For some people, choosing a name for their dog is almost as important as choosing a name for their child. While you can technically change the name of the dog whenever you want, we all know that we are very reluctant to once the name sticks. So it is always best to choose a great name for your dog from the start.

There are many routes one can go with choosing a dog name. Some name their dog using traditional people names, such as Suzie, Charlie, etc. This may cause some confusion though when talking to acquaintances. For example, if you, a close friend, and an acquaintance are talking and you mention your dog by its name (say Alexander), the acquaintance may think you are talking about a person. This is one of many reasons why most people do not choose a people name for their dog.

Another option people use is traditional dog names, such as Rover, Fido, Fluffy, etc. These names are viewed as so overused that people now hardly use them at all! If anything, using a name like this is almost a joke. While there is nothing wrong with using these names, people generally want to give their dog a more special, unique name.

One way to find unique names is searching the Internet. There are many good websites out there that have names for dogs. Most websites also differentiate if the name is commonly used for boy dogs or girl dogs. A lot of these websites have so many names that choosing one may be a bit intimidating! So if you use the Internet, schedule yourself an hour's worth of time, so you will be able to not feel rushed as you go about looking for a name for your new pet.

Besides searching the Internet, another way to name your dog is to think of a name that characterizes your dog. The name may relate to the dog's physical characteristics. For example, if he has a long nose, you may call him Pinocchio. If the dog has a lot of spots, you may choose to name him Spotty.

Another way to name your dog is based on his or her emotional characteristics. Is he or she especially energetic, sleepy, or perhaps playful? These are all methods you could use to figure out a name for your dog.

Often, people choose a funny name for their dog. For example, if their dog start sneezing a lot at first, they might choose to call him Mr. Sniffles. While this may seem humorous at first, keep in mind that you will likely be using this name for fifteen years or so. The novelty of a humorous name often wears out fast.

Likewise, just as you should think twice about a humorous name, also think twice about a long name. You'll likely have to be calling your dog by this name a lot, and it's going to be annoying after awhile to have to use a six or seven syllable name. Most people like to just use names with one or two syllables.