Hi,
I have 10 pups that are all going to need KC names in the next week or 2, I have newver done this before so I have a few questions:

* Is it worth buying a prefix if this is potentially the only litter I will breed (for the forseeable future anyway)
* How strict are the KC on naming - what do they not like?
* If I don't buy a pre-fix is there anything I can do to make them all recognisable to me in the future - i.e. have the same word somewhere in each name?
* Do you have to send of at least 2 names for each pup or would 1 be okay? (10 is a lot to think of let alone 20!!)

Thanks 

The naming rules are on the form 1.  they won't let you repeat any word in all pups names to act as a prefix or identify them as the same litter as of course they want you to take out a prefix and pay for it if you wish to be able to do just that.

I am wondering if your litter is not going to form part of a long term breeding program why you are breeding the litter, or is someone else going to breed on from one of the pups like the stud dog owner or your bitches breeder?  Or do you mean foreseeable future as not until the puppy you keep grows up?

If the latter I certainly would take out a Kennel name (prefix/affix) now, and also you can add it to your bitches name if she hasn't gained entry into the stud book.

Some famous Kennels have bred without a Kennel name name ans used the same two initial letters in naming their pups, but all the words will be different.

Lets say you used A and B.

You could have:

Able Bob,
Adorable Betty,
Awkward Bounder,
Aloof belle, etc etc. 

Only problem this doesn't distinguish between litters, so you could for example do that but add a third word with each puppy starting with the same letter, changed with each litter. 

First litter:
Able Bob Andy,
Adorable Betty Ann,

Second litter:
Awkward Bounder Bill,
Aloof Belle Beauty, etc etc. 

Still doesn't link them to you as well as a Kennel Prefix of your very own.  Lot more brain work too.

Oh you will need to give two choices for each, though you can double up some of the second choices as ti is rare for all the first choices to be rejected. If you don't the Kennel club may assign something awful.

There won't be time for you to get a kennel name for this litter - it takes about 6 weeks for your applicaton to be approved and published, when people can object to it.

And definitely send two names for each puppy - I've had several first choices rejected in the past, so this avoided the KC's allocating a name at random.

I am wondering if your litter is not going to form part of a long term breeding program why you are breeding the litter, or is someone else going to breed on from one of the pups like the stud dog owner or your bitches breeder?  Or do you mean foreseeable future as not until the puppy you keep grows up?

My dog is from excellent working stock and is a fantastic working dog herself. That is why we have bred from her - she also has very good health test results etc etc. I hope that most of the puppies will go to working homes. Depending on how this one goes in the next 8 weeks will depend on if we do it again or not!

Oh okay Jeangenie. That has kind of answered my query then! Time to get thinking..... 

What are your initials, Gema? If you fancied using that idea, give us an idea of the 'type' (not breed) of dog - i.e. gundog - and perhaps we could all suggest some ideas?

M.

Ah I see where you are going with that one - great idea. My initials are G.M.  However at some point I hope for my surname to change lol.
She is a smooth coated gundog.
I was trying to think of a theme - however my other obsession is horse racing, so I was thinking something along the lines of Cheltenham Gold Cup winners.... is that allowed? 

> There won't be time for you to get a kennel name for this litter - it takes about 6 weeks for your applicaton to be approved and published, when people can object to it.
>

Definately not enough time for a Kennel name...
We put our application forms in at Crufts and still have few more weeks left of the period people can object to it!
Nearly there now :) unless somebody objects at the last minute that is!

> My dog is from excellent working stock and is a fantastic working dog herself. That is why we have bred from her - she also has very good health test results etc etc.

That is good, but breeding is about achieving something taking it further, otherwise you may as well simply buy another good working dog rather than breed.  it's about the bigger picture really, what were you hoping to achieve?. 

Some breeds are overbred anyway so there is no need to breed more unless there is some goal in mind, other than reproduction.

As regards naming what is your middle initial, as this won't change.

My middle initial is A

If you need suggestions for naming your pups now the rules have been explained, can I ask that you start a new thread on the Idle Chat board, please

Thanks :-)

No problem! I have a couple of weeks to think of some anyway.
Thanks for the explanations of the rules!!

As for the names, you can now check names on the KC website. You pick the breed, type in a name and it will tell you instantly whether that name can be accepted or not. It's not 100 % certain a name will be accepted, but at least you will know if it is NOT. I used that for my last litter, saved me having to apply for names that stood no chance.
http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/registrations/namecheck/Default.aspx