Naming Your Purebred Dog

 Unlike some aspects of dog ownership, naming your dog is just plain fun! The pets themselves don't require much; they just need a pleasing dog name they can identify with when you give them commands. But if you plan to show a purebred dog in competitions, there's a lot to consider when it's time to choose a dog name for your dog's American Kennel Club certificate. Let's start at the beginning.

The name of the kennel your dog came from is part of his show name. Usually, it's the first part of his name as it appears on the certificate. If you purchased your dog from a show kennel, then the kennel's name should be first, such as: Dexy's Fido. If you bred the dog yourself, then use your own original kennel name. You can also use a combination such as 'Dexy's Fido of (your kennel name here)' so that your dog's name reflects both where he comes from and where he now resides.

Originality is important when choosing a show dog name. The American Kennel Club (AKC) doesn't allow duplicate dog names, and will ask you to choose another name if your pick is already taken.

Unusual dog names with creative spelling attract attention to your dog in a show catalog, while reducing the chance that you've nearly duplicated another dog's name. For example, 'Dexy's Hi-Jac' is a cute play on the word hijack. It's catchy yet original, and offers a great built-in theme for the future if you advertise your dog in breed and show magazines. You could use, "He'll hijack your heart" for your ads. Cute, right?

Once you've selected your dog's 'paper name', the work isn't over. You'll still need to settle on a shorter dog 'call name' for everyday reference. Using our example of Dexy's Hi-Jac, the name Jack immediately suggests itself for the dog's call name, while directly referring us back to his official dog name on the AKC papers.

So, now that you know the basics of dog naming, you're ready to choose a dog name that will serve you well both at home and in the show ring.
About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of Poodle-oo, your source for small dog clothes. Stop by for small dog couture and home decor, designer dog collars, and the Small Dog Blog.

 Blake Kritzberg

More Articles 

Should I Feed My Dog BARF? - Jennifer Bryant
BARF stands for Bones and Raw Food. It is a diet for dogs that has received a lot of attention over the past few years, but should you feed it to your dogs? The BARF feeding regimen actually consists of throwing a raw carcass (usually chicken)...

Universal Principles for Successful Dog Training - Moses Chia
Dog training is not rocket science and is not as difficult as you think. It is certainly possible for ANY dog owners to train their dogs themselves provided they put in adequate amount of effort. The principles listed here are universal to dog...

A funny true life dog story - Stephen Hill
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He was my favourite pet and he was very lively, lots of fun and very obedient. His main passion in life was to be taken for a long walk, culminating with a big run out in his favourite park. I would try to...

Things You should never feed your Dog - A M Wilmont
Unfortunately, there are a number of household items which we tend to take for granted that are potentially very dangerous to your dog's health. It is especially important to be aware of this because as you know, dogs are essentially scavengers and...

Dog Training - Dealing With Separation Anxiety - Waylon Harvey
Separation anxiety, also known in the dog training world as owner absent misbehavior, is one of the most frequently encountered problems in the world of dog training. Separation anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways,...

Indoor 'Dogfishing' — Fun Way To Exercise A Small Or Medium Size Dog - G Metcalf
When I had a Toy Poodle, I used a small beanie baby toy tied to a twenty foot long cord to exercise him for at least ten minutes at a time, twice a day. I'd throw it across the room and he'd run after it to snatch it up, fueled by canine fantasies...

The Power Of Dogs - Eva Sanchez
Well first of all I was always a cat owner, till my husband bought our first Chihuahua (Stitch) in 2002, Stitch was about 6 weeks old and was generally purchased for our children and it stud that was till he was about 5 months or so. Then I started...

Thinking of Getting a Lhasa Apso Dog? - Clint Leung
One of the cutest looking dogs around is the Lhasa Apso. The puppies especially are just irresistible but before one decides to purchase a Lhasa just because the kids are begging for one, there are some things that should be known about this...

How To Train Your Dog In Five Easy Steps - Charles Edwin
Have you noticed that being around a dog that is trained is lovely to be around? Dogs that are trained are less likely to jump up on people, and are less at risk of biting someone. Their manners are very calm in nature and don't get...

Dog Travel Supplies - Rolf Rasmusson
Dog Travel Supplies Buy dog travel supplies online The shopping part along for dog travel supplies is amusing for sure. The trinkets, toys and accessories for pet product travel are a blast. Grab your favorite drink, your mouse and grease up that...