So many British kennels have strange names, like Benclutha or Jasveb, that don't mean anything, whereas many American kennel names are things like Woodwynd or Blue Hill. How/where do British breeders come up with their kennel names? I'm not trying to sound like I'm making fun of British breeders; I'm genuinely curious to know why they choose names that are made-up words. Thank you!

If you applied for an Affix (Kennel Name) yourself you'd understand why :)

In the UK it has to be one word only, and you could have a list of twenty names that will be rejected, either because they've already been used, or they are too close to another name, or there is an obscure company somewhere called the same name.

So, many people choose made-up names, anagrams, portmanteau words, or take a few letters from their family's or dogs names and muddle them together.

I had one which didn't show up as being in use as an active kennel name BUT when I applied for it, I was told it was - so I couldn't have it. I tried spelling it different ways, and was told they were all too close to the one in use.

In the past kennel names often were place names, (my mentors for example Ravenstone and Eskamere in Norwegian elkhounds) but as you have to have a unique word people soon found that they were having their choices refused, so anagrams have became popular, or combining names etc.

Mine for example is the first half of my name and the name of my foundation bitch. so BARBara and ELKA Barbelka.

>So many British kennels have strange names, like Benclutha or Jasveb, that don't mean anything

Actually, Benclutha is a place in Port Glasgow!

Having a japanese breed, one of the meanings for it is beautiful and another companion whichI thought fitted well :)

Mine is named after a Dutch horse I had and was my first choice, it was much easier back then.

I tried some place names when applying for my BC affix many years ago. All were rejected. I then put in an assorted list for approval including that of my favourite composer Bartok Bela ( Hungarian) That one was accepted. All was well until I went to live and work in Hungary . Bartok , as well as the name of national hero/composer, is also a common family name. I felt a bit foolish .

Mine is sort of a place name Glastonbury TOR overlooks the moor MOR ~ tormor. I wish I had both 0's now as so many dont know how to pronounce it. My mother was going to apply for it back in the late 60's but never did. It was the same affix we used for our pedigree British White & Dairy Shorthorn cattle. Actually there is also a Whiskey called tormore.

TBF there are already thousands of what you would class as 'normal' KC affixes about, you can and will find plenty of names similar to those you put up.

However, the trouble is today, soooooo..... many people breed even BYB's and occasionally puppy farmers (who don't go near a show ring or working FT ) who also apply for a KC name too, meaning that there are no 'normal' names left to use now, hence why over the last 10 years in particular we have to go out of the box to find a name. :-)

So many British kennels have strange names, like Benclutha or Jasveb, that don't mean anything

I think you will find they all mean SOMETHING; even if it isn't obvious straight away. As has already been explained, with thousands of words already taken, you have to make up your own. I often read an affix backwards to see if that gives something, and as in one of your examples above, that made me wonder whether it was held by a person called Bev -quick Google and yes it is. :)

My kennel name is made up from my kid's 4 names, Thomas, Rosa, Jack and Erin, Thorjakker. My friend's is Slennek because her sister-in-law said the KC would never allow it!

Slennek -that's funny! I was once told of somebody who got fed up with being rejected so in the end applied for TIDOS and got it -whether its true or not I don't know!

A bit slow on the uptake, and then got it. Oops. Love the second one.

I love kennel names - and I always ask the meaning behind them as i find it so interesting :-)

haha! those are hilarious.

Mine, even though i don't really need it (but i willone day and didn't want to find it taken) is the name of my favourite dog, it's a rather unusual name that i didn't pick and sounds nice.

Those are awesome!

Mine is Gaelic so probably looks like a made up word.........

> Mine is Gaelic so probably looks like a made up word.........

I have been thinking til my head hurts, for mine. I've come up with a few possibles, but after reading this, I do have one which is more "traditional" sounding and unlikely to be taken....(but nothing would surprise me).

Now I can't decide whether to try the traditional one, or a slightly humorous made-up one!
The trad one is more personal to me (name of a cottage we once lived in, which my father bought as a derelict ruin and turned into a family home - named after the field opposite after looking at old maps).

Carrington I think your statement is unbelievably rude! I have my own Kennel name, but I don't show. However I have Puppy owners who do. I'm neither a BYB or a Puppy Farmer! And I might add, my dogs have had all tests for the relevant breed, which is more than I can say for some of the Show people I know....

Rockstar - I've been over this statement from Carrington a few times and I genuinely can't see what is rude about it...

However, the trouble is today, soooooo..... many people breed even BYB's and occasionally puppy farmers (who don't go near a show ring or working FT ) who also apply for a KC name too, meaning that there are no 'normal' names left to use now, hence why over the last 10 years in particular we have to go out of the box to find a name.

What is wrong with saying that so many people breed (including BYB's and puppy farmers) that there are no 'normal' names left?  She has a valid point - the sheer number of affixes already in existence and applied for each year may mean that one day soon we are just going to be left with jumbled consonants that no one will be able to pronounce!

Ditto to dogs a babe -if Carrington was having a pop at anyone it was at irresponsible breeders, but I think it was nothing but a general observation. Far more people than ever breed these days.

