Registered Name?

[Bryna]

So after more than seven years of planning (I know bc the sheep is seven this year!) and five months of serious looking, I have finally put a deposit down on my very own BC pup. She will be coming home a week from tuesday -I am so excited I can hardly sit still! Of course now I have an irresistable urge to become an expert on every subject related to puppies, dogs, herding and anything else even tagentially related in the next week and a half! Hope I don't drive anyone crazy with my wacky questions! Here's a warm-up:

 

I haven't decided on a name for her as yet -Violet is sticking in my head, but "hear, Violet" seems a little unwieldy, lol. So I figure I will get to know her a little better and something more suitable may come to me. In additional to choosing her call name, I am pleased to also be able to choose her registered name, and immediatly checked out ABCA's website for details when I got home from meeting my puppy. Here is my confusion -when I looked at the forms, I saw a 14 character limit on names. This seems quite short to me -I was under the impression that standard practice was to have a kennel name at the start of your dogs name -not that I have a kennel, lol, but I do have a farm name. I was imagining my dog would be Willowvale or Willowvale's So and So, to differentiate her from all the other Violet's out there, lol. Not alot of names I could add to Willowvale that would end up under 14 characters -Willowvale It?

 

I know in my puppy search I have seen plenty of pedigrees with names longer than 14 characters, definitely including dogs that are supposed to be ABCA registered. Has there been a rule change? Reporting error? Or am I misinterpreting in some way? Does ABCA actually allow duplicate names? If so, how are dogs differentiated? If not, is there some search feature I can use to make sure I am choosing a name not already in use? AQHA has a neat little search box for just this purpose in registering foals, but I didn't notice anything of the sort on ABCA's website.

[juliepoudrier]

Bryna,

Duplicate names are quite common. Dogs with duplicate names are distinguished by their registration numbers. In some cases, a handler/dog pair will become so well known that the dog will be known by the handler's name and the dog's name, for example, Price's Davy, Wilson's Roy, etc. Your chances of choosing a name not already in use are pretty slim, actually. As soon as you come up with what seems an orginal name, you will find several others have named their dog the same.

 

Choose a name you like. Violet could go by Vi, since Violet is a bit unweildy with its multiple syllables. Kennel names aren't a given in ABCA, though some do use them (e.g., Ettrick goes with Jack Knox).

 

The important thing to know is that you don't have to have a name that's like no one else's. If you trial, your dog could make a name for itself and then everyone will know who she (and you) is. Otherwise, no one will care if your dog is named the same as someone else's. In fact, it's somewhat traditional to name pups after dogs in their pedigree, so you'll see lots of Mosses and Maids and Bens and Jets and Tesses and so on.

 

J.

[Liz P]

For the traditional kennels that use their names on ABCA papers they often have a short version. So let's say there is a breeder who owns the Double Dare Ranch. A dog they have produced might be registered as DD Tweed.

 

Most Border Collie names are so short that it doesn't even matter if the kennel name is long.

[desertranger]

Some dogs have more than one name they respond to.

[Eileen Stein]

In contrast to Kennel Club names, which are long and fancy, traditional border collie names are short and fairly plain. The registered name is generally the same as the dog's call name. For example, click here to see results of a sheepdog trial that is being held this week. You will notice that most of the dogs' names are one syllable, or two at the most, and only a very few include a kennel name prefix. There are lots of duplicates. The first dog on the list would be referred to as Emil Luedecke's Spot, to distinguish him from all the other Spots. (Sometimes a well-known handler will have more than one dog of the same name in his career, in which case you would speak of "John Templeton's first Moss" or "Moss 103923," which is his ISDS registration number.)

 

It's the difference between dogs for show and dogs for work.

[Bryna]

LOL, okay, that is pretty funny. Well, hopefully people will call her Bryna's (whatever I pick), cause my last name is a mouth full. Or I guess I could use Liz P's suggestions and put my farm initials on the front of the name - WVF So and So. Though that means I would have to keep it under 10 letters for the name itself. Hmm...

 

Kind of funny, my sheep all had 'fancy' names -the one I have right now is Willowvale's Belle Fleur. Of course we call her Belle. She's isn't really a proper sheep though -thinks she should be herding the dogs. When we had our sweet mutt dog, and whenever a frends dog comes over, she will work them like a cutting horse on a cow if they try to get near me or her horses. My poor puppy is probably going to grow up completely warped.

[painted_ponies]

Choose a name you like. Violet could go by Vi, since Violet is a bit unweildy with its multiple syllables.

 

Vah-lit. Two syllables - not multiple.

 

You will get reproachful looks from working dog people - at least from those with funny accents - if you name her Violet. I introduce my Violet as "Vi" which is what I call her most of the time.

