Ling Tong asked:


When you bring home a new puppy, the first decision you have to make is what you will name this newest member of the family. Just as parents look at lists of names for babies, dog owners look through lists of names to find unusual dog names that suit the breed and personality of the puppy. Some dog owners like to name their small breeds of dogs after the names of perfumes, while large dogs tend to have names reflecting their size and skill and are named after Greek and Roman gods or famous warriors in history.

If you want something completely unusual in a name one thing you can do is choose a name you like in English and then look for the translation of that name in other languages. You do need to still adhere to the norm in choosing a name that is short and easy to say. This will make it easier for both you and the dog to get used to the name that you will be using many times during the day.

If you are a lover of nature and spend a lot of time outdoors with your dog, there are many nature names you can choose that are unusual. Some suggestions for you to think about are:

- Breeze

- Cloud

- Crystal

- Fire

- River

- Eddy

- Stream

- Storm

- Spring

- Sunset

- Autumn

- Tornado

- Thunder

You have an endless list of choices in choosing a name in this manner. Just think of your favourite outdoor activity and come up with an unusual name based on this.

It is best to stay away from normal girl and boy names that people choose for their children when you are looking for an unusual name for your puppy. If you have a Siberian husky, for example, why not look at names of places in Siberia that you can use as a name? There are many native names of towns in any countries of the North that would also be suitable and unusual names.

When you decide you want something out of the ordinary as a name for your pet, you can have a tremendous amount of fun sifting through the lists of names and trying to say each one. But who says you have to choose a name from a list? Why not make up a name? This would be truly unusual and would certainly cause others who hear the name to ask what it means and why you chose it. In this way, you could simply choose a word you like rather than have to think about the breed and the characteristics of the dog. Chap for example is a unique name that shows you feel that your dog is your best friend.  Since most dog owners refer to their dog affectionately as Fellow, you can use this name or change it to something similar such as Fella. One dog owner who couldn’t decide on a name decided to leave it up to the dog. When a person would ask what the dogs name was he would answer sk Her and this became the name that stuck.

Richard Livitski asked:


Congratulations! After searching long and hard at the shelters, thru the newspaper and even enlisting friends and family in your search, you’ve found the right dog! So what’s next? Giving him/her a proper name of course!

So you think to yourself, just any ol name won’t do. It’s got to be unique, something different! Well, allow me to give you a few dog naming categories that will hopefully help you to come up with some really novel names for your four legged friend.

First though, when coming up with a name keep in mind a few things to watch out for.

1. Stay away from names that might be potentiallyembarrassing to both you AND your dog. The name “Stinky” might be cute at first, but once the joke gets old, think of how you’ll feel a year from now when you have to call “Stinky” home at night. Embarrassing names could also apply to negative words that might rhyme with your dogs name.

2. There’s been a tendency in recent years to give dogs human names. Though there’s nothing wrong with this, be kind to your pooch and name him after someone you like. Also, if want to name him after someone you know, better check with that person first to see if it’s alright. I’m not sure how much your human friend Max will like hearing, “Get off the couch Max!” or worse “We took Max to get fixed today.”

3. If possible, keep the name to one or two syllables. Dogs not only learn it quicker, but it makes them easier to train as well.

On with the names!

In this article I’ve listed just 3 of the many dog name categories that might help you to think a bit outside the box when coming up with great puppy names. They are,

Unique Dog Names: Have you ever considered naming your dog after something that you eat or drink? I’m serious. Allow me to give you just a few examples that will hopefully get your creative juices flowing….

Bon Bon: I can see this as a good name for a small black dog.

Caviar: For a dog with expensive tastes. Maybe a good Poodle name?

Jalapeno: A good name for a dog with a sometimes fiery disposition.

Crouton: Another good name for a small breed. Maybe a Chihuahua?

Latte: Possibly a good name for a black dog.

Kahlua: I can see this name on a brown dog.

As strange as it sounds, many more food and drink related dog names can be as close as your refrigerator, pantry or liquor cabinet!

Cool Dog Names: The dictionary defines the word “cool” as something that’s fashionable, or hip. To me, when it comes to dog names, a name that’s “cool” is a name that one doesn’t normally hear. One that is creative enough to be memorable. And that perhaps matches that particular dogs appearance or disposition.

Here’s just a few names from my site that I put into the “cool” dog name category for starters…

Aspen, Azure, Capri, Charisma, Denali, Java, Mahala, Maui, Mignon, Nirvana, Pirouette, Rio, Sahara, Sierra, Taboo, Tiara

Funny Dog Names: By funny, I’m referring to cute dog names that will match it’s physical appearance. Here’s just a few ideas…

Espresso: For an energetic black dog.

