“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” — Martin Buber
If you’ve ever had a pet, especially one you raised from a puppy or kitten or adopted from a shelter, you probably had to come up with a name for your pet. I say had to but naming a pet is one of the fun things about bringing a new animal into your house or world.
I grew up on a farm and still live on a farm. So, I’ve had the opportunity to name many different animals. We even named our cows sometimes although those names were generally related to their colors or something about them. We had a Blondie once. We raised her on a bottle and she was always ready to come to the fence to see if she could get an extra treat of corn or something. We named the lambs we bottlefed when their mothers wouldn’t own them. That happens with sheep. We sometimes named our chickens.
But what we had the most fun naming were baby kittens or a new dog come to live at our house. That didn’t change after I got married and still had new pets to name. After we moved to the farm were we live now, we didn’t have cats anymore. But we’ve named several dogs through our years. I named my very first dog when I was a kid, Ollie. You can read about that on other posts here on my blog. Then when we got a second dog because for some reason people thought I was hogging Ollie, we named him Blue. Then I hogged both Ollie and Blue. Unfortunately Ollie and Blue hated one another but they managed to co-exist fairly peacefully, only getting into a major fight once or twice a year.
After I married, we got a collie shepherd mix that looked like Lassie. He got named Buster. A great dog. He was so little when we got him that I would have to rescue him from the bully hens until he got big enough that he could have taught those hens a things or two but didn’t. Smart dog. One of the best.
My husband had a parade of hunting dogs that he would usually name himself, although we had a little Brittany spaniel that one of my sons named Samantha. We ended up calling her Sammie. That dog could read my mind when she was outside and I was inside. Anytime I needed to take her to the vet, she alway completely disappeared even before I came outside with her leash. My husband liked names that were easy to yell like Pete, Tate, and Bessie. Not sure where that Bessie came from.
I named the dogs I got for pets with some input from the family. I did always have final approval. 🙂 I named my cockerspaniel Jody. Actually, since he was registered, his full name was Honeysuckle Jody. I do remember us having many discussions about that name. My first black lab was an easy and oft used dog name of Max, but it fit.
Other dogs I’ve had came with a name already. Dub, aka Coffee W. Crutcher, a chocolate lab was one of those. So was Oscar, my best dog ever. His name was given to him by the couple who found him on the side of the road somewhere and rescued him. Then, when they couldn’t keep him, they gave him to us. Oscar was a perfect name for him. Current dog, Marley, was already named when his owners needed a new home for him when they decided to do a lot of traveling. Since Marley was already nine, it didn’t seem right to change his name. I did add a little sometimes when I talked to him and called him Marley Charley. Poor Marley has lost his hearing now. So we have to communicate with hand signals or touches, but I still talk to him anyway.
Frankie, my current humane shelter rescue, had a name they’d given him at the shelter, but I didn’t like it. I don’t even remember what it was now. But on the drive home from the shelter where I had to hold him off with one hand while driving with the other hand because he was so scared, I decided on Frankie. Nobody else even got to make a suggestion. LOL. I think I earned the naming rights after that wild ride home. Frankie still goes a little crazy, okay a lot crazy, when he has to get into a car. I wonder if it was because he was shoved out of a car and left to starve along the road by his first people. He was very skinny when I brought him home, but he has recovered from those early lean days.
But pets I’ve actually owned aren’t the only animals I’ve named. I love having my characters have pets. Sometimes a dog. Sometimes a cat. In When the Meadow Blooms, my young sister Sienna even named a couple of crows. A quick recall of names comes up with Jasper in the Hidden Springs mysteries along with cats, Two Bits, Miss Marble, and Grimalkin. Asher was Carlyn’s dog in The Innocent. Jocie had a dog name Zeb, short of Zebedee, in my Heart of Hollyhill books. There was a pup named Rusty in Along a Storied Trail. Dirk had a faithful dog friend named Maisy in When the Meadow Blooms.
In my upcoming release, In the Shadow of the River, I didn’t give my characters a dog or cat since I thought it might be hard to have a pet on a showboat on the river. However, one of the books I read for research did have a young actor bring a dog aboard as a pet even though the captain had forbidden it. On sight of the dog and no doubt, the boy’s begging eyes, the captain relented.
And now as I am on a new story road, I need to name another pet dog in my story. I haven’t really come up with anything great yet. So I’m asking for suggestions. What would you name a shepherd mix with maybe a little hound in him (male dog) that is the best friend of a nine year old girl who has had plenty of trouble in her young life. Sometimes she feels as though the dog is her only friend. He’s got a shaggy coat, mostly brown with some spots of black and white. He’s a smart guy. The story is set in the Appalachian Mountains so that might figure into his name.
I won’t promise to use your suggested name, but I might if it hits me as the right fit for my imagined dog. If I do, I’ll send you a book as a reward.
So what would you name Ada June’s dog? Or what is a favorite name of one of your pets now or in the past?
Comments 42
I might name her dog Jasper.
