How did your dog get his/her name?

Crittercall · #1 08-14-2002, 11:37 PM

We've agreed that our dogs don't get talked about much, even though most of us have them. Now, what are their names and how did you get it?

Wallis was my first CKCS. The breeder wanted to register her with the King Charles (before they were AKC dogs) and wanted to register the entire litter with names that start with a W. Now,I realized that I could pick one name for the registry and another to call her, but that was too much thinking. After going through Winnie and Wendy I finally realized that I have always had an interest in Wallis Simpson and her affect on the British Royalty and thought that was appropriate.

Tibby, as you know, is my rescue CKCS. When I picked her up in Sarasota from my friend she had all the paperwork from vaccines, spaying, cleaning teeth, etc. One the front where it asked for the name of the pet they had written "TBA - to be announced". Well, it took no time for TBA to become Tibby!

Sasha was a bit more difficult. I bought her from only seeing pictures and my daughter meeting her. She spent about 2 weeks with Erin before I got her, so I had to name her or Zoe would. This was when the Olympics was going on and there was an ice skater that I liked named Sasha, so I went with that. She is usually referred to as Sashi-Washi, Tibby as Tibby-toe and the birds call Wallis Wally.

Now lets hear your stories!

Critter

***Dena*** · #2 08-15-2002, 12:13 AM

Well since I was adopting to pitbull mixes, and everyone was freaking out over the fact, I wanted to make sure they had nice, pretty, girlie names. I also have a thing for italian names. Then I had to take in consideration their color, one is red and the other chocolate. I had a huge list of names that I was deciding on. Keep in mind that in the meantime I was fighting with my husband about the names because he insisted they be named Waylan and Merle.

Well that just wasn't going to happen.

I have a thing for caramel so I kept thinking of Dulce de leche and just turned Dulce to the italian Dolce meaning sweet and then since the other was chocolate I thought of hershey kisses then turned that to the Italian Perugina chocolates Baci meaning kiss.

So that is how I ended up with Dolce and Baci and together they make a Sweet Kiss

(Okay so the end was a little corny!)

#3 08-15-2002, 04:42 AM

My two petbull girlies got their names because my wife is a country fan. The oldest one is named Shania (Twain) and the younger one is named Faith (Hill).

She promised me that the next one we get, I get to name. (As long as it meets her approval, I'm sure).

Crittercall · #4 08-15-2002, 10:34 AM

After working in the vet business for so many years, I developed a real aversion to naming dogs - especially ones who are already predisposed to bad temperment - with aggressive names. We had friends who had two Aussies, one of whom was just awful - jumped on you, even knocked me down a time or two, and there was nothing they could do with him. His name was Bear. So I started calling him Fluffy, much to their chagrin. Fluffy was a much nicer dog than Bear.

So I think you guys did the right thing in naming your dogs gentle names. I think that helps, more than trying to keep up the "macho" (no offense!) image to go along with the image that the dog might have - whether it is a pitbull, a rotty, a German Shepherd, etc.

Thanks for the stories. Lets hear more!

Critter

Runt · #5 08-16-2002, 12:19 AM

WE have had several dogs over the years.Most of them were beagles and usually got picked up when we let them out to run.We have had 2 Doberman's they were my dogs.Dutchess was my first dobie and then I found Simon they were already named when Igot them.Dutchess was very friendly.Simon when we got him the owner had to find him a new home because the nighbor kids tormented him with their motorcycles to the point he jumped a six foot fence and bite one of the kids.His owner was a friend of mine and I told her I would take him since I lived in the country.Funny thing is she was an hour away from me and I didn't know the dog very well.I had a car and he rode in the front seat all the way to my house.She said he hated motorcycle and we had 3- 4 wheeler's.Within 2 days when hubby and the kids took the bikes for a spin Simon was hot on their trail and followed them everywhere.

One day he followed them down to the end of the road and stop at hubby's cousin's house.He stayed there put Barry's cousin up a tree and his inlaws in the house and kept pacing from tree to house till Barry came back by.He laughed his but off and so did I.Simon disappeared 4 days later and I think they may of shot him.

The most precious of all the dogs I ever had was our boxer.She got her name after we watched her.When she played with him she would kinda box at him.

So he decided to name her Barry's Boxing Cassie.She was a very good dog and I miss her terribly sometimes.She loved children and would of been very good for my grandchildren.If we ever get another it will be a boxer and a female.

Crittercall · #6 08-16-2002, 12:54 AM

I think it's great that you rescued the dobies - and a crying shame that evidently someone took out their aggression on Simon.

Cassie sounds like a sweetheart. I've never owned a big dog (although my shihtzu thinks she's big) but have been around some really great boxers. And they have some of the most loyal owners I've ever met!

My Sasha - 8 months old - has quickly become the alpha dog of our household. I personally love Golden Retrievers in the big breeds and got a puppy a couple of years ago, but at that time my other shihtzu was up in years and very intolerant of this huge, playful intruder in her house. We decided it was much better to find another home for the Golden so that Bonnie Jean's last years wouldn't be lived in torment. I've told Bub that with Sasha's attitude I may as well go ahead and get my Golden now!

As I said, I've never had a big dog nor one as strong willed as Sasha. Any tips anybody can give me on dealing with a strong willed dog would be appreciated. She's not really BAD, but she hangs onto my ankles when I try to walk, torments the other dogs, does not know the meaning of "easy" when taking a biscuit. She's turning my hair from blonde to gray!