 

I named my Violet because when she first came it was spring and she was a shy little thing, like a shrinking violet. Now that she's settled in, most days she's more like Ultra Violet.

[juliepoudrier]

Another thing I meant to note is that generally if you get an animal (dog, sheep, whatever) from somewhere else it wouldn't get *your* farm name as part of its registered name, because prefixes have traditionally been used to denote where (or by whom) an animal was bred. Thus, giving your own prefix to a dog or other animal you didn't breed would be rather misleading, in my opinion. Only stock you actually breed and register from your farm should have your farm prefix. Any animal bought in would have the prefix from the farm on which it was bred. So, for example, the karakul sheep I bought from Red Gate Farm all have "RGF" as part of their registered name. If I bought a sheep from Pine Lane Farm, then the registered name would include the prefix PLF. Any lambs bred here from those sheep and subsequently registered might have my prefix WR (for Willow's Rest). This sort of notation helps people within a group (in this case, karakul breeders) to easily identify where sheep came from (and hence bloodlines). While there are a few notable exceptions where kennel or farm prefixes are used for working border collies, most are named very simply, as Eileen has stated above and as I mentioned in my previous post.

 

J.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

I've never been tempted to do a "long name" on a dog until I got Sam. Before then, I was very proud of my dogs' short, simple names - no need to explain what to "call" my dog if you only know him by the name on the trial results or the pedigree. And Border Collie names, as others have said, aren't just "repeats." They represent history. Calling your dog Cap harks back to Wiston or even Wilson's Wartime Cap. Wisp, the three-time International Supreme Champion. Bill, Henderson's champion. And so on.

 

BUT - once I'd decided on Sam for my new puppy, I couldn't help but regret that I wouldn't have the chance to register him as "Fieldstone Green Eggs and Ham." I have to admit it's a fun game! My favorite registered/call name pair ever is a smooth Collie named Mal who's registered as Talis Big Damn Hero.

 

I was looking at some American ACK Border Collies online for some reason the other night. I had to stop because I was getting nauseated from all the stupid herding and Gaelic names. Ie, Scotchguard Eye Herd O'Ewe. Incredibly ironic in dogs that don't have a drop of Scottish blood in twenty generations and at most can follow trained sheep around a tiny feed lot.

[SS Cressa]

:-D I wanted to name my next border collie Silence of the Lambs aka Lecktor ... then I found out about the space limit

 

I don't know SilencetheLamb just doesn't have the same effect. LOL

 

I love that book

[BustopherJones]

Annie's breeder allowed us to choose her name before she was registered with ABCA. Annie was DW's choice; my personal favorite girl's names (of Scottish origin):

- Ailsa (promise from God)

- Maisie (child of light)

- Skye (named after the Isle of Skye)

[Liz P]

My dog's short names have a LOT of history and meaning behind them.

 

Duncan - Named for my great aunt Kathleen's Border Collie who stood by her side while she battled breast cancer. She told everyone she never would have lasted as long as she did without Duncan. My own Duncan came to me during a very difficult time in my life. He grounded me and kept me going.

 

Flyboy - Red BC named for my grandfather, a red headed WWII pilot. It has been a regret of mine that I could not have known him better. He died when I was young.

 

Frankie - Named by my Mom for St. Francis because he was on death's door as a pup. He had a shattered femur, bruised lungs and was paralyzed. I call him my gift from Duncan, who had died a few months before he was born. My grandfather was also named Frank, as is one of my uncles.

 

My next dog, if it is a female, might be named Kat or Katie.

[Bryna]

! My favorite registered/call name pair ever is a smooth Collie named Mal who's registered as Talis Big Damn Hero.

 

Hee, that is an awesome name! (And I guess I just outed myself as a geek.) Love Green Eggs And Ham, too. You are right though, that Eye Herd Ewe thing is awful! I do love to do the fun reg names with my horses. My yearling, by Haidas Magic and out of a Hint of Dignity mare is Haida Hinta Daylight -she was foaled march ninth of last year, on the last (or is it first?) day of daylight savings time, right at daybreak.

 

I suppose I will just go with a short name without initials or farm name, if that is the preferred route. Seems so weird to me to have all these dogs with the same names, but I guess that culture for you -different for each group you join.

 

Why would anybody object to Violet though? I though it would be unwieldy just because if he am standing on the back deck hollering for the dog to come in from out back, here Violet, Violet, Violet, here Violet, Violet, Violet just doesn't roll off the tounge. I wouldn't think that would be a problem for anyone but me though -who else is going to be calling my dog? Or do you mean people will think it is too flowery or something?

