Monday, 12 March 2012

some news

A lot of you know that I've had a very hard couple of weeks. For those that didn't know, we lost our dog Ava very suddenly a couple of weeks ago and the whole family has been completely devastated. Our dogs are not just dogs to us, they are members of our family.

Our home and family has just felt wrong since our little Ava-baby went and after a lot of soul searching and research we have decided to get a puppy.

Here is our soon-to-be new little hairy baby

New baby

It's a little springer spaniel boy. He's 5 weeks old and when we took the kids to see the puppies he toddled over to my daugher, climbed into her lap and fell asleep. I took that as a sign that he was meant to be ours (but I had already fallen in love with him when I went to see the pups on my own)

So now we need to find him a name

The short list so far is:

  • Baxter
  • Bramble
  • Murphy
  • Dougal

Does anyone fancy helping us out with a new name?


I've got a little something that might help you get your thinking caps on ;)


curiosm

A charm pack of Curio will be winging it's way to one of the commenters on this post. You can either let me know which is your favourite name from the list, or suggest a new name. I'll choose a winner in a few days.


Here's another cute puppy picture just to get those names flowing :)

IMG_1761

Fiona x

74 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, he is adorable! My parents have a springer, and my brother has two. They are great family dogs :-)
    Out of the names you have chosen I like bramble (our neighbours dog is bramble!) I also love the name Bracken :-)

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  2. my husband has always wanted a boy dog named duke...so that's my suggestion...DUKE.

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  3. Awww honey! So happy for you! He is the cutest! I like Baxter, because it reminds me of Anchorman, which is like, my favourite film ever! A few more fabric-related suggestions... Riley? Blake? Joel? Bailey? Miller? Thomas? Parson? lol I could go on...

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  4. Love spaniels, they are such little friendly excitable bundles!! I like the name Murphy. Linda

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  5. Well I just think Bramble is about the cutest name ever. How could I not vote for that one!?

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  6. Cute puppy pics are such an awesome way to start the day! I love the name Bramble!

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  7. What a cutie! I like Bramble. It's something I haven't heard before and I think it fits the picture of him pretty well.

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  8. He looks like a Charlie to me. Thanks for a chance and congrats on your new addition.

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  9. You companion's name is something personal - I prefer not to use 'human' names and like something short (syllable wise) and punchy - especially for those times when you are calling a playful, disobedient, pet back.
    We've renamed our last 2 rescue dogs because the names were just so unsuitable! Do you fancy calling 'Corrie' or 'Kaido'
    The right name will come, don't worry and enjoy your new household member

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  10. Adorable Fi! I'm sticking with Murphy! Jxo

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  11. How about Paddy ? Seeing as it's nearly St Patricks day. My son is called Patrick and I love the name. Sorry about Ava - I agree that they are so much more than pets xxx

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  12. Murphy would be adorable for a name. And for our family, we are going to name our dog Darwin (we're a bunch of scientists over here).

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  13. I vote for Bramble, I can see him playing out and about among the brambles.

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  14. We used to have a Bramble! Now we have a Medlar and a Spindle!! and we're hoping to have a new puppy soon so I can't wait to see what you choose!

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  15. I'm all for Dougal here. I can hear it in my head 'Dougal, don't!', 'Dougal, down!', 'Dougal, sit!', 'Dougal, roll over'. It just flows nicely and he looks like a Dougal - what ever a Dougal is supposed to look like. And so pleased you couldn't hear my undignified squeal when I looked at the photos!

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  16. Gorgeous! I'd absolutely go with Murphy. I know a golden named Murphy (after my other half) and it suits a pup just perfectly.

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  17. Oh, wow, he is so cute!! He looks like a Murphy to me.

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  18. Aw he chose you, how wonderful! I know when we named our dog it seemed like an impossible task, possibly harder than naming the children given that we would be saying it so often out if public for commands! I like Dougal, I also love Fred which I wanted to use for our dog but it is my husbands childhood nickname and he wouldn't have it!

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  19. What a little cutie!!

    From your shortlist I like Bramble. I also like Mac :)
    I'm not the best at name choosing - it took me weeks before my daughter had one; quite embarrassing!
    Look forward to seeing more pics.

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  20. I think Baxter is a great name for a Springer Spaniel. He is adorable. Congratulations on your new addition.

