Comments on: Need Help Naming your Pet?

By: Yvonne DiVita

Yvonne DiVita — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:03:13 +0000

Names are so important, aren’t they? When we got my son a puppy – many moons ago – both his sisters tried to influence his naming her, but he didn’t let them make the decision. HE chose her name… and he named her Carmel, because she was brown. A year later, when I adopted a kitty, I let the girls choose a name and they decided on Pandora, because she was always getting in to something. But, I call her Wabby Wibby (that’s baby talk for “baby kitty”…)

I’m adding this to the mix a bit late… but, I just had to chime in. Thanks for sharing!

By: Stacey Weber

Stacey Weber — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 23:30:21 +0000

I LOVE this topic! Mostly, because I love dogs (those of you who know me, know my dogs are truly my babies and are consequently, terribly spoiled) and I’m jealous Merrill got a new Yorkie! I love Yorkies!

I have 2 dogs: Murray and Kirby. Murray is a peekapoo (22 lbs) and Kirby is a poodle (9 lbs). Murray got his name from a story my mother told me about a man (Murray) and his family she met at a resort in Mexico. Long story, but hilarious! It cracked me up so much that I told her when I got a dog of my own, I was going to name him Murray and I did. The name “Murray” definitely fits his personality, too, so I lucked out on that one!

Kirby was an avid eater when he was a pup, so we named him Kirby after the vacuum cleaner, as he seemed to “suck” down his food. This name really didn’t prove out to be so good for him, as he’s really not so interested in food. His AKC name is actually Coconino (because he’s white) Kirby Roy-L (his blood line). I should have named him Napoleon, since he’s French, small, and likes to rule the roost, but we often don’t know our animals’ (or children’s) personalities when we name them, now do we?

I don’t know anyone who has an animal and doesn’t have a million and a half “pet” names for him. Murray and Kirb get called a multitude of names, mostly derivatives of their “given” names, but it doesn’t seem to phase them. . .they still come when called- or at least, when they feel like it!

By: Ginger Blazier

Ginger Blazier — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 15:34:32 +0000

I picked out my Sheltie from a breeder who had 2 litters to choose from. I chose the smallest one hiding over in a corner shivering, while the other pups were up, running a round, and causing mayhem. I thought, here’s a nice calm dog, who needs something to help him build up some courage to keep up with the pack, so I named him Samson. Little dog – big name! Well, I guess it worked because during the seven years he has been with me, he has proudly grown in to the King and Ruler of our household! He keeps us in line.

By: david lester

david lester — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:02:36 +0000

yes our kids named our terrier spot for a big spot on its side. our lab is sally.

at one point we had 5 dogs- buster (lab mix), amber (lab), elvis (lab),cassie (wiemer), and pepper (toy poodle). pepper ruled the bunch. all living on our house’s small lot in university park. the back yard was a mess, but they all were fun.

By: Juli

Juli — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:57:34 +0000

Stetson and Reba, our two chocolate labs, were named while my husband and I were going through our country dancing phase about 13 years ago. They have been a great addition to our family, and they are still doing very well for their somewhat advanced age. It must be the names.

By: Maureen Ploss

Maureen Ploss — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:39:46 +0000

When my sisters and I were growing up we had a huge cat named Muhammad Ali. Mozy for short. Turned out to be a good fighter. Go figure.
Today I have a cat named Huckleberry. My husband and I named her after a quote by Val Kilmer playing Doc Holiday in Tombstone…”I’m your Huckleberry.” We think it’s pretty funny.

By: Lynn Kelly

Lynn Kelly — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:18:20 +0000

Hi Merrill – The blog works – I just talked with one of your guys about partnering with us on a possible project. And this article about the pets struck a chord.

The cats were named Rascal and Ghandi. Rascal because he was mischievous, and Ghandi because he was calm and took care of Rascal when he was a sickly. It took us a while to name Ghandi; my husband thought the cat was awkward rather than calm and generous, so his pick for a name was Gerald Ford. Fortunately, I prevailed. Our dog is Tucker – the name he came with at 8 weeks from the breeder. This, after looking up some 400 names on the internet! Tucker is a Springer Spaniel who has also been nicknamed “hyperdog” by friends.

Best regards,
Lynn

By: Danielle Blugrind

Danielle Blugrind — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:20:10 +0000

Oh, now this is just pure fun! I have named a few pets in my lifetime, even for other family members. But my favorites are “Ernie” and “Bunny”. “Ernie” was a black-and-white male cat that my grandmother gave me for my 4th birthday, and he received the very high honor of being named after my favorite character on Sesame Street. He was about as round and rotund as his namesake, too. “Bunny” is the white female cat I had to put down this past summer. She was named when my husband (then boyfriend) surprised me with a cat for Easter. Yes, we knew that teaching animal names to our daughter might be challenging when we had to explain that “Bunny” is a “Cat” and rabbits are called “Bunnies”… but it all worked out fine and she was a very special member of the family for nearly 15 years. Thanks for bringing me such nice thoughts this afternoon!

By: Susan Hayes

Susan Hayes — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:29:41 +0000

I think we give our dog names more thought than most people naming a brand!

My first dog was Spike (RIP)… while he was a white, fluffy Maltese, he would put big dogs in their place, and had the attitude of Spike, the tough dog in Sylvester & Tweety cartoons.

My first rescue mutt is named Tahoe, selected from the pound after returning from vacation at Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. (Liked Yosemite sites better, but didn’t sound like a good name and didn’t want to go with Yosemite Sam.)

The second rescue pup is an odd mix. I was trying to come up with a cartoon name (Flintstones), but also wanted to capture her unique blue merle coloring of an Australian Shepherd with smaller features of a Beagle… thus Pebbles.

By: Lynn Stalone

Lynn Stalone — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:13:52 +0000

Some dogs simply live up to the name given. We have 2 Weimaraners. We named the male “Mooch” after a relative that never pays for anything, thinking this was a great inside joke. Unfortunately, he grew up to be very tall Weimaraner whose face rests nicely on the kitchen table when he is standing or sitting. For 7 years we have watched as Mooch has stolen countless food items from the table or counter including, but not limited to, a full pound of bacon, many steaks and sandwiches, most of a chicken and (his favorite) several Bloody Mary’s. He also has quite a sweet tooth. Sometimes the names just come back to bite you!