[hsnrs]

My friend has a Kelpie she named Violet. She is so cute and the name fits her. Personally I'd pick the name you like and not worry. We have Aussies so they usually have long registered names. Our new pup is Chula which means cute in Spanish. Her registered name is Cute As Can Be. N

[juliepoudrier]

Bryna,

The only person who objected to the name Violet was you in your original post. I seconded that it might be a bit long for most purposes--I have a dog I named Willoughby but she basically goes by Willow and that's how most people know here because Willoughby was just a mouthful to say every time. Again, choose a name *you* like. You're living with the dog and using the name daily, so it just makes sense to choose something you like. Most of the comments against long registered names are simply the result of the fact that long registered names suggest an AKC mindset and that's not something most working border collie folk would support.

 

J.

[Eileen Stein]

I suppose I will just go with a short name without initials or farm name, if that is the preferred route. Seems so weird to me to have all these dogs with the same names, but I guess that culture for you -different for each group you join.

 

Right you are about the culture. But you can actually use quite a bit of originality coming up with a one- or two-syllable name that is in the spirit of the traditional names but has rarely if ever been used before.

 

Why would anybody object to Violet though? I though it would be unwieldy just because if he am standing on the back deck hollering for the dog to come in from out back, here Violet, Violet, Violet, here Violet, Violet, Violet just doesn't roll off the tounge. I wouldn't think that would be a problem for anyone but me though -who else is going to be calling my dog? Or do you mean people will think it is too flowery or something?

 

If anyone did object to Violet, it would be as being too flowery -- frivolous, not down to earth. On its website, the International Sheep Dog Society says, "The Society permits the use of only one, simple working name for a registered dog. Working on the fields, perhaps with more than one dog, a shepherd will be able to cope with names such as 'Ben', 'Meg', 'Cap' or 'Moss'. But imagine trying to work with 'Philip', 'Flossie','Pretty Boy', etc. We are quite happy to accept non-English language names. The test is that the names should, ideally, be single-syllable." But this is guidance, not a mandate. If you look at the ISDS-registered names of border collies, you will see that among the "v"s alone there have been a Valentine, a Vagabond, a Velvetrose, and 9 Violets.

 

I agree with Julie. You should be aware of the culture and traditions when you name your dog, but ultimately you should please yourself.

[1sheepdoggal]

Also, another thing that hasnt been mentioned yet, so I thought I would, is when finding that oh so perfect name, remember to try to pick one that doesnt sound to similar a working command. say your working commands in your head, and then the names you have choosen for your new pup, and see if they start out sounding like the commands. A quick dog that is quite excited and reactive when first starting out training, might only hear the first sound and be off, thinking you said away instead of Fay, or somethng similar. Of course once on whistles what ever you call the dog wont matter much, and too, if you do end up going with a name that sounds like a working direction or command, they just might learn in the long run to be a better listener!

Good luck, I like Violet, but a couple of my favs has always been Lad and Lass. Funny enough, I havent had a working dog with either of those names yet.

[juliepoudrier]

Or if you have multiple critters, you will also need to be careful about names that sound alike to the animals. When I had Swift here, she and Twist were forever thinking I was talking to/calling the one, when I really wanted to other. I nearly named Pip Swift, and now I've very glad I didn't (for that reason).

 

(FWIW, when I named Twist, I thought it was a pretty original name, only to discover that there was another border collie trialing in the northeast with the same name. Now I see that there was a Twist entered in the lower classes at the Bluegrass. Pip's real name is Pipit, but once I named him it seemed that folks started coming out of the woodwork with dogs named Pip. So while originality is fun, it's generally pretty difficult to manage.... )

 

J.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

It's not that "violet" is too flowery (hee, literally) - there's some lovely and stately names that are used very often: Mist, Skye, Lark, etc. These names aren't picked because we have some need to be highly conformist (far from it). It's because they wear well in the things we do with the dogs - in particular stockdog training. The "rope test" therefore, is the one we subject potential names to - what happens when we try to use it as a rope to pull the dog's attention back to us - does it snap out nicely and clearly? I can't imagine "Horatio" being used that way effectively, for instance. Generally favored names have a strong beginning and a clearly defined end, and as mentioned, one or at most two syllables is preferred for time's sake.

 

If you have no intention of ever working your dog, then go with your fancy!

[bcnewe2]

Also, another thing that hasnt been mentioned yet, so I thought I would, is when finding that oh so perfect name, remember to try to pick one that doesnt sound to similar a working command.

 

Yes and even then you can manage to do something sorta dumb!

 

I have Dewel, I named her after the uncle that turned me on to border collies. We quickly shortened it to Dew.