Author
I like the name Jasper for a dog, Connie. But I’ve used it already for one of my fictional dogs. Jasper is Michael’s dog in the Hidden Springs mysteries. So guess I can’t use it again.
By your description, it seems the dog will be feisty and eager to pull and tug to get attention. My grandmother’s family name was McCoy. Their feud with the Hatfield clan was across the Tug River, so I will nominate the name “Tug” for your dog character.
Author
He definitely is going to be feisty, Ed. Not sure about the pulling and tugging to get attention. Maybe. So you are descended from the feuders. So many feuds in Eastern Kentucky during that time. Actually when you start researching that area, you find out that the Hatfield and McCoy one wasn’t even the worst.
But Tug is a good dog name.
Four months ago we bought a black and white border collie from a litter bred by a personal friend. It is the first dog and purebred we ever bought since before we were married. We’ve always rescued. I remember a border collie in our family until I was about three years old and I think I only remember her because she shows up in pictures of me. We’ve owned part border collies and we know that they’re energetic and require a lot of exercise but that didn’t stop me even though today is my 69th birthday. We named him Baloo like the character in The Jungle Books. It means bear in Indian and at 8 weeks old he for d resemble a fuzzy teddy panda bear. It also sounds like the color, blue, and that was the collar she put on him at birth because he was the first born and male in the litter. All the puppies wore color-coded collars so she could keep track of them as they were born. She also called them by their colors because she didn’t want to name them. She wanted the buyers to name them. So truly he did answer to blue and that’s why he is now Baloo. The breeder also told us that when mommy and daddy would take the litter out to scout around their farm and it was time to come back she would call to them, “ puppa, puppa, puppa.” So he does respond to Puppa and Baloo or Balooy. He is now 6 1/2 months old and smart as a whip! If he lives out his normal lifespan my husband and I should be about 86 when he passes. If he outlives us I have a granddaughter who’s already got dibs on him!
Author
Thanks for sharing about Baloo, Rebecca. I love that name for your puppy and the reasons you picked it. I could have named Frankie Baloo if I’d known he was going to get 50 pounds begger than he was when I found him at the humane shelter and they told me he was probably two and grown. We wasn’t two and he wasn’t grown. LOL. I figure he was a crazy teen dog when I brought him home. Maybe 9 months old. Now I have some pictures of him where he resembles a bear. LOL.
I love border collies but they do need that exercise. That’s good. It will keep you and your husband exercising with him. And 69 isn’t so old. Don’t they say 70 is the new 50? At least we can wish. And so good of you to make sure your sweet dog has a landing place if he needs it. Wishing you much joy with Baloo.
Our favorite dog we raised as a puppy that had bubble gum in his coat we had to remove and he was pure white. Our son won out with the name Casper, he was a loving good dog. We had many dogs after Casper but he was the best.
Author
Sometimes you just have the best ever dog, Donna Jean. I felt like that about Oscar, the dog I had before Frankie. But Frankie is fun in his own rascally way.
Casper is a great name for a white dog, but you could have named him Bubbles. LOL.
My favorite grand dog, a yellow lab, who passed away recently and I miss dearly, was named Jake. He was a sweetheart, so the name reminds me of a big , loving dog always ready for a hug and a treat. He grew up with my grandsons.
Author
We do get attached to those grand dogs too, don’t we, Lynda? I’ve grieved over several that my grandkids have lost. One of my granddaughters has had bad luck with a couple of her pets. I especially loved one of them, a little wirehaired dachshund who dug out of their yard and ran in front of a car. But she has another sweet dog now.
Those labs are the sweetest dogs and great with kids. I like the name Jake. When I was maybe 7 or 8 and having a bad case of dog hunger where I wanted one so bad, I thought Jack or Jake would be a perfect name for the dog I wanted. And now I’ve never named any of my dogs Jack or Jake. Making me wonder if it’s time to name one of my fictional dogs one of those names.
I would name him Faithful because he’s always there for me. I had a dog as a child who was my best friend. His name was Major, so that name is dear to me, too.
Author
Thanks for your name suggestion, Birdie. Ada June does need a faithful friend for sure. Major is a great dog name too.
I’d name him Rufus! I love that name and used it for one of the dogs I had a long time ago. Im looking forward to your new book, even without a dog in it. 😁. Thank you, Ann, for your great stories!
Author
Rufus is a good dog name, Judi. In an earlier comment, Pam said she used to have a dog named Rufus.
I’m glad you’re looking forward to my dogless upcoming showboat story. I had fun learning about showboats and the families that lived on those boats for months at a time.
Champ comes to mind when you describe him and how she loves him. He’s her Champion. Or maybe Rebel, if that’s his personality.
I’m sure I’m going to love that new story. 🙂
Author
Champ and Rebel are both great dog names, Lavon. I haven’t quite decided his personality other than what a friend he is to Ada June. But I think he’s telling me that he’s pretty fiesty even though he isn’t a big dog. We shall see as he comes more to life for me.
My childhood dog’s name was Bruno. I would suggest Mister as a fitting name also.
I immediately thought of Buddy since he is the girl’s best friend. Just seemed perfect.
