Top 10 names for baby boys in England and Wales

FOR 2008:

1 JACK
2 OLIVER
3 THOMAS
4 HARRY
5 JOSHUA
6 ALFIE
7 CHARLIE
8 DANIEL
9 JAMES
10 WILLIAM

Your Dog – How To Select The Right Name

The biggest challenge faced by the owner of a new dog is the name that they are actually going to call it by. Today there are hundreds, even thousands of names that a person is able to choose from by which they can call their pet. But unfortunately not all the names that owners choose for their dogs are really suitable. However in this article we provide some pointers which should when it comes to selecting a name by which your new dog will be called and so make this part of the process of owning a dog much easier.

1. It is important that when selecting a name for your dog you go for one that is not only easy to say but pronounce as well. If you choose a name which your dog finds difficult to understand when you say it just imagine how difficult you will find it to train them. Therefore select a name that is not only easy to say and once it has chosen and you have got your dog at home you need repeat it over and over again each day. Also by selecting a name that is difficult to pronounce or say will make those times when you are trying to maintain control over your dog much more difficult and stressful.

2. It is crucial when selecting your dog’s name you never give them more than one. Unlike humans dog’s become easily confused if their names are long or they have more than one. Dog’s that are confused because of the name or names they are being called may well be more difficult to train and handle. But by sticking to just one name say for example “Lady” will not confuse the dog because they will find it much easier to remember.

3. Never select a name for your dog that sounds like a command. So avoid names that sound like “heel”, “jump” or “kill”. Unfortunately a dog whose name sounds like a command can become easily confused when you are carrying out their training. This is because they will not know what is their name and what it is they should be responding to.

4. It is best that you choose a name which contains one or two syllables. We have a number of dogs all we short and easy to remember names including Taz, Heff, Jack and Jodie. Plus choosing names that contain one or two syllables actually makes it much easier for the dog to learn.

5. Never go for a name that seems to have a negative feel to it. Dogs are very aware of the way a person’s voice sounds and the less positive you are when calling the less likely they are to respond to you. Also it is important to remember that not just you but other people (including family members and friends) will be calling for the dog to respond to them as well.

6. Avoid giving your a dog a name that not only sounds embarrassing when you use it but is completely inappropriate as well. It is important that you remember just how intelligent dogs are and they can soon pick up on any negative feelings come from you. This in turn will result in them being less likely to respond to you when their name is called.

7. Once you have chosen the name for your dog and have started using it then you can not change it. By giving your dog one name and then suddenly changing it to another can leave your dog completely bewildered and confused. So once the name has been chosen you need to stick to it.

But at the end of the day when it comes to choosing a name for your dog you should make it as much fun as possible. Also don’t forget to get every body involved that will be in contact with the animal on a regular basis. But keeping the above guidelines in mind will ensure that the name you choose for your dog is absolutely perfect for them.