# Mr. Barkey Von Schnauzer: and other names you should never give your dog. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774 "2007-04-19T13:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/1 "2007-04-19T13:17:12Z")
There is a new commercial airing in the US for a dog brand X. The scene starts with a guy coming home and saying: “Mr. Barky Von Schnauzer?”…“Mr. Barky Von Schnauzer?” Then it pans over to the dog food…stating Like their dog food, give your dog a name they will like… or something to that effect. Has anyone heard dog names that shouldn’t be? Or do you have a pooch with an odd name? Share it here. I named our dog after Grissom from CSI - Gris for short. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/2 "2007-04-19T13:37:49Z")
The dog in a pub I sometimes go to is called “Deefer”. Yup, Deefer Dog. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/3 "2007-04-19T13:45:48Z")
When we were at the local park there was a cocker spaniel called Wonder Woman. My fiance hated the name but I think the dog kind of looked like a Wonder Woman - maybe it was the long, curly tresses. I wanted to name my future dog Doggy Fabulous (my hairdresser calls himself Firstname Fabulous, which I think is hysterical) but the fiance vetoed that too. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/4 "2007-04-19T13:59:46Z")
The ridiculous names you hear at dog shows. I got these off the Westminster Kennel Club’s website for 2007. If anyone understands the meaning of these names, please dispel my ignorance (I think part of it has to do with naming the sire/identifying the bloodline). Happy Hour Highmark Toasty Fionavar Javahill Topgun Elmo’s Men are from Mars Phl’s Aneas of Love Call Seven ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/5 "2007-04-19T14:26:47Z")
My aunt had a Chihuahua named “Binky”. :: shudder :: ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/6 "2007-04-19T14:31:32Z")
[QUOTE=Hung Mung] The ridiculous names you hear at dog shows. I got these off the Westminster Kennel Club’s website for 2007. If anyone understands the meaning of these names, please dispel my ignorance (I think part of it has to do with naming the sire/identifying the bloodline). Happy Hour Highmark Toasty Fionavar Javahill Topgun Elmo’s Men are from Mars Phl’s Aneas of Love Call Seven [/QUOTE] I’m thinking that the namers of the WKC dogs are trying to imitate the ridiculous nature of the horse names that are given to racing and show horses. Maybe they assume that the dog/horse won’t be embarrassed by whatever they’re named, so they come up with the dumbest name possible so they don’t have to inflict it on future children. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/7 "2007-04-19T14:32:21Z")
“Cigarette”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/8 "2007-04-19T14:40:57Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] My aunt had a Chihuahua named “Binky”. :: shudder :: [/QUOTE] How awful. Everybody knows Binky is the name of a horse, not a dog! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/9 "2007-04-19T14:45:59Z")
Our dog Sylvie was named Sissy when we got her. UGH! Our first Weimaraner, who we got as a puppy, was named Shiva. I wanted her registered name to be Shiva Shiva Bo-Viva, but my husband objected. I still think it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/10 "2007-04-19T14:49:21Z")
Really, there are lots of names you wouldn’t want to be repeatedly calling out in the woods if the dog had wandered out of sight. Even (especially)quite mundane ones like Stephen or Richard. But for something specific, how about Ricola? ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/11 "2007-04-19T14:49:30Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] The dog in a pub I sometimes go to is called “Deefer”. Yup, Deefer Dog. [/QUOTE] I’m probably going to be embarrassed when it dawns on me but I don’t get it. Someone at the dog park has a dog named Beautiful. It is a beautiful lab but sounds silly when they call the dog. > [@](#): > > The ridiculous names you hear at dog shows. I got these off the Westminster Kennel Club’s website for 2007. If anyone understands the meaning of these names, please dispel my ignorance (I think part of it has to do with naming the sire/identifying the bloodline). > > Happy Hour Highmark Toasty > Fionavar Javahill Topgun > Elmo’s Men are from Mars > Phl’s Aneas of Love Call Seven They’re just the names on the dogs papers. They rarely call the dog that name. My last dogs name was Dashwood’s Moon Shadow and we called him Piper. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/12 "2007-04-19T14:51:07Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Really, there are lots of names you wouldn’t want to be repeatedly calling out in the woods if the dog had wandered out of sight. Even (especially)quite mundane ones like Stephen or Richard. But for something specific, how about Ricola? [/QUOTE] You get a lot of names like that when you let little kids name the dog. My sister’s son named their dog Joe. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/13 "2007-04-19T14:52:59Z")
I have noticed that puppies named “piddles” or similar _never_ house break. Oh, and Deeogee (D.O.G); it’s been done to death, as has “Iggy” for an Iguana. ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/14 "2007-04-19T14:56:16Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I’m probably going to be embarrassed when it dawns on me but I don’t get it. Someone at the dog park has a dog named Beautiful. It is a beautiful lab but sounds silly when they call the dog. [/QUOTE] Have you ever seen that funny funny Deefer Dog Deefer Dog! [Click](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D44pyeEvhcQ) ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/15 "2007-04-19T14:59:27Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Really, there are lots of names you wouldn’t want to be repeatedly calling out [/QUOTE] When I was a kid in the mid 60s, we had a little old lady down the street whose black toy poodle was named “Jiggs”. It was the embarrassment of the neighborhood that she would stand on her porch (with her stockings rolled halfway down her scrawny legs) screaming, “Jiggs…Jiggs…God damn you Jiggaboo get back here”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/16 "2007-04-19T15:02:18Z")
A FOAF apparently had a three-legged dog named ‘tripod’. My maths teacher at school had a dog named ‘dog’. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/17 "2007-04-19T15:06:11Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I’m probably going to be embarrassed when it dawns on me but I don’t get it. [/QUOTE] A for Apple… ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/18 "2007-04-19T15:06:20Z")
All my life, all my dogs have had “people names”. Currently we have Joe and Katie. One thing for sure, my dogs respond to their names better than most people’s kids when called. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/19 "2007-04-19T15:16:27Z")
I know someone who had a dog named “Human”. 🙂 And my best friend at university had a cat named “Steve”, which I thought was extremely cool. Why the posessives in the Westminster Kennel Club names? ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774/20 "2007-04-19T15:18:34Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] . . . she would stand on her porch (with her stockings rolled halfway down her scrawny legs) screaming, “Jiggs…Jiggs…God damn you Jiggaboo get back here”. [/QUOTE] Okay, that made me laugh like hell. Years ago, we adopted a blind Labrador. He got around our house and yard just fine once he’d learned where everything was, but for the first two weeks or so he bonked into just about everything. So we named him “Bumper.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-barkey-von-schnauzer-and-other-names-you-should-never-give-your-dog/400774.md?page=2)