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• Choose a name that your dog will be able to recognize easily. Animals normally respond better to names with one or two syllables such as Ben or Rover.
• Consider how you and the other members of the family will feel about calling out the name in a public place. Molly or Fido may prove less embarrassing than yelling Snuggley Dinkums!
• Avoid names that sound like commands. Fay sounds a bit like 'Stay' while Jo could be mistaken for 'No'.
• Think about the history of the breed when considering names. A name of German origin may be just perfect for your German Shepherd while a West Highland White Terrier will be suited by something with a Scottish flavour.
• If you are really unsure about what to call your dog, consider getting to know more about his character and choose a name that suits his personality and behavior.
• Remember that the name you choose needs to grow with the dog. Puppy or Baby may suit a young dog, but not a fully grown adult!

TV
From soap operas to cartoons, the television can be a great source of inspiration. The type of names that pets end up with is normally dictated by the programmes that are popular at the time.

Suggestions...
Spock (Star Trek)
Bart or Homer (The Simpsons)
Spike, Buffy or Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Alfie or Den (EastEnders)
Odie (Garfield)
Fozzie (The Muppets)
Sabrina (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
Scooby-Doo or Scrappy-Doo (Scooby-Doo)
Snoopy, Woodstock or Linus (Peanuts)

Music
Whether you are a lover of classical music or rock there is plenty to get you thinking. You might be tempted to name your dog after your musical idol, or a musical term could catch your eye.

Suggestions...
Beethoven, Bach, Mozart or Debussy (composers)
Madonna, Bowie, Elvis or Britney (pop singers)
Quaver, Allegro or Octave (music)

Film
The silver screen and the many film stars that grace it offer an endless supply of possibilities. Just remember - you're the one that has to call your dog while out walking in the park!

Suggestions...
Skywalker or Chewbacca (Star Wars)
Neo or Trinity (The Matrix)
Gollum, Bilbo Baggins, Frodo or Elrond (Lord of the Rings)
Purdy (101 Dalmatians)
Woody (Toy Story)
Gump (Forest Gump)
Bond, Jaws or M (James Bond)
Chaplin, Caine, Connery or Munroe (actors)

Human
Names that are normally associated with humans are a popular choice for our animals as well, as a glance at the top ten pet names in the country will demonstrate.

Suggestions...
Charlie, Hamish, Jack, Max or Sam (male)
Tilly, Chloe, Kate, Cassie or Holly (female)

Art & Literature
Authors, artists and book characters offer a huge range of options for anyone trying to come up with a name for their dog. Choose a character from your favourite novel or opt for the name of an artist you admire.

Suggestions...
Harry, Hagrid or Dumbledore (Harry Potter)
Bull's-Eye (Oliver)
Piglet, Winnie or Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh)
Hockney, Matisse or Rubens (artists)
Chaucer, Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Dickens or Kipling (writers)

Miscellaneous
To be honest, there are very few areas that don't provide some inspiration when it comes to choosing a name for your dog. It can be anything from your favourite fashion designer to a sporting hero - in fact the list is endless!

Suggestions...
Beckham, Nike or Tyson (sport)
Gucci, Chanel or Versace (fashion)
Galileo, Newton or Einstein (scientists)
Tiny, Munchkin or Dinky (size)
Bear, Mouse or Badger (animals)
Blue, Red or Silver (colors)
Topaz, Sapphire or Jade (gem stones)
Churchill, Drake or Nelson (historical)
Zeus, Hera or Dido (mythology)
Cookie, Pumpkin or Biscuit (food)
Sky, Willow or Acorn (nature)