Brainstorm Favorite Puppy Names

How A Little 'Warrior' Became 'Ike' One of My Favorite Puppy Names!

Before we met, my Miniature Schnauzer's previous puppy name was 'Warrior' the name given to him by his first owner.

Even as a tiny pup, he was brave and mischievous, always wrestling with the four year old female Maltese he shared his first home with, hence his name.

On the happy day I became his 'Mom', I recall watching him sparring energetically with the Maltese, I thought of Mike Tyson, the famous boxing champion.

My initial idea was to name him 'Mike', but on second thoughts, I named him 'Ike' without the ‘M’, this was much cuter, and it also fitted nicely with his playful fighting spirit, as of course (my history-obsessed husband never tires of reminding everyone) 'Ike' was the name of another famous warrior, the Second World War Supreme Allied Commander and US Army General, and later, American President, 'Ike' Eisenhower.

For help selecting some favorite puppy names for females, try searching through this A-Z of female and male favorite puppy names to ‘spot’ a cutie.

A-Z Female Puppy Name List

A-Z Male Puppy Name List

Some puppy or dog owners select a shortlist of favorite puppy names ahead of time, others prefer to wait and hold their puppy or dog in their arms, before deciding on a name.

If you're stuck for ideas, here are a few tips to help you brainstorm for your favorite puppy names...

How To Choose The Right Puppy Name

• The sound of the name is an important factor. Choose a name that has a pleasant sound. Call it out loud and see if it’s appealing to you.
  
  
• Have fun! There's no good reason to rush into naming your puppy.
  
  
• Take some time, if you like, to observe your pups demeanor and behavior for hints and clues.
  
  
• And by the way, most people end up giving their pets several cute nicknames, which they tend to use when discussing pooch in front of friends and family, you may even find 'given name' inspiration from some early nicknames your family give your pup!
  
  
• Remember K-I-S-S. Keep It Short and Sweet! Puppies and dogs respond better to just one or two syllables, such as 'Rex' or 'Las-sie'.
  
  
• Look for distinctive colours or markings, for instance, a  puppy with a white coat could be named 'Snowy'.
  
  
• Don’t confuse your poor puppy or dog with names that sound too alike to training commands.
  
  
• Naming your puppy or dog after a member of your family or friend might sound like a ‘compliment’ but it is best to seek their permission first!
  
  
• Have you adopted an older dog? If you can, keep their original name but if you need to change it, try to choose something that sounds similar to the name it grew up with.
  
  
• Keep it fun but be sensible, remember YOU will be calling it out loudly and frequently in public places -enough said! Allow ample time for your puppy or dog to get accustomed to it’s new name.
  
  
• Always praise and reward them when they respond to their new name, this will further reinforce them learning and associating positive feelings with their new name.
  
  
• Never use the dogs name when you discipline them, there is no need to say, for example, "'Rover'... No!" a simple low and firm (NOT loud, your command word tone will want to resemble a 'growl' of disapproval for best results) simply growl "No!" or whatever your 'discipline word' is, and your dog will always associate it's own name with love, rewards, treats, and all-round good times!