Kisses: For a small affectionate pup.

Brutus: For a BIG dog.

Putt-Putt: For a dog with short legs.

Here’s some additional ideas…

Big Dog Names: Barbarian, Big Foot, Butkus, Chewbacca, Genghis, Godzilla, Hummer, Terminator, T-Rex, Tsunami

Small Dog Names: Doodle, Gumball, Kewpie, Laptop, Nibbles, Widget

For additional funny ideas, think opposites! Peanut for a BIG dog, Moose for a small dog.

If you spent as much time as you did when finding the perfect dog, why not spend a little extra time in finding the perfect name? Your dog will thank you for it!

When Richard Livitski isn’t busy running around after his own dogs, he’s busy searching for more unique, cool and funny dog names for http://www.dog-names-and-more.com where dog names as well as other helpful dog related topics can be found.

Lee Dobbins asked:


When it comes to unusual dogs, the Chinese Crested is probably one of the most unusual you will see as it almost looks like a tiny pony. This dog originates from Africa where it is called the “African Hairless Terrier” and were often used as ratters on board the trading ships. this strange looking greed is becoming quite popular and we’re seeing it more and more in rare breed dog shows.

Part of the toy group, the Chinese Crested was first registered to the American kennel club (AKC) in 1991. According to breed standards, this dog must not weigh more than 10 pounds and stands about 12 inches tall. The breed actually has two varieties – one which is hairlesss except for the feet, head and tail and another variety which is referred to as the powder puff and has a long soft coat that resembles hair. the dog has use that stand erect, dark eyes and a long muzzle on a broad skull. Pretty much every color is allowed and they can be either solid, spotted or mixed.

The Chinese Crested is a dog that needs to be with his family and can become very attached to his owner. If you have a lot of time to spend with your pet, though, he is an excellent dog and is very cuddly, playful and sweet. These dogs are very intelligent and alert and can perform many tricks. They are good with other paths and do not bark a lot unlike many other toy dogs. be forewarned, however, that they do like to dig holes and climb.

Because of the hairless nature of the dogs the skin does require special care to prevent skin problems. in fact, their skin should be treated almost like human skin and they will need to have sunscreen put on if they are going to be outdoors in the sun or they will get a sunburn! They also can have problems with their teeth like a lot of other small dogs and you should get in the habit of brushing them every couple of days. these dogs me as much food as you give them, so you should take care not to overfeed them or they will become obese.

The Chinese crested does not need excessive exercise in where it does not bark much it can be a great dog for Apartment living. That being said, like all dogs this dog will need to be taken out for walks and get daily exercise. For cold climates, some sort of sweater or coat will be needed outdoors and if you keep your house cool may be needed indoors as well.

The hairless version of the Chinese Crested doesn’t really need it much grooming as it doesn’t have any hair. you will find a stock to be very clean with no doggy smell, fleas or texts. The powder puff version should be brushed daily. You can be a hairlesss frequently and you may even want to massage some oil or cream into his skin. This dog does not shed much.

Ling Tong asked:


Ever since dogs became pets, owners have named them. Some of these dogs names are very strange and one always has to ask where the owner come up with the chosen name. When you get a new puppy, choosing a name is one of the first things you want to do. You may even have a name picked out before you bring the puppy home. There are several things you need to consider before deciding on a definite name. The most important thing is not to choose a name that will sound almost like a command that you want to teach your dog. For example, it would be a bad idea to name a dog “Kit” because this can easily be confused with the command “Sit”.

 

The name you choose should also be short and easy to pronounce so that the children in your family will not have any difficulty calling the dog or learning to say the name. There are also list of both common and unique names for dogs that you can easily find when you search online. You can find names specific to dog breeds. Another thing you should keep in mind is the gender of the dog and try to find a name that is suitable for a female or male dog, but there are some names that could be generic and used for either gender.

 

Choose the name wisely because in many cases owners choose a name that is closely associated with the dog’s personality. A name such as Killer, for example, would lead anyone to think that this is a vicious dog and it is probably quite friendly. You also have to select a name that you really like because it is one that you will be repeating many times.

 

When you search online for possible names for your puppy, there are various ways in which you can conduct your search. You could look for the most popular names for male and female dogs, or you can search for cute or unusual names. You may want to name your dog after a famous dog in history and there are lists of those online as well. What about choosing a name from another language if you are looking for something completely different? You can even search for a name that has a certain meaning.

