The Puppy Wars - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lush · 08-01-2006, 10:28 PM

Dearest,

I need advice from some good, old-fashioned Tolkien fans on this one.

I recently got a new puppy. She is hopefully the first of three dogs that Boyfriend and I plan to adopt over the next year and a half. The puppy's name is Zara, it's both English and Arab, and she is a German Shepherd/Collie mix. We also plan to get a male Siberian Husky and name him Zizou, after one of our favourite footballers (eat your heart out, Materazzi).

*cough*

To get straight to the point, I would like to give our third dog a literary name. I think a Tolkien-ish