Now people laugh when I holler out "that'll do Dew" We have no real issues with her name being the end of an important command but it does cause lots of raised eyebrows or giggles, depending on who's listening!

 

I also have a Raven Shortened to Ray. So again away and ray sound way to close. But Ray has never had any issues with her name either. I think it's how I say commands compared to names, keeps us ok.

 

I like Violet and think shortened to Vi sounds great. Sharpe coming out my mouth so easy to work with while giving commands.

I always shorten all the names of my dogs. Not always derived from their proper names but they all end up with one sylable names around here.

 

Good luck with you new puppy and life's adventure!

[lrayburn]

Or if you have multiple critters, you will also need to be careful about names that sound alike to the animals. When I had Swift here, she and Twist were forever thinking I was talking to/calling the one, when I really wanted to other. I nearly named Pip Swift, and now I've very glad I didn't (for that reason).

 

(FWIW, when I named Twist, I thought it was a pretty original name, only to discover that there was another border collie trialing in the northeast with the same name. Now I see that there was a Twist entered in the lower classes at the Bluegrass. Pip's real name is Pipit, but once I named him it seemed that folks started coming out of the woodwork with dogs named Pip. So while originality is fun, it's generally pretty difficult to manage.... )

 

J.

 

 

Of course my dogs don't do anything useful and aren't registered but I like straightforward names for my critters. Unfortunately though, my dogsitter and I both have black and white dogs named "Ben". Initially this led to a lot of confusion and they are now "Big Ben" and "Little Ben" but I guess it would have helped for one of us to be a little more original...

Lisa

[Maralynn]

Or if you have multiple critters, you will also need to be careful about names that sound alike to the animals. When I had Swift here, she and Twist were forever thinking I was talking to/calling the one, when I really wanted to other. I nearly named Pip Swift, and now I've very glad I didn't (for that reason).

 

(FWIW, when I named Twist, I thought it was a pretty original name, only to discover that there was another border collie trialing in the northeast with the same name. Now I see that there was a Twist entered in the lower classes at the Bluegrass. Pip's real name is Pipit, but once I named him it seemed that folks started coming out of the woodwork with dogs named Pip. So while originality is fun, it's generally pretty difficult to manage.... )

 

J.

 

I've been thinking about dog names recently, keeping a mental list of what I like and really like. There have been several names that I've come across and thought "hey, that would work" only to realize 5 minutes later that they sound far to simular to my two dogs names to use!!

[bcnewe2]

I find that all the names I end up using have long E's at the end

Mickey

Jazzy

Dew is DooBee

Raven is Raymondy

Sammy

Lilly

Even my kids all have E's at the end, except Ian and we call him E for short.

Guess it's what my brain is comfortable with.

When mad or just calling out for the dogs, I end up with "HEY YOU BLACK DOG" cause I never get the right name out unless they're out alone. Even then they'll answer to anyones name. Wonder if that's casue they all end in E?

When out working stock they go by their shortened names, and funny I don't confuse the names while working but they have extremely different styles so that might help.

[Cynthia P]

We have friends with Claire and Clare; so there is fuzzy Claire and smooth Clare; Interestingly fuzzy claire has an AKC name of Sierra Rose of Hope; My original bitch is registered AKC; her registered name is Pam; she is the only Pam registered with the AKC; All of my dogs have just a single name or a kennel name and a name

 

So far i havent' run into another Pam or Libby at USBCHA trials

 

BCs

 

Pam also known as Slim Bamela or Slim or pammy whammy

Dixie Dix

Deltablz Becca Becca...or damn puppy come here...puppypuppypuppy

Preacher Preach

Spec(named after Speckled Hen beer) spec

Tate Tater or tater potater

Libby Lib

 

giant schnauzer

Lindsay Leigh Sergeant Bacchus Sarge or Sergeant...or big black dog

 

ACd

Boomer Boom boom...jerk...stupid...

 

Mini schnauzers

Fred & Max (they came with those names...at least they weren't fritz and Heinz)

 

Livestock Guardian dogs

Charlie

Whiskey

Scarlett

All of them respond to any of the other names and hey...white dog

 

Naming dogs can be fun. I need to see the dog before I name it however lots of people have names picked out long before; I have come to understand I have absolutely no theme when it comes to naming my dogs

 

Cynthia

[Lenajo]

My Lena's granny was a good btch called Pam. And I've met several Libby girls.

 

I named my male pup Drum. Haven't run into another Drum at trials yet.

 

I've inadvertantly had a jazz theme going over the years. The spellings might be different that traditional, but still. Beinn, Coal, Dinah, Lena, Isabel, Rose, Claire, Grace.

 

Looking at that, I guess Drum was more inevitable than I though

 

I also favor traditional names like Taff, Mirk...