Thanks for sharing -

Critter

Tina · #7 08-17-2002, 10:06 PM

Well reason I got Ginger is cause I was alittle partial to Miniature Pinschers. I really like them she is a mix. I named her Ginger becuse of her color. Ruff was already named when my hubby got him.

capnsweets · #8 08-17-2002, 11:38 PM

My mom is a life long Hippie, and our first dog was named Dooby. I never knew why until a few years ago, and then I felt like an airhead. How funny it must have been for a 4 y/o child to be yelling for Dooby all the time.

Foxxy lady was are next dog, and my Auunt dee dee named her for the song.

Pepe and Shaggy are my Mom's dogs now. They were named because my mom is currently running a cartoon them throught he house, Spike the fish, Tigger and Pebble the cats, and Stimpy the hamster.

**Scarlette** · #9 08-18-2002, 12:10 AM

I had a Boston Terrier who's real name was Keyzeya. I had heard that name once and loved it....I have no idea why. Anyway, her nickname was Cheese. I was teaching her tricks and didn't have any doggie treats so I used cheese and somehow got to calling her that. Everyone gave me a weird look when they asked me what her name was and I told them Cheese! That was probably the best dog I ever had (may she rest in peace)

I also had a Boston name Earl. He had a big blocky head and just looked like an Earl. His nickname was little buddy.

I have 2 other Bostons now named Ashley and Shotsie. I liked the name Ashley and it just stuck. Shotsie is a little spit-fire. She's Ashley's daughter....so I've had her since birth. Even when she was just beginning to walk she'd try to be a tuff girl and growl at her litter-mates. Shotsie just fit her.

I had a collie named Rudy when I was a kid. I watched the Fat Albert cartoon one time too many and liked the name Rudy.

Scarlette is my red Doberman. Since she's red, that's the first thing I thought of. Her nickname is O'hare (NOT O'hara).

I have no idea how my mom came up with the name Teeka for her Weimaraner. I wanted her name to be Shakira or Nakita but she wanted to go with a sissy name.

I could go on and on with my dog name stories.....

buggirl19 · #10 08-23-2002, 12:30 PM

When I got my chocolate lab, I wanted a name that would fit his personality but also be a play on the "chocolate" part of him. I went looking down the candy isle and Snickers, Rolo, and Hershey was the only names that jumped out.

Hershey is too common, so it was between Snickers and Rolo. After watching my puppy for a couple of days Rolo fit nicely. And it was easy to yell.

So now I have a huge Rolo living in my house. Who else can say that their favorite candy plays with them daily?

Crittercall · #11 08-23-2002, 04:11 PM

I love that - and I love Rolo's!! Good job!

I had some friends who couldn't decide what to name their dog. They put their three favorite choices underneath 3 treats for the dog and the one the dog went for was the name they used.

Critter

**Christi** · #12 08-23-2002, 05:39 PM

Well, we had Nestle who was a Weim/Choc. Lab so that's self-explanatory. Cyersha (pronounced SEER-sha) is Irish for Freedom - we gave it our own spelling and used it cause no Weim is ever "owned."

Punxatawny · #13 08-23-2002, 06:24 PM

when I was about 4 or 5 we got a german shepard he came with the name Pebbles don't ask me why but it just didn't fit him so we named him Max. He was around for a good couple of years, we also got a lab/shepard mix and she came with the name AbbyGail we just went with Abby. Then came my Favorite dog our Rotty, my dad named him Rhino after Rhino records. Rhino had a lot of nick names like Goat boy, he liked to eat socks, he even made a hole in our carpet, he also liked my barbie dolls. He would rip off their heads and carry them in his mouth and all you could see was blond hair sticking out of his mouth. He also went by football head well because he had a big head

Rhino was also really really stupid. I aint fibbing either he would chase flashlight beems and bark at the tv set (yes he watched tv). I miss my dogs though. they all died a couple of years ago about a year inbetween each death

Crittercall · #14 08-24-2002, 01:31 AM

My niece's first dog was named Dog E. She always called it Doggie and my sister thought that was a more dignified way of spelling it. (Although my cat Mark E. was actually named Mark Edward-we just called him Mark E)

Critter

EzminJ · #15 09-14-2002, 02:48 PM

Well, Bouncer was the biggest dog in his litter, and according to my folks, when they first saw him he was busy "bouncing" his siblings out of the way to get to their momma for feeding. Enter Bouncer. Kidman was my brother's dog, who just happened to be a huge wrestling fan, and named him for Billy Kidman. Other than that, the list is soooo long... Let's see, I've had dogs named
Prince, Solomon, Gizmo, Merlyn, Bosco, Patches, Puddles, Moose, Foller, Snoopy, Cat, Drake, Butch, and Sundance, to name about half. Foller was the only one I actually named out of the group. When I was six or so, Patches and Puddles were our two dogs, opposing in sex. Sure enough, they eventually consumated their backyard relationship, and produced a litter. We gave most of them to friends we knew would take care of them, but chose to keep the two who were almost I dentical to their respective Parents. Mom decided to name the one Moose, as he was the largest of the litter. The other one, she said I could name. After much deliberation with myself, I walked up to mom with a grin on my face, and a name in my head. "What did you decide" she asked, to which I proudly stated "Typer-writer". Typewriter was the largest word I knew at the ttime, and I thought it was fitting. Well, mom wouldn't let that fly at all, even though I'm sure I cried for an hour or so. She finally said that if I didn't decide, she was going to name him Baxter. So I went out back, the pups now being a couple weeks old, and my dog was the only one without a name. I watched as he closely trailed Moose and one other pup still eft as they feebled around. Until I drew close to them. Then, as if he knew who would feed him long after his mother stopped, he came to me. I pet him and turned to walk in the house, only to discover that he was as close behind me as his little legs would keep him, and that was when I decided on "Foller",.... as he seemed to enjoy "follering me around".

Just a couple...