Naming Your New Dog

You have a new puppy - congratulations! You're in for a lot of fun. You probably now realize you have to name the new puppy too. This can be a lot of pressure, to find the right name for this tiny animal that you have only just met. You want a cool name, that fits its personality, and that isn't goofy or overly cute and so on.
If you get too stuck you can always go with a classic, like Spot or Fido. There are pet names that have been around forever, we've all heard of them and they never go out of style. If you have kids, though, that's probably not an option. Kids generally want more hip names for pets. You can also name your pet 'after' someone or something - mythological creatures or figures, signers, presidents, ancient royalty, literally the only limit is your imagination.
Here are a few tips to help you pick a great name:
Your dog is going to be called by this name for a long while, probably ten to fifteen years. Be sure to pick a name you really like.
Don't go crazy with a long or complicated name. It gets tiresome to call out a really complex name over and over, across years. Instead, keep it to one to three syllables. If you have to use multiple names, keep it simple.
The best way to teach your puppy its name is to use it every time you talk to the puppy. If you scold the puppy, call the puppy, praise the puppy, whatever - use the name. You want the puppy to hear that word and know it has something to do with him. Ideally the puppy will come running when he hears his name. Because of this make sure you don't name the puppy something that will be embarrassing or offensive to you or anyone else.
Play with the puppy before you name him. Take your time. If the puppy isn't named for a few days or even a week, it won't be the end of the world. If you have some time to play with the puppy before you choose a name, this will help you match the name to the puppy's personality. That's better than picking a name too soon and later realizing that it doesn't fit.
You can get advice from other people too. Family and friends can make suggestions. If you want to really have fun with this, turn it into a game. Host a Name That Puppy party, with a prize for the person who comes up with the name you pick.
There are as many names out there as there are puppies practically. Your challenge is to find one that fits him and that you like as well. Good luck!