name for a Unique Mutt’s Moniker

How about Rodney Dangerfido, Bradley Pooper, Dorothy Barker, Greta Growlbo, Pawcahontas, Afghan Whags, Doggo Boss, Benedict Cumberscratch (or Margaret Scratcher), Pepe le Pewdle, Jason Voorfleas or Kibble Shepherd.

Get Quirky

Each dog has his or her own quirks, which can make for the best of names. A clumsy three-legged dog I know is named Tippy Eileen. My own dog has a humping issue, and so he’s named Humphrey. (But now that I think about it, Humpelstiltskin would have been pretty awesome too.)

Dog likes to dig? Dirty Diana. Dog drools a lot? Droolsilla.

Irony Is Not Lost on a Dog

They’re smart enough to understand the humor of a chihuahua named Macho or Hell’s Little Angel. How about a Newfoundland named PeeWee? A greyhound named Slowpoke? A dalmation named Stripes? An English bulldog named Pancake? A dachshund named Stubby?

Go to IKEA

Look anywhere: Bestå. Poäng. Strandmon. Söderhamn. Lövbacken. Extorp. Kyrre. Kallax. Klippan. Strala. Om Jang. Docksta. Hund Haj. There’s even a Billy!