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Choosing a name for a new dog can be particularly challenging because you don’t know that much about their personality, but their appearance can be a great alternative source of inspiration when you are searching for the perfect name.
What are some good black and white dog names?
We’ve put together a list of dog names for black and white dogs that might inspire you. Even if you don’t find the perfect name on our list, hopefully, it will get the inspirational juices flowing and point you in the right direction.
We’ll also share a few top tips for making sure that the name that you have chosen for your dog is a good one and something that you will be happy with for the many years that you will spend together with your dog.
Common Black And White Dog Breeds
You can’t always tell exactly what color your dog’s coat will be when they are a puppy, but their breed can give you a good idea of what they will look like as adult dogs. These are some of the most popular black and white dog breeds.
Dalmatian
The Dalmatian is probably the most famous black and white dog breed. These large dogs with long legs are usually white with liberal black spots and coloring all over their coats.
This breed originates from Croatia and is generally considered elegant and loyal. They tend to make great working dogs because they are intelligent and confident, but they don’t like to be left alone.
Border Collie
Black-and-white is one of the common color combinations for border collies, but they can also be brown and white, black, brown, white and tan, and white.
They have long fluffy coats and will often have black markings around their eyes that make it look like they are wearing masks. They are active dogs that need lots of exercise.
French Bulldog
The French bulldog is a popular small companion breed and they have a variety of different coat colorings, including black and white.
For this breed, this coloring is known as pied. They are cute pups with flat faces, bat-like ears, and playful and endearing personalities.
Siberian Husky
Black-and-white is one of the most common coat colors for the majestic-looking Siberian husky.
This loyal breed looks a lot like a wolf and actually does better in warmer temperatures than their traditional job of pulling sleds over ice would imply. They are great with families but tend to be on the overprotective side.
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a giant breed and is often black and white, with a white face and black markings around the eyes and ears.
Originally from Canada, they make great working dogs and are often involved in water rescue. They are gentle giants that do well with children.
There are many other dog breeds out there that can also be black and white. You need to look at your pup and their parents to determine if yours is likely to be one of them.
Getting a new puppy? Read our new puppy checklist here.
Best Names For Black And White Dogs
When naming children we often think of names for boys and names for girls, but this doesn’t always make sense when it comes to dogs.
Many of the best names out there are unisex rather than being appropriate for just feminine or masculine dogs. With that in mind, we have mixed everything together to bring you the best names for both boy and girl dogs.
- Ace – usually refers to the Ace of Spades, a black and white card
- Aurora – for the black and white color of the night sky
- Bandit – since robbers usually cover their face with a black mask, ideal for masked dogs
- Barcode – great for a buddy you need to keep track of
- Blot – like an inkblot
- Butler – since these household men tend to wear black and white suits
- Chanel – the logo of the fashion brand is famously black and white
- Chess – a fun game with white and black pieces
- Coco – like coconut, often sprinkled on chocolate for a black and white effect
- Dice – white cubes with black spots, and you never know what you are going to get
- Domino – as in the white tiles with black marks for playing the game dominoes
- Dottie – Ideal if their black and white coloring includes spots
- Freckles – cute if their coloring resembles freckles
- Kansas – where the world is in black and white in The Wizard of Oz
- Marbles – especially if they have mixed patterning that mimics the stone
- Merle – this is a term for dogs with patterned coats
- Mittens – especially if their black or white coloring is on their feet
- Noir – dark things, especially mystery movies
- Patch – perfect if their patterning is in large patches
- Piano – with its black and white keys, especially if they make a lot of noise
- Pinstripe – like the classic gangster suit
- Scrabble – yet another game that uses black and white pieces
- Shamu – a famous black and white Orca
- Socks – again if their black or white coloring is on their feet
- Stella – especially if their coat looks like the night sky with constellations
- Stripes – perfect for striped dogs
- Tuxedo – especially if they are black and white on the chest
- Yin Yang – after the Yin and Yang symbol
- Zigzag – for pups with the most distinctive markings
Names Based On Food For Black And White Dogs
We often think of our dogs as tasty morsels that we just want to eat up with love, so why not name your dog after one of these delicious black and white foods?
- Almond Joy – for the desert with the dark chocolate outside and white inside
- Chip – as in chocolate chip
- Lamington – the beloved Australian desert that is black and white
- Oreo – for the delicious black and white cookies
- Pepper – this also gives the idea of dark spots sprinkled on something light
Names From Nature For Black And White Dogs
Looking around in nature can often supply us with the inspiration that we need to choose the perfect name. Consider some of these black and white names from nature.
- Badger – after another black and white animal that likes to get into trouble
- Magpie – perfect for dogs that love to collect your things
- Orca – like the giant black and white sea animals
- Panda – ideal for cuddly dogs that love to eat and sleep
- Penguin – after the flightless bird
- Skunk – another black and white animal, perfect for pups that play in the mud
- Zebra – the most famous black and white animal
Celebrity And Character For Black And White Dog Names
Popular culture is often the best source of inspiration for fun and interesting names with a story. Consider some of these ideas for black and white dogs.