 

It doesn’t hurt to wait a few days after you bring home a new puppy before choosing a name. This time allows you to pick up on any unique characteristics of the dog that could lead to your choice of name. Books and television are another source of names. Perhaps you read a book in which there was a dog with a name you really liked or you may have seen on one TV. Whatever name you choose, take steps to teach the dogs its name by using it as much as possible when you call the dog. The faster the dog learns its name, the easier it will be to train.

Philip Yaffe asked:


by Philip Yaffe

I am an animal lover. I love all kinds of animal: dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, ferrets, goldfish, etc. So I was lucky to have a very unusual pet when I was a kid.

I grew up in Los Angeles, One day when walking home from school, I saw what looked like a small ball of brown string lying on the sidewalk. When I bent over and picked it up, I saw that it was in fact a baby sparrow that had apparently fallen out of a next somewhere. I looked for the nest but couldn’t find it, so I took him home.

He seemed to be no more than a few days old, so we didn’t believe that he could survive. But we decided to try. We fed him by prying open his beak and inserting diluted milk with an eyedropper. He became stronger, so we then tried feeding in hardboiled egg white. And he started to grow.

We named him Charlie. We didn’t believe in putting a wild bird in a cage, so his home was a shoebox. However, after a few weeks the natural thing happened; he started to fly. At first it was only short distances, from one chair to another. But then he began circling the living room.

We knew the inevitable day when we would have to let him go was now close. I volunteered for the unenviable task. So one morning, I put him in my hands and walked outside. I opened my hands. He remained there for a few seconds, as if trying to decide. Ten he flew away.

If you know the United States, then you know that in many places the telephone lines are not underground but overhead on tall poles. As I was walking home from school, I saw hundreds of sparrows sitting on the telephone wires. On impulse, I called out “Charlie!” Suddenly, one of them flew down from the wires and landed on my shoulder. I’m certain that the other sparrows were amazed, and I was delighted.

This started a regular routine. Every morning I would take Charlie out and he would fly away to be with his friends. But in the evening, he would fly down from the telephone wires onto my shoulder. We would go inside, where he would eat, then spend the evening flying around the living room before finally going to sleep in his shoebox.

I can’t really express what an amazing experience it was to live with this sparrow. But here are a few examples.

Somehow Charlie seemed to know when I had to get up to go to school. Usually just before 7 o’clock I would feel him walking on my forehead as if to say “Wake up. We have things to do!”

Something else about him: Charlie loved pears. I discovered this one day when he literally dive-bombed me to get a piece of the fruit I was eating. After that, we did things differently. I would put a piece of pear between my lips and he would peck away at it until it was small enough for him to fly away with it.

But the best thing was when I was doing my homework, reading or just watching television. Charlie would land on my shoulder, crawl under my collar, and go to sleep. You can’t imagine how pleasant it was to have this warm, feathery body pulsating against my neck.

This went on for about three or four months. But one day when I was walking home from school, I called out “Charlie!”, and nothing happened. I called again, “Charlie”, still nothing. A third time, “Charlie!” I went into the house, but about every 15 or 20 minutes, I went out to try again. “Charlie!” Still nothing. I did this all evening, and several times the next morning before I had to go to school.

I never saw Charlie again. I hoped that he had met his soul mate and they had flown off to live together as sparrows are supposed to.

Living with Charlie was quite an unusual experience and the memory is still fresh. As my friend will tell you, sometimes when we are at an outdoor restaurant and there are sparrows picking at breadcrumbs, I just can’t resist. I quietly call out: “Charlie? Charlie?”

Of course nothing ever happens, and I know it never will. My indelible encounter with Charlie took place nearly 50 years ago. But as the dictum tells us: Any hope, no matter how vain or improbable, is better than no hope at all. So I still do it. Every so often when dining outdoors, I turn to the sparrows picking at breadcrumbs: “Charlie? Charlie? Oh . . . Charlie.”

Philip Yaffe is a former writer with The Wall Street Journal and international marketing communication consultant. He now teaches courses in persuasive communication in Brussels, Belgium. Because his clients use English as a second or third language, his approach to writing and public speaking is somewhat different from other communication coaches. He is the author of In the “I” of the Storm: the Simple Secrets of Writing & Speaking (Almost) like a Professional, available from the publisher (storypublishers.be) and Amazon (amazon.com). Contact: phil.yaffe@yahoo.com, phil.yaffe@gmail.com