Picking a name your puppy can remember

There are lots of reasons why people give specific names to their puppy. Uniqueness, humour, matching a personality and honouring a loved one can all play a part. But if you want to train your dog then a key part has to be teaching them a name they can remember.

Two syllable names are the easiest for a dog to learn
Scientists and dog trainers alike have spent lots of time researching the names dogs best respond to. They have discovered a formula for so called ‘Sticky’ names.

First of all, you should try and avoid long names with too many syllables like ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Angelina’ or ‘Penelope’ for girls and ‘Alexander’, ‘Jeremiah’ or ‘Napoleon’ for boys.

Instead choose a name which has two syllables or less like ‘Rose’, ‘Bella’ or ‘Daisy’ for girls and ‘Toby’, ‘Duke’ or ‘Jack’ for boys.

This is because long names are harder for dogs to understand and memorise, so a fancy name may just confuse your pooch.

Of course, you can still have a longer name if you wish but you might want to abbreviate it, i.e.- ‘Max’ or ‘Maggie’.

Dogs hear ‘S’ sounds louder than others
Research also suggests that ‘S’ sounds are more powerful for dogs. This may be because they hear hard consonant sounds louder than other sounds. With this in mind names which begin with ‘K’, ‘D’ or ‘M’ can be easier for dogs to memorise.

Don’t use your dog’s name too often
It’s nice to see your dog responding to its name but you should avoid overusing it.  In particular you should avoid calling their name when you are telling them off.  By calling your dog and then telling it off you are teaching it that its name is not a positive thing to hear.

Finally you should always pick a name that will suit your dog both as a puppy and as an adult. It should also be suitable to shout in public!

For more practical tips on dog care, training and behaviour therapy please visit our articles page.