Picking the perfect name for your pup can be a challenge. Some basic rules of thumb apply: His name should be one or two syllables and it shouldn't rhyme with a command, such as "sit," "down" or "no." If your pooch pal is a bloodhound, his history, appearance and personality will give you plenty to work with when it comes to choosing a name.
Bloodhound History
The bloodhound goes back centuries, used in the ritual of the hunt to track game. Today's bloodhound's roots trace back to the St. Hubert hound in 8th century France. William the Conqueror brought the dog with him to England in 1066, and Queen Victoria was a fan of the breed. "William" and "Victoria" go against the two-syllable premise, however, "Bill," "Vicky" or "Tory" are more modern options. "Hubert" is a fitting name, matching his serious face and paying tribute to the hound that started it all.
Personality Quirks
The bloodhound is a smart guy, and despite his rather droopy looks, his personality is anything but. He's quite energetic, with a stubborn streak that makes him challenging to train. If you're finding he's always got his nose to the ground, try "Snoopy" or "Busy." If his energy wears you out, "Dash" or "Peppy" might fit him. If he's especially hardheaded, try "Percy" for persistent or "Tetu" will give his -- or her -- stubborn ways an international flair -- in French, no less.
Famous Bloodhounds
The bloodhound has made his mark through the years, particularly in television and movies. You may remember "Duke" from "The Beverly Hillbillies," or "Buford" from the cartoon "The Buford Files." "Trusty" and "Bruno" were in Disney films, while "Wylie Burp" and "Bayard" were from other animated movies. If you were fond of "King of the Hill," you may like "Ladybird," though you may want to shorten that to "Lady" or "Birdy." If you prefer books, consider the bloodhound mysteries, a series of books about a bloodhound trainer who solves crimes with the help of her dogs. The main character is Jo Beth, and the author is Virginia Lanier; "Jo," "Joe," "Lani" or "Ginny" are all options paying tribute to the book and its canine sleuths.
Jumping Off Points
Sometimes it's just a matter of picking a name you like, or something that seems to fit. If you have an ironic sense of humor, you could name your big dog "Elf" or "Pixie." If you want to play on his big size, try "Herc" for "Hercules" or "Marge" for "Large Marge." You can honor your favorite actor, artist or musician by naming your dog after him -- maybe "Bey," "George" or "Bruno" will work. If nothing seems quite right, take a couple of days and get to know your bloodhound. Then sit down and work your way through the alphabet, coming up with a name for every letter, discarding any that don't feel right. You should end up with a nice list of possibilities to choose from.