Do you have a nickname for your dog? (Maybe we should ask “how many nicknames do you have for your dog?”)
Nicknames have long been a longstanding tradition between humans as a way to show affection, sometimes create fear or show that someone’s one of the group. But nicknames are equally popular for dogs–perhaps highlighting a personality quirk or creating a way to show a little extra affection when calling their name.
A while back, we asked DogTipper readers about the nicknames they’d given their dogs…and the results were amazing. Over 1,000 dog lovers responded; we saw nicknames of every type but it seems that most nicknames fell into a few broad categories.
Rhyming Dog Nicknames
- Ravey Baby
- Abber-Dabbers
- Spotty Dotty
- Toesywoesy
- Buddy Wuddy
- Teddy Weddy
Nicknames that Reference a Dog’s Size and Shape
Whether you have a Great Dane or a Chihuahua, you’ll find nicknames that reference the size (or shape) of your fur baby.
And don’t feel constrained by your dog’s size when selecting a nickname–Teeny can be a Mastiff while Giant may be a Maltese.
- Rolly Polly (guess that one could also fall in the rhyming category)
- Lil Bits
- Squeaky
- Shorty
- Chunky
- Chubby
- Short-boy
- Tinkerbelle
- Gordo
- Teeny
- King Kong
- Miss Piggy
- Piglet
- Peanut
- Toto
- Pixie
- Munchkin
- Mini
- Nugget
- Pipsqueak
- Tiny
- Button
- Itty Bitty
- Shorty
- Scrappy
- Dinky
- Biscuit
- Squirt
- Biggie
- Goliath
- Titan
- Hulk
- Moose
- Jumbo
- King
- Bear
- Tank
- Brutus
- Maximus
- Magnum
- Colossus
- Thor
- Hercules
Pet Names that Reference Your Dog’s No-So-Great Traits
- Shoethief
- Chewy
- Rascal
- Demondog
- Stinky
- Mischief
- Poopy
For Dogs Who Like to Bark
- Barker
- Barky
- Woofer
- Howler
- Yapper
- Woofie
- Barksalot
- Chatty
- Noisy
- Loudmouth
- Talkie
- Ruffian
- Shouter
- Bellow
For Dogs Who Like to Chew a Little Too Much
- Chewie
- Chewsie
- Gnawer
- Nibbler
- Muncher
- Chomper
- Jaws
- Tooth
- Cruncher
- Chewbacca
- Gummy
- Teethy
- Chewster
For Dogs Who Like to Dig
- Digger
- Scooper
- Shovel
- Spade
- Excavator
- Trowel
- Bulldozer
- Earthmover
- Mole
- Burrower
- Groundhog
- Ditcher
Silly Nicknames
- Mr. Wiggles
- Sir Barks-a-lot
- Princess Paws
- Captain Cuddles
- Lady Licks-a-lot
- Duke of Drool
- Count Flufferton
- Sir Snuggles
- Queen of Barkshire
- Mr. Sniffles
- Lady Wigglebutt
- King of Cuteness
- Duchess of Doo-doo
- Baroness Biscuit
- Sir Licks-a-lot
What about your dog’s nicknames? Leave us a comment below!
And in the interest of full disclosure, we must tell you that our dogs’ nicknames are Tiki-Biki for our dog Tiki and Bar-Bar for Barli…our Irie was Irie-Wirey for our dog Irie. And we also have Poochichi and Poochy-Woochy which can be used for everyone.
FAQ
Does it confuse a dog to have both a name and a nickname?
It doesn’t usually confuse a dog to have both a name and a nickname. In fact, many dogs respond well to both their name and their nickname, especially if the nickname is used consistently and in a positive manner. Dogs are intelligent animals and can recognize multiple names or words associated with them.
However, it’s important to make sure that the nickname is not too similar to the dog’s name, as this could cause confusion. Similarly, don’t pick a nickname that sounds too much like a command that you use..
Also, it’s important to use the dog’s actual name when teaching them commands or training them, as this helps to reinforce their understanding of their name and their role in responding to it.
Can a dog have more than one nickname?
Yes, a dog can have more than one nickname. In fact, many dogs have multiple nicknames that they respond to, especially if they have been with their owners for a long time and have developed a close bond.
As long as the nicknames are used consistently and in a positive manner, dogs can learn to associate them with positive experiences and respond to them accordingly.
More Dog Name Posts You Might Like
Repetitive Dog Names – Easy Two Syllable Names for Your Dog to Learn!
What Are the Most Popular Dog Names?
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