I don’t know why ,but the first name I though of was Brambles.
I have never had a dog named that though, When I was a kid, We had a Rowdy , Shaggy, and Tiny . Since we got married we have had, Minute, Bailey, Lola,Mandy ,Thunder and our current dog Grace.
I’m sure you will find the perfect name for your dog character.
Author
Brambles might work for a mountain dog, Lisa. You have certainly had a variety of names for all your dogs. If my little mountain dog was a female, Gracie would be a great name. Right now, I’m still pondering all these great names you all are suggesting although I’m not sure any of them are hitting the bull’s eye mark for me yet. I’ll have to think on it. I’ve already tried out two names on my dog character but neither of them are bringing up the picture I want. We’ll see.
How about naming him Toby?
We have had several cats and dogs. When I was 4, we had a dog named Gussy. He would sit under my sister’s baby swing out in the yard while my other sister and I played. He kept watch.
When I was about 12 we had an Airedale mix that we named August McTavish McFergus Dundee – Tavvie for short. That was also the name of a squirrel in a story that my sister made up years before.
Author
That was some name for your Airedale mix, Paula. If I named a dog in my story like that it would add a lot of words to the story. LOL. Of course the shortened name would work too.
That was an impressive name for a squirrel too, but sounds as if it would make a great story.
I like the name Patch for your imaginary dog. Recently my daughter and I were returning from a girl’s trip to Savannah. We saw a sweet little dog about a half mile from our house that apparently someone had dropped. My husband and I took her food and water until a neighbor took her to the humane society. If I had been able to keep her I would have liked to have named her Savanna Hope.
Author
Sounds like your found dog was a sweetheart, Lisa. I’m sure she was adopted by someone who gave her a good home. Savanna Hope would have been a great name.
Patch would be a good name for a little girl to come up with. I’m getting so many great suggestions.
I had a chow chow mix that I named “Pokey”. She would walk next to my wheelchair. She was not a service dog but she could have been.She was dropped off up the road from the house and my dad rescued her.
Author
Sounds as though she was a perfect “find” for you, Deborah. So fun to have a dog that loves you and wants to be with you. That’s the kind of dog I’m trying to create for my character who needs a friend.
Captain Roswell
I have named a few animals over the years from cats to bunnies to a pet rat that I had from a pet store as a kid. He was really sweet, and I called him Ralph after the mouse character in the Ralph Mouse books. We just had to say goodbye to our 17-year-old cat, Allie in December. It is hard to lose our fur babies and we miss her.
I credit our cat Henry for naming himself. I was listing a bunch of different names and he meowed every time I said Henry. He was abandoned by his mamma, and I had to dropper feed him, so he is my baby and a bit spoiled. I also started calling him Henry “Kittenger” and he still answers to it even though he is now 7. 🙂
For some reason the name I thought of for your dog in your story is Winston. Not sure why…maybe your 9-year-old thinks of the dog as the only thing she has ever “won” in her rough life? Glad you are working on another story that we can look forward to someday reading. 🙂
Author
Thanks for sharing about your fur buddies names, Hope. I’ve never thought about having a rat for a pet, but sounds like you came up with a good name for him.
It is always hard to lose our pets that we love so much. Henry “Kittenger” has me smiling. Great name. Hope Henry is your spoiled cat buddy for many years.
Not sure about Winston for my girl’s dog, but it is a neat name. I like how you came up with a reason for the name.
I think Boone would be a good name for Ada June’s dog. He would be named after a great adventurer who traversed the Appalachians
I have a cat at the present time and her name is Hissyfit. I rescued her from my backyard and she was so skinny and starving. Every time I took the food out to feed her and some other cats she would hiss all the way to the bowl. We decided to keep her but we had to take the others to the Animal Shelter. That was 15 years ago and she’s mellowed quite a bit but she sometimes still lives up to her name.
Author
Boone would be a great name, Linda. Not sure at this point in Ada June’s life she would know much about Daniel Boone though.
Hissyfit – what a great name for your cat. Guess she wanted to make sure she got that food.
I would name the dog “Bingo”.
That’s what I was going to suggest!!!
Author
Phyllis and Ann, looks like you two are thinking alike. Bingo is a great name for a dog. Makes me think of that song and Bingo was his name O.
Soon after we married, we got a puppy we named Willlie. He was a really good dog, built rather like a defensive lineman. When we moved out of state to an apartment that didn’t allow dogs, we gave Willie to my father-in-law. A few years and a move later, we got a Border Collie we named Shadow. He was very good with our kids. A few years later we acquired Rufus. He was young and rather goofy. If I remember right, Willie was the only one that I named.
Author
My granddaughters have a dog named Willie that they raised from a puppy. He’s a bassett hound mix. Short legs and wide body. He looks like a defensive lineman too and is impervious to any kind of correction. He’s a dog that has a good time. LOL.
I like Shadow too, Pam. Sort of fits my idea of my young girl’s dog. And Rufus is a good name too. I’m going to have so many great names, I might have to add more dogs to the story. 🙂