Naming your Chihuahua; does it really matter?

Does it really matter?

What's in a name?

Turns out, that yes, it does. There's both a science and an art to dog naming. The name you give your dog has repercussions for you and your dog - it has an impact on training, perception, behavior, and more.

Let's have a look at just some of the implications of canine naming choices:

• Role & age appropriateness: Bunny may not be a suitable name for a five-year-old German Shepherd who is meant to be a companion and help guard your home. Because consciously or not, the name means something to the way you treat her, and the way she receives your commands.

  If Bunny's behaving like a baby and occasionally urinating in the house, her name just may have something to do with how effective your training is. Try to match up the name to your dog's (eventual) age and role in the family.

  TIP: Give your dog a name he can grow into, eventually fitting his role and life stage.

• Names invoke emotions: Emotions influence behavior. So when you name your big Bouvier Bruiser, don't be surprised if people back away from both of you in the dog park.

  We repeat our dog's names often, and this repetition will have an effect, especially unconsciously - whether it's good or bad.

  TIP: Try for a good effect when naming. Attempt to invoke pleasant emotions. For example, Buddy can be a good choice, for obvious reasons…while Killer may not be.

• Sound effects: There are more direct effects a name can have on your dog, particularly in regards to training. The structure of sound can play a large role. Hard consonants like D, K, and P crackle with energy across many frequencies.

  Names, especially short one-syllable names with these letters (and sounds) are great for getting your dog's attention; far better than softer vowels and their accompanying softer sounds. In fact, this is why clickers work so well in training.

  TIP: Dirk or Kip will serve you and your dog better when training, when compared with Missy or Sam. Any dog can be conditioned to any name, certainly, but if you plan to have your dog compete in performance events, for example, this may give you a "leg up."

• One syllable or two? While one-syllable names with hard consonants are great, there's much to be said for two-syllable names. It's almost as if the first syllable alerts your dog to the second, which can be very effective.

  Two-syllable names also make for more iterations of your dog's name. You can get an affectionate nickname, a training name, and a stern name out of most two-syllable names. Very versatile, indeed!

  TIP: Try the above with a name that's under consideration. We'll try Pepper. We have our training name (Pepper or Pep), a nickname (Pep-Pep, Peppy), and a "grab-her-attention-now" name (Pep-per!).

A rose by any other name…

By the way, you can change your dog's name. Unlike humans, dogs don't become emotionally attached to names the way we do. If you don't like the name your dog came with, change it. It happens all the time, after all, when you adopt from a shelter.

In the end, many factors come into play when naming. But ultimately a name you love, one that makes you smile and feel good (like your dog makes you feel), a name that really sums up your dog's personality - well, that's preferable to an "acoustically-correct" name any day.

That takes care of the science. But, finding an exquisite name you adore? That's where the art comes in.