Are you planning to adopt a new family member?! If yes, then this is the perfect blog post for you! Naming your pet can be one of the hardest decisions. Here are some tips on how to name your pet...
There are so many names to choose from, so where do you start? The majority of pet owners give their furry friends a "human name" or one that described its personality. According to a survey done by Pet Sitters International:
47.1 percent of pet owners chose names like Molly, Sam, Annie or Max.
32.8 percent of pet owners gave their pets names that described its actions or personality, such as Twister, Sweetie and Trouble.
23 percent of pet owners gave their pets names that resembled their physical appearance, such as Brownie, Snowball, and Spot.
18.5 percent named their pets after a famous person, such as Cher or Sylvester.
Pointers in choosing a pet name:
Consider names that the pet can easily recognize.
Animals respond better to one or two syllable names.
Consider names that are easy to call out - Don't go for a tongue twister!
A pet's behavior is a great source of inspiration for names. Study your pet's behavior for ideas.
Avoid names that sound like standard instructions, such as Spirit (Sit), Kay (Stay) Fletcher (Fetch), etc. It can be difficult for dogs to tell the difference between similar sounding words.
Consider names that will suit your pet through its entire life. For example, "Kitten" may not be appropriate for your cat when she matures.
Get a book of "Baby Names" and check out their meanings. You may find one that suits your new pet perfectly - like "Clyde," which means "heard from a distance" or "Rhett," which translates to "enthusiastic."
The pet's breed heritage can provide some useful inspiration. For example Orientals (Siamese and Burmese), German (Shepherds, Dachshunds and Schnauzers), French (Poodle), Scottish (Terriers), or Irish (Wolfhounds and Setters). The Human Name and Foreign Name categories may assist here.
When all else fails, take this quiz.
It can be stressful coming up with the perfect name so start by making a list and hold a picture of your animal next to it to see what sticks.