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  21. I like the name Zeb or Zebedee after the bouncing dog (?) in Magic Roundabout. I know something was bouncy and springy in MR - just can´t remember what - :)

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  22. I like to imagine you speaking with a delightful brogue, and all the names you've picked sound charming when you say them! I, however, with my American accent, would never be able to make Murphy or Baxter sound as winsome as you would. But I could approximate a fair bit of Scottish emphasis on Bramble or Dougal!

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  23. What a cutie! I think picking something that you don't mind yelling across a yard-- and Murphy sounds just right :)

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  24. I'm very sorry you lost your dog, and I hope the puppy will make your family very happy. I love the name Bramble! (Or perhaps Brambles?)

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  25. Oh Fiona, you furry baby is too cute. I too am very much a believer that the dog chooses you too, so I had to smile when you said that he curled up on your daughter's lap.I am going to cast my vote in the Murphy camp, to me he looks like a Murphy and it is easy to say for all the times you are going to be calling him over the years. :-)

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  26. Cute pics, sorry about your other dog,I like Bramble but always think of it as a female name,how about Flynn, Milo,or Brock?...dont go for Willy (my late Cat)a bit embarrasing calling them !!!

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  27. Like Baxter but it makes me think of soup! Bramble might indicate a thorny charcter - how about Brodie! After the castle!

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  28. @Suburba Stitcher - my Mum and Dad get their Welsh terrier pup in 2 weeks and he's Duke!

    Fi, I like Baxter from your shortlist! My friend's spaniel is Jed, it suits him!

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  29. Fiona-- I'm so glad that you have found a new little love. I like the name Bramble-- sounds a bit like a trouble maker with that name, but if that is not his personality, then I like Baxter too.

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  30. I'm sorry for your loss of Ava. The new little guy you're welcoming to the family is just darling. From your short list I love Bramble. They are all great names, though - can't really go wrong!

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  31. He looks like a Mocha, you know all creamy and chocolate!! Think how fun it would be to stand at the kitchen door and call "Mocha" Mocha" tehe

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  32. I like all four names you can't go wrong with either of them. I think I like Bramble best. Such a sweet puppy, so adorable.

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  33. Oh, he's cute! I like Dougal and Murphy! And how about Billy? He's really cute - will you be getting him at 8/9 weeks?

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  34. Oh, I LOVE "Truffle" (suggested earlier)!!!! Absolutely perfect for that sweet pup!

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  35. well, it looks like i am in the minority but I love the name Baxter! He is soooo adorable!

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  36. Awwww :o) Sleepy perhaps? He seems a dab hand at it ;o)

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  37. I think Murphy suits him or he could be a Trigger

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  38. aww he's very cute! Name wise I'd go for Murphy, I think it'd really suit a springer. My inlaws had a dog name Steven, imagine walking about shouting Steven, Steven!

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  39. Now if I was creeping I would say that Murphy is a fantastic choice, and it if was thrown to my lot, they would come up with 'Doggy'; I like Bingo, like the song!

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  40. JACOB! Springer spaniels are absolutely crackers.... But everyone loves jacobs :-)

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  41. So cute - he looks like a Baxter to me!

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  42. Bramble is my favourite! I also like Murphy and Dougal. Baxter is cute, but it's overused, and you don't want your dog to have the same name as every other dog ;-)

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  43. So adorable!!! I love the name Bramble :) SO cute.
    I knew a horrible boy called Baxter so it rules that one out for me ;)

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  44. I'm so sorry to hear about Ava!! It's like losing one of the members of your family in many ways.
    Cute new puppy though!! Bramble is my personal favourite from the list. Adorable!!
    I don't envy you with the toilet training though LOL

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  45. I'm going with Murphy...Murph for short is just too cute! Good luck choosing, Fiona...and congrats on the new pup!

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  46. Fiona, I'm so sorry to hear about Ava. She must have been a very good dog. I'm glad that you are getting another one. Dogs are a wonderful addition to a family. I suppose BoyToy is out. LOL!! Good thing you have some suggestions to choose from. I liked Jed or Duke.

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  47. I like Baxter from your list. My sister called her collie Corwen as that was the name of the nearest town when she got him. Brody is a great name too.

