Four tips for picking your pup’s name

Choosing a name for your dog can be a lot of fun, and your choices aren’t limited the way they are with baby names: Peanut, Princess, Paws — all okay! How¬ever, here are four things worth keeping in mind when picking a name you and your pup will love.

1. Stick with short names. It’s easiest for dogs to recognize a name with one or two syllables. Elizabeth, Duchess of Northumberland? Try Liz or Lizzie instead.

2. Avoid names that cause confusion. Make sure the name doesn’t resemble a command such as no, stay, sit, come or heel. Dogs have trouble distinguishing between similar sounding words.

3. Choose a name you’re comfortable calling out. The name should not only be easy to yell out, but also one that doesn’t cause embarrassment. If you let your five-year-old name your Rottweiler Tinkerbell, expect to turn some heads at the dog park.

4. Try it out. There’s nothing stopping you from changing your mind after a few days if the name doesn’t feel right. It’s important that you love the name, seeing as you’ll be saying it a lot, not only when addressing your pet but also when talking — or gushing — about him or her to others.

And once you’ve settled on a name, don’t forget to reward your dog with treats, affection and praise when they respond to it.