How to choose a name for your dog or cat, and teach them to respond to it

Choosing a name is one of the first fun jobs with a new pet. It is also the first thing you will teach them. A name that is easy to say and easy to hear makes training simpler, and a name your pet responds to quickly can help keep them safe.

What makes a good pet name?

Keep it short

The Kennel Club suggests a name with two syllables, which is easier for a dog to understand and easier for you to say. Names that end in a vowel sound, such as "Daisy" or "Milo", make you change the tone of your voice, which helps your dog pick the name out of everyday conversation.

If you love a long or unusual name, use a short version day to day. Nobody wants to shout "Queen Tammy Tickle Toes" across the park, as the Kennel Club puts it.

Make it sound different from your cues

Research from Hungary that measured dogs' brain responses found that dogs told the difference between known instruction words and very different nonsense words, but not between instructions and words that differed by just one sound, such as "sit" and "sut". So a name that rhymes with or sounds close to a cue can confuse your dog.

Avoid names that sound like words you will use in training, for example:

Make it different from other names at home

Pick a name that doesn't sound like another pet or a family member. A study of Japanese cats found that household cats could tell their own name apart from other words and from the names of other cats they lived with. Cats living together in a cat café, though, didn't distinguish their own name from their companions' names. Clear, distinct names give your pet the best chance.

Choose something you are happy to call out

The Kennel Club suggests practising calling the name out loud before you decide. If you would feel awkward shouting it in the garden or at the park, choose something else.

Think about the adult animal

A name that suits a tiny puppy or kitten should still suit them as a grown dog or cat. You don't have to decide on day one. If you're torn, the Kennel Club suggests trying each name on a different day to see which fits best.

How to teach a dog their name

Dogs Trust and Battersea recommend the same simple method:

1. Start somewhere quiet, such as your living room, with no distractions. Have small, tasty treats ready.
2. Say the name once, in a happy voice.
3. Reward the moment your dog looks at you, ideally with a word such as "yes" followed by a treat. Don't ask for a sit first. The reward is for looking at you.
4. Repeat a few times in each short session, at least twice a day. Dogs Trust suggests about a week of practice until your dog looks at you reliably.
5. Make it harder slowly. Practise in other rooms, then the garden, then quieter places outdoors. Use better treats as distractions increase.

While your dog is learning, avoid using their name for no reason. You want it to mean "look at me, something good is coming".

If your dog doesn't respond

Don't keep repeating the name. Dogs Trust warns this can teach your dog to ignore it. Move closer, sound a little more excited, or go back to a quieter place where they can succeed.

From name to recall

Once your dog responds to their name, you can build on it. Dogs Trust suggests using the name to get their attention, then giving a cue, such as "Milo, sit". A reliable response to their name is also the first step in teaching your dog to come back when called.

How to teach a cat their name

Cats can learn their names too. Cats Protection suggests:

1. In a calm, quiet spot, with your cat relaxed in front of you, have a small pot of their food ready.
2. Say your cat's name. If they look at you, say "yes" in a happy voice and give a bit of food within about two seconds.
3. Keep sessions to no more than three minutes, repeated over a few days.
4. Gradually stand further away or change position, so they learn to respond in different situations.
5. Slowly reduce how often you reward, rather than stopping suddenly.

Take the food from their daily allowance to avoid overfeeding. Cats Protection also recommends practising calling your cat indoors before you let them outside for the first time.

Can I change a rescue pet's name?

Yes. Forever Hounds Trust, a UK greyhound and lurcher charity, says many of its dogs arrive without a pet name, and it may change a name that seems linked to being told off or punished. A new name is simply a new word to learn. Say it just before things your pet enjoys, such as meals, walks and play, and reward them for looking at you. Most dogs pick it up quickly once it means good things.

Does my dog's name need to be on their tag?

No. In England, Wales and Scotland the law says a dog in a public place must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address. Your dog's name isn't required.