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  48. Of your names listed, I love the name Baxter. I also love the name Bricker. He looks so positively sweet and yummy and furry and adorable! We are "dog people" too, and when we lost our dog, Duke almost 3 years ago, now, it was so traumatic for us, even for my son who was 2 at the time. We lasted 6 months before we got another dog, and home has felt right ever since Buster chose to come home with us. :o) I'm so sorry for your loss!!! They really are family members. So happy for you to be getting a new baby to bring home! xo

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  49. I thought he looked like a Baxter even before I saw your list!
    He is also a classic 'Sport', tho!

    I like to name mine after classic literary, biblical/religious or historical characters - I've had Agamemnon, Samson & Delilah, and Krishna. Of course, they always get shortened... Aggie, Sam, DeeDee, and don't even ask how 'Krishna' became 'Burger'!

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  50. I love Bramble - but I'll suggest another, just to play along! My hubby's cat is named Wrench - which has ended up being pretty ironic since she LOVES power tools, plus it's odd just like she is. I'll suggest Hammer. ;)

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  51. I really like the name Baxter. I've never heard anyone else call their dog Baxter and I think that pup looks like a Baxter.

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  52. we have 2 springers too! Really sorry to hear about Ava, I dread the thought of anything happening to our two - we have Daisy and Bella. I like Murphy, and Bramble, but I always think of that as a girl's name. However as Murphy is a bit Irish, and you're in Bonnie Scotland, how about Jock? Or Wallace?

    Good luck and keep the puppy pics coming!

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  53. oooh too cute, can't wait to come over for a cuddle. Think I like Baxter

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  54. You shall just have to pick a name that you and your family love. These are all lovely. Of these, I prefer Murphy and Dougal over the "B" names, but I do like the "x" in the middle of Baxter. Dexter? Jaxon?

    Our boy dog is Casey. I also like Charlie, Tucker, Hank, Levi, Preston. My 3-year-old says Dracy (not Darcy. Dracy. Probably because it rhymes with "Casey.")

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  55. my dh has said *klingon* he says he has the look and he'll cling onto you forever ;o)

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  56. even though it was on the short list to name our SON, i would go with Bruno. cute dog name...or boy name really!!

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  57. Out of the names on your list, I like Dougal best. What about Miles?

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  58. Adorable puppy! How about calling him Jasper!?

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  59. Love Baxter. It's my son's friends' name

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  60. I love the way "Murphy" rolls off the tongue!

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  61. I love springers! My beloved first dog was a springer spaniel called Laddie - he was a rescue dog from the pound at one year old and I had him til he was about 12. When I went to the SPCA three years later to get a replacement I had plans to find a "Murphy" - came home with a female called Bess (just gorgeous and not at all a springer, very much a 'bitser'- bits of everything) - so my bet would be on Murphy - especially with St Paddy's day coming up!

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  62. Too cute... I like the name Baxter or what about Angus. Enjoy your cute puppy:)

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  63. I am so glad to hear that you are getting a new puppy! I like all the names on your list and also Max.

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  64. I think he looks like a Stanley. But of the names you have come up with, I think Bramble is best. He could be a Hamish?

    I hope he settles in well with the family, and helps you all to heal.

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  65. You already know how gorgeous I think that little man is! I think your shortlist names are all good, I do like Murph, but if you want some alternatives to try out with the family...how about "Doogie" (not doggie!) or "Bailey", or "Biscuit"? x

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  66. I like Bramble but it is kind of hard to roll off of your tongue if calling the dog so maybe Baxter is better. We had a similar scenario but lost both of our dogs in September within 17 days of one another. We were are a mess! Needless to say a 4 month old shepherd/lab mix came into our lives in October and his name is Lucky! Sorry about Ava and good luck with your new puppy. He is handsome!

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  67. Awww..so cute! Makes me want to get another dog myself! I like the name mamafairy said - Stanley. Easy to shout out at the park for him to come back. Stannnn---leeeeee. :)

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  68. When we got Sox l wanted to name him Taxi. I just thought that would be funny to shout. Husband didn't agree and as l knit alot of socks we named him Sox.
    I love the name Bramble on your list.

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  69. Hi, I think you should name her Bird. The name Ava means "like a bird". (at least according to babynames.com.) The added bonus is that it is just funny to name a dog bird!
    :)

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  70. What a cutie - Bramble sounds great - or how about Rufus? xx

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