Hello all,

I've noticed that a lot of adult show dogs on breeders websites have names like 'Supreme Angel of the Rose Garden of Eden Beauty and Light Autum Leaves', but I can't help but think that the dog is probably called 'Barry' or 'Shep' around the house.

So, is it the done thing to have a jazzy show name for your dog, and a every day name? Do you have to register a name? And do dogs called 'Mr T' or 'Bongo' win shows, or does the name have to take up half a sheet of A4 paper? :)

Many thanks,

Stu.

The name that appears in a show catalouge is the dogs registered kennel name and chosen by the breeder at the time the litter was registered. It is not just show dogs who have this name, all dogs who have been registered with the Kennel Club have one. And of course, like all other dogs it has a pet name that may of may not be connected to registered name.

There is a limit to how long the name is and there is a set way of naming a dog. It is usual for the first part to be the breeders Affix, followed by the dogs name, then some times by the owners Affix. My youngest Solomon, is Kestos(breeders affix) So Wise (dogs name) at Thordell (my affix). the next one is Steldawn Saxon at Thordell, get the idea.

Dogs called - Beauties Rammbling Rose or something like that are often dogs bred by people without an affix.

You can have 25 digits I believe, my terv Bitch is registered as CH Magics Tyfly at Dooges, but we call her Ty... HTH.
RudyandMum

Hi I think the rules are different in USA and UK.

I know that in USA that the owner can choose the dogs name if the breeder has not stipulated the choice, as In USA the litter is registered, and then the owner applies for individual registration.

Here in UK only the breeder can register the pup, and this is normally done at around two weeks of age all together. the litter registration form has boxes for each pup where two choices of name have to be given.

Also it is at this point that Endorsements (restrictions on registering progeny or exporting) are added, and many responsible breeders use these so that the new owners cannot register puppies from their stock without reference to them first. This is usually to ensure that they do the relevant health tests and will be responsible breeders.

I keep my registered names short just the affix (Barbelka) and one word, usually starting with the same letter of the alphabet for each litter. some breeders use themes for each litter.

They all have short call names of only four letters long at home.

Hi Stu,
All KC Registered dogs must have a name that no other living dog has - so that there can be no confusion over identity. The breeder is the only person who can register the dog, and the name must have at least 2 words, but be no longer than 24 letters. A future buyer can then add their affix (if they have one) at the end of the name on transfer of ownership, so the name can be quite long. But the dog will have a "pet" name too, just like any other dog.
:)

like everyone ellis as said the rigth thing,just like to say that verdant wispa whos is reg with this name is called wispa at home,

Hi JG

Hate to correct you but you can use the same names provided they are ten years apart in the UK so the first one can still be alive. In the Netherlands the same name can appear three or four times in one year!! This is not funny for genealogists like me :(

Stu,

Affixes - A word we "buy" from the Kennel Club and then pay a yearly fee for so that dogs bred by, or belonging to us are identifiable. It can be used as a prefix (before dogs name) if we have bred the dog or bred both the parents and bought the pup in. Otherwise it is used as a suffix (after dogs name) and added at the end with something like at, from, to, von, avec, between dog's name and the affix.

As has been said above the names have to be fairly unique to be registered with the KC which is why they can get so long. The "home" name is usually much shorter and less complimentary :)

Christine

Hi Christine,
Thanks for the correction - it seems really stupid, though! Does that same name include the affix, as well? Because I know that the KC say that "Sunny Jim", "Kenwu Sunny Jim", "Kenate Sunny Jim" etc are not the same name - but now you can register (as a hypothetical example) "Boodles Jason" one year, then 10 years later have another called "Boodles Jason"?

Sounds daft to me - and as you say, very confusing when tracing lineage.
:)

Hi

Yes it does include the affix as well. Now the KC are more computerised I don't know if this will be permitted - they might come across the same problems as I do. I just add the registration number, BRS number or something after the name to differentiate duplicates.

Christine

It is even worse with Norwegian and Scandinavian pedigrees in my breed. It would seem that Kennel Affixes/prefixes are not routinely used.

There are many dogs called Ragg, Rapp, Bella etc. In one of my girls Pedigrees there are two different Raskens of similar age. It is vital to include their registration numbers in the pedigrees to differentiate.

Also I think the same name cannot be used ever again in the UK if the dog becomes a Champion.

I know that when a friend tried to name her dog with our affix and the Spanish for butterfly it was rejected because a Papillon breeder had the name as her affix, which I think is rather silly because surely someone can use their affix and the word butterfly!! The KC in there wisdom then named the dog secret diary, very Spanish, I must say!!!