Mystical Angels

Why are show dogs given unique names?

This question is probably a strange question but I've been looking for reputable breeders for a breed I am interested in getting in the future and I noticed that the dog's that are shown have some...unique names(Can't think of a better word to use aside from unique) Example of names I've seen; The Magician Bama Breeze Mystical Illusion Let's go Joe Is this just to make them stand out more when in the ring or is there another reason for it? (I apologize if the wording for this question is strange)

Public Comments

1. Not just in the ring - in general. It makes the dog more memorable; you can say the show name (with the kennel before hand) and know what dog is being talked about. Show dogs usually have "call names" (as I'm sure you know) that are used for day to day use.
2. those are the registered name.. the dogs have an ordinary name that is used around the home and with the vet as well. For example.. my dog's registered name is Keep On Truckin' N'Co.. but around the home and at the vet he is just simply known as Fred. those registered names are there so you know which dog it is.. expecially when looking at pedigrees.. a unique name helps to recognize and know what dogs exactly are behind the lineage.
3. Some for show dogs and some . Cause thier owners want them to sound unique. I wanted a unique name for my dog , i named her chanel nino.
4. Show dogs have their proper name and their call name. What you're referring to is the proper name. The call name is their normal name (i.e. Fido, Spot). Show dogs are given unique names because the AKC does not allow duplicate names to be registered within breeds. This allows lineage to be easily traced for purebred dogs. Many things are taken into consideration when choosing the name. The kennel name always comes first. Most people try to pick names that will catch the judge's eye. Uniqueness is usually encouraged.
5. You can check the AKC site, they give the basic info. ------------------------------- What are the AKC requirements on dog names? Answer: All dog names are subject to AKC approval and must comply with AKC requirements. The person who owns the dog at the time the dog the registration application is submitted to the AKC has the right to name it, unless otherwise noted in a written agreement. Below are AKC guidelines that determine the acceptability of a name. 1.Name choices are limited to (36) thirty-six characters. Spaces between words, apostrophes and hyphens are counted. Note: Effective, February 1, 2008, AKC is testing a pilot program that allows for the registered name of a dog to contain up to (50) fifty characters. An additional $10 fee will be incurred when more than (36) thirty-six characters are chosen. 2.All letters in a dog's name are limited to the standard English alphabet. When registration certificates are printed, all letters are capitalized. Diacritical markings (accent grave, accent acute, umlaut, etc.) are not printed on registration certificates in a dog's name. 3.Registered Kennel Names cannot be included in a dog's name unless the use is authorized by the owner of the name. 4.Roman numerals must not be included at the end of the dog's name. The AKC reserves the right to assign roman numerals for identification purposes. The AKC permits thirty-seven (37) dogs of each breed to be assigned the same name. 5.There are no restrictions on cardinal (one, two, three) and ordinal (first, second, third) numbers. 6.Words and phrases that may not be included in a dog's name: a. Champion, champ, sieger and any AKC title or show term, either spelled out or abbreviated. b. Obscenities and words derogatory to any race, creed or nationality or transliterations of such words. c. Kennel(s), male, stud, sire, bitch, dam and female. d. Breed names alone 7.An imported dog must be registered with the same name under which it was registered in its country of birth, except for the addition of a registered kennel name.
6. Just so you know, the judges do not know the dogs names, what kennels they come from etc. When in the ring, all the judges see is a number. (each competitor has a number). This goes for breed, obedience, agility. In the case of my dogs. It's his kennel name, then his name starts with a C, since it was her 3rd litter, with her kennel name at the end.
7. Most kennel club registries require that dogs have unique names so that they can be told apart easily on pedigrees, etc. If there are 14 Belgian Malinois named "Mac" and a dog named "Mac" is my dog's sire, how am I to know if that is one that I met at the National Specialty and really liked? Race horses have a similar "unique" requirement. Additionally, most show dog's names contain a lot of other information. Serious breeders almost always have a prefix or suffix unique to their kennel that is attached to the name of every puppy they produce: so "Mac" would become "Broadcreek's Mac" or "Mac of Del Rio". Now I know the dog's "call name" (Mac) and who his breeder is. Beyond this, it is common for many breeders to have themed or alphabetical litters. Thus, if Mac is in the "fast food" litter he will probably be called "Broadcreek's Big Mac" and his littermates would be "Broadcreek's Wendy" and "Broadcreek's Taco Time", etc, many breeders will also slip in pieces of a famous parent's name as well - if the sire of the litter is "Del Rio's Dancing Gentleman" then a piece of that might get in there, too, "Broadcreek's Dancing Big Mac." So... kind of like you have a last name to help everyone sort out the millions of "Johns" and "Marys" in the world, dogs' names let us tell them apart more easily on paper and can also tell people "in the know" a lot about a dog's breeding, pedigree, etc. There are litters from some breeders that I really, really like, if I could get my hands on a pup from Carousel's Wild litter or one of their get, for example, I would be in ecstatic! (their sire is from Broadcreek Kennels and his pedigree has a lot of quality imports from awesome French and other kennels in it - see? I can tell that just by the dog names in the pedigree!). Does that make sense?