- Banksy – the artist tends to make black and white creations
- Bellatrix – after the Harry Potter witch with the dark hair and light skin
- Betty – for Betty Boop, the famous black and white cartoon
- Chaplin – for the famous actor in black and white films
- Cruella – the villainess with black and white hair from 101 Dalmations
- Garbo – for the black and white film actress Greta Garbo
- Groucho – after Groucho Marx
- Hel(a) – the Norse goddess of the underworld who was half black and half white
- Hemera – the Greek goddess of day and night
- Mickey/Minnie – after Disney’s black and white mice
- Perdita – the mother of the 101 Dalmations
- Snoopy – perhaps the world’s most famous black and white dog
- Zorro – the hero in the black mask
How To Choose Your Dog’s Name
Naming a new dog is not that different from naming a new human. There aren’t really any rules, but it is still possible to get it wrong.
Plus, while other people can share their experiences, you ultimately need to feel your way until you find something you think is right for your dog. That said, here are some tips that can help you eliminate inappropriate dog names.
Consider How The Name Sounds To Your Dog
Remember that animals don’t understand language the same way we do. Instead, they learn to associate sounds with certain commands, requests, or objects.
They don’t have the capacity to understand that the same sound might mean different things in different contexts.
For this reason, it is a good idea to avoid names that sound too much like the main commands that you intend to teach your dog, such as “sit” and “stay.”
They probably will learn the difference between the two words with time, but it will make life harder than it needs to be for your pup and risk regular miscommunication in the long term.
Also, remember that your dog needs to be able to pick out important words, like their name, from all the other chatter and sounds around them.
You can make this easier by choosing words that start with letters that are easier for them to distinguish. Names starting with harder sounds might be a bit easier for them to pick out.
They also find it easier to distinguish their name if it ends with a sharp “A” or a long “Y” sound. That’s why names such as Luna and Benny, for example, are perfect.
Finally, it’s a good idea to go for names that are just one or two syllables long. A five-syllable name will just be a bit too complex for them to digest easily.
If you want to give them a long and complicated name, at least consider a shortened version that you can use when you need to get their attention like a command.
Make Sure Their Name Is Appropriate
There aren’t a lot of people who would call their children rude names. In fact, many people spend hours combining names with their last name to ensure that nothing unintentionally insulting can be made of it.
People often don’t take the same care with the names they choose for their dogs, though, and sometimes even choose deliberately controversial names. While an edgy name might seem amusing at the time, it can quickly become a problem.
Imagine that you need to get control of your dog in a large public park because they are getting a little too friendly with a small child.
Their behavior is innocent, but the child is getting scared. You are some distance away, so you need to shout their name loudly in front of everyone–and in the direction of the child who is beginning to scream.
Now imagine that it isn’t you who has to shout the name, but rather your child, niece, nephew, or another young person who is temporarily responsible for the dog, but isn’t responsible for picking that name!
Take Your Time
Don’t feel like you have to have a name lined up for your dog as soon as you bring them home. You can afford to take the time to get to know them better and search for the perfect name.
Waiting a week or two before you settle on a name won’t have any impact on your dog’s happiness or how well they learn their name in the long term.
Once you have picked a name, most dogs will eventually learn it on their own if you use it regularly and consistently.
They will realize that you say it most often (and with a special intonation) when you want their attention. It should only take a dog a few weeks to learn to associate its name with itself.
You can also actively train your dog to respond to their name using positive reinforcement training. This can be something useful to add to their training if you are already teaching them other words.
One thing to bear in mind is not to combine their name with negative commands. Don’t say “No, Rover;” just say “No.” This helps ensure that they don’t learn to associate their name with negative feelings.
You can read our complete guide to puppy names here.
FAQs About Dog Names
Is it OK to change a dog’s name?
Just like you become attached to your name, the same is true of your dog. If you have been calling them a certain name for five years, suddenly changing it for no particular reason can cause confusion.
If you bring home a dog that already has a name, though, you can certainly change it. As long as you use it consistently and reward them when they respond appropriately to their name, they will quickly learn that the new name belongs to them.
How long does it take a dog to learn its name?
How long it will take your dog to learn its name depends on its capacity to learn commands and how much effort you put into teaching them.
Dogs can learn their names quickly with positive reinforcement training. Some dogs might start recognizing their name within two days.
If you choose to just use their name rather than actively teach it to them, expect it to take a couple of weeks for them to start consistently responding.
Can I give my dog a human name?
Many people give their dogs human names, and there is no reason why you can’t; however, some trainers believe that giving your dog a human name encourages you to anthropomorphize them and attribute human qualities to them.
This may undermine your ability to maintain control and discipline, but this is probably not a huge concern unless you are training a dog for a specific purpose, such as working as a guide dog.
The Verdict
Choosing the perfect name for a new pup or adopted addition to the family can be challenging since you don’t yet know that much about their personality, but you can look to your dog’s appearance as an alternative source of inspiration for the perfect name.
If you have a black and white dog, such as a Dalmation, border collie, or French bulldog, then their distinct coloring gives you plenty of opportunities to let your imagination roam and come up with something that works.
Hopefully, you will find some inspiration on our list of the best names for black and white dogs. Even if you don’t find the perfect name, maybe you will find some ideas that will point you in the right direction.
Do you have any recommendations for great names for black and white dogs?
Share them with the community in the comments section below.
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