Thursday, December 10, 2009

Naming my puppy

This afternoon I completed a large research project two days before the deadline. I should have taken advantage of the extra time and gotten a head start on the next project but no, I ended up spending the last few hours surfing the Internet for puppy names.

I have a list started. I have no puppy but I darn sure have a list of possible names. I did this with Sage and Summit. I spent months researching the etymology and examining each name based on how it looks in print and how it sounds (a name sounds very different when spoken softly and when screamed on the course to avoid an off-course tunnel).

Why the obsession with names? I don't know but I take naming my dogs very seriously. I really like the sound of "S" names - Sage and Summit. I am tempted to continue the trend of "S" names (although quite a few on my list do not begin with "S") in addition to sticking with the nature theme of the Rocky Mountain West. The name needs to be no more than two syllables and if longer, needs to be able to be shortened for a call name on the agility course. As a really impressive example of creativity, Summit's name is shortened to "Sum" when I need to verbally get his attention while running a course.

I have a lot of great Border Collie names but somehow they don't quite fit a Sheltie.

So far my favorites are the following names: Soleil (French for sun for a Sable Sheltie); Kite (a rare and endangered Raptor in the British Isles known for graceful flight)...

Any suggestions?

9 comments:

Diana said...

Im not good at names but here it goes. Sierra. I felt like that fit well with your "s" names. Diana

Greg S said...

You are too funny. Well Skye is already taken :P
I tried to get Katrina to use the name "Cuda" but she didnt.
I dont have any S names but how about "Willow" shortened to Will or "Apache" - could be shortened to Patch...
Let us know what you decide to go with.

Jackie said...

Sterling and Sopris are towns in Colorado. SolVista is a ski resort (would go with your Soleil). Non "s" names: Aspen and Mogul.

Elayne said...

Switchback, Switch for short.

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

That is so funny because I almost always have a list of puppy names. I had pages of names when I just got my puppy, and she got here and I could not find my list. I usually have a name all picked out and I wanted to stay with my themes, but then the puppy comes and they somehow end up with other names. I love the name Soleil and Kite is too cute, the S names would be fun for you as long as it does not get confusing when you are trying to think fast. humm, now since it better be awhile until I will need another name I am going to think of some names for you, LOL!!!!

Morganne said...

Wow! What creative people! I love Sierra and SolVista (can names that end in "A" be masculine?)or maybe it doesn't matter for dogs. I like Sterling too but Gerri Brown's NAC BC is named Sterling.

Now Switchback is very clever! I like the name "Switch" hmmm... I would have to change my turn away cue though from "switch" to maybe "back"?

Greg, Willow has been on my favorite's list for a long time. But I know someone who's JRT is named Willow:-(

Thanks for all the suggestions! Kathy, would be curious to see what you come up with!

So now I have more "S" names to add to my list.

Christine said...

How about Sable, its meaning is really nice too? And Saber? It took me hours to find Zev's name as the meaning was just as important as the sound of it. Happy hunting.

Morganne said...

I like those Christine! Actually, I used to have a horse named Saber (Flash 'O Sabers).

Christine said...

Wow, that is uncanny!