Did you start singing when you read the title of this week's blog post? When I was thinking about this week's blog topic, that song popped into my head and then it just stuck there!
When you are naming your dog, there are a couple of good rules to keep in mind. Two syllable names are often the best choice as they allow you, the human, to change the pitch of your voice when addressing your dog, which can help grab your dog's attention and let them know your intent. What type of inflection you use lets your dog know if you are happy with them, displeased, etc. While a lot of dog owners will opt for one syllable names, these often become two syllable nicknames in the long run because, again, two syllable names allow for those pitch changes that one syllable names do not. So, what are one syllable names good for? They are good for grabbing attention in situations where there are a lot of distractions. And for those folks choosing longer, multi-syllable names for their dogs, you just need to know that you will likely be shortening said name or going with a nickname anyway. And you know what? Dogs are good with that too! Most of us use nicknames for our dogs and it doesn't confuse them or keep them from responding. It's just one more amazing attribute of dogs.
Last week, I heard from a new puppy owner who was concerned that perhaps his name choice for the new dog would be confusing given how the name sounded like the word, "no." I once had a client whose dog came with the name "Jess" and she had similar concerns since Jess sounds like "yes." The bottom line? It really doesn't matter as dogs use context with our verbal cues; they use our body language, including facial expressions, as much as, if not more than, the actual words we say. So, while the name "Beau" sounds like "no," for example, your dog isn't going to get confused if you give them a stern "NO!" I will say, however, that if you want to avoid sounding like Dr. Seuss when talking to your dog, you might want to steer clear of the one syllable names that sound a lot like commands you might give your dog. "Hey! Kit Sit," being a good example!
I think the bigger take home message with this one is that you really want to think more about how you use "no" and "yes." Overuse of either can dilute the value. Plus, you also run the risk of not giving your dog enough context to understand what they did that you liked or didn't like. The word "no" in and of itself lacks information. Sure, if you yell it at your dog, they're likely to stop what they are doing momentarily, but truthfully? You could yell "Rot!" and they'd stop momentarily for that as well, because they'd be responding to the tone of your voice more so than the word itself. So, rather than saying "No!" tell your dog what they should be doing instead. For example, if your puppy has grabbed your new running shoe, don't just tell her "NO!" Instead, tell her to "drop it!" and then trade her your shoe for a toy or bone instead. Basically, don't chew my shoes, chew on your own stuff. I prefer "leave it!" and "drop it" to a generic "no" every time. Now, if your dog bolts the front door and is heading for a busy street, then definitely yell "NO!" If you don't overuse that word, they will absolutely stop dead in their tracks, just long enough for you to collect them before they head into harm's way.
I love the process of coming up with names for my dogs. I like to think about their personality traits and about my goals or aspirations for them. I always joke that people who name their pets after questionably behaved characters in literature or movies often end up with adult animals who live up to their names. Any of you remember the movie, "Gremlins?" The cute, little creature in that movie was named "Gizmo." Funny thing though: If you got him wet, exposed him to bright lights, or fed him after midnight, he changed into something less than cute and cuddly, wreaking havoc and leaving destruction in his wake. I had a client who named her Shih Tzu puppy "Gizmo" because he looked just like the sweet movie character. Funny thing though. When he tore up her couch, managed to rip down the curtains, and took a chunk out of an antique table leg, he resembled a gremlin more than she would have liked!
Share the story of how your dog got their name, and as always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
