How to Name a Hunting Dog

It may not seem like that big of a deal to come up with a good name for your hunting dog, but you want a name that the dog can hear clearly over a distance outdoors and respond to quickly.

Instructions

1. Keep the names simple. Eliminate any names that have more than 2 syllables to avoid confusion when calling your dog's name. Not only are shorter names easier for training your dog, but if have to call your dog in the woods, you can avoid unnecessarily long echoes.

2. Think about words that rhyme with any of the names on your list. Toss out anything that sounds like "No," such as Beau, Joe or Moe. Don't use words that rhyme with "Sit," such as Chick, Tiff, Brit. Eliminate words that rhyme with "Stay," such as Babe, Jay, Ray. Don't use any words that can be mistaken for commands.

3. Take it for a test run. Give the name a try for a day or two. See if it sounds natural and is easy to call out. Don't worry if your dog doesn't respond to it during this time.

4. Keep the dog's original name if he is adopted. Changing a dog's name is much too confusing, especially when he's already trying to acclimate to a new environment and routine.

Resources

• Dog Names