I always wonder, why those who only own males, have an affix..or kennel name as it is now called. Ok, they can add it to dogs they buy but as they dont breed it does seem a bit..not pointless but not necessary.
Thats just my opinion of course & no doubt there will be others who disagree

well it means their affix is on the pedigree of the pups their dogs sire.... also if they do well at shows then their affix is read out or listed... plenty of reason for having one I'd have thought....

I like Kennel Names added so I can see quickly who is showing the dog, not all results show the owner's name, especially on forums or FB , so it's hard to know if it is the breeder or a new  owner.

Nando is a 'Woodshep' puppy. Breeder's surname and 'shep, from German Shepherd :)

> Nando is a 'Woodshep' puppy. Breeder's surname and 'shep, from German Shepherd

Handy if you have that sort of surname, I suppose. Not so good if you haven't!
I went to school with a girl whose surname was "Spray" - I imagine she wouldn't be basing her affix on that ;)

I have already picked out my kennel name and I will not be breeding a litter for at least 10 years if not more! Based on a character from a film that reminds me of Nando.

Luckily, my surname is Parry so nothing too shocking if I find my first choice is already taken!!

> Luckily, my surname is Parry so nothing too shocking if I find my first choice is already taken!!

I'm supposing the KC would reject Parrysite then! ;) lolol

I don't think anyone would want a puppy with the affix Parrysite!!!

> I don't think anyone would want a puppy with the affix Parrysite!!!

I dare ya.... LOL

I'll have a hard job, I currently have a single male dog who is neutered!! ha ha

He could be Woodsheps Nando with Parrysite! hahaha :)

Lol! I'd still take that over my friend's Bichon who is 'Affix' Jolly Prince Jasper!

> Handy if you have that sort of surname, I suppose. Not so good if you haven't!
>

Yes, I most deffinatly wouldnt in a thousand years, base my affix on my surname

I applied for about 20 different names that had meaning to me, and had them ALL rejected.
Ended up with a pretty obscure card game as I had blacks and wanted a red, and cards suits reflected that, and I didn't hate the connections to gambling and luck.

I don't love it, but its only a name at the end of the day.

Lol!
(in same breed as you).

Mine was my first choice VAN from Vannessa and as i have a red/white SBT i choice AYRES from Ayresrock so VANAYRES. Now i have added a bl/br it still ok lol

Nessa

You should try coming back to the UK having had, and used, a carefully chosen and meaningful Kennel affix in another country!    Fact is there is no reciprocal agreement between KCs to the point that when we did come back to the UK, and applied to use our previously registered affix (with another KC) somebody else, in another breed, here had been granted it.   Having taken Dog World overseas, I kind-of knew, but hoped that maybe it had lapsed or not been permanently registered.   It hadn't and wasn't, but hadn't been used for some years.   I wrote to the 'owners' explaining the situation, but was rudely knocked back, being told they were glad the KC was doing their job - but (get this) "they might be persuaded to allow this for a four-figure sum".    Cough.   Without knowing whether this was actually possible!    I had to decide on another name, but not only did we bring 7 back with us, all bar one who was a reimport, bearing our overseas kennel name, I never looked on us as with affix we were eventually granted here.   And should anybody do research on my bloodlines in the future, they are going to be confused.com.

Unfortuantely if it was possible to have unique affixes internationally I don't think anyone would get one.

At least in your situation the affix was in another breed.

When you got yours here of course you could always have added the new affix to the dogs you brought with you to aid continuity/link with those before.

I sold a pup to someone in Australia in our breed an they have the same affix as someone in the same breed in the USA, it's just how it is, and if either party imported from each other that would be confusing.

> Unfortuantely if it was possible to have unique affixes internationally I don't think anyone would get one.
> At least in your situation the affix was in another breed.

Although I haven't used it for many years, my GCCF cat prefix has been registered by someone in Germany - and same breed!

Going back to the original post - this thread changed my mind about what kennel name to settle for, and I have gone with something traditional, with a history dating back to the 13th century. Will be in the Gazette in January, so not going to jinx it just yet by revealing what it is!

Actually I asked the KC about that, and was told at the time, that their given names, with the CKC, couldn't be altered to include our new UK KC affix.   Perhaps that rule has changed ow?

Will be in the Gazette in January, so not going to jinx it just yet by revealing what it is!

Ah but it won't because the very last issue ever of the Gazette has just appeared a few days ago. From January everything will be published online instead in the digital "Kennel Club journal".

I must be pretty random as at least the quick check they did at crufts allowed all my different options through the first check they did!
Having heard names being rejected I had come up with 5 options I was happy with ( or is it 6 choices they ask for).
expecting to maybe be lucky and have 1 that would be ok, only to have to pick my favourite to put forwards, which I struggled as had not purposefully set my eye on just one so would not be disappointed when I did not get it :-).
Went for a simple short affix so I can have max amount of letters left to play with the individual names

We originally applied for the name of our house but it seems that someone has that so we went with my husband's Kenyan upbringing and chose a Swahili word that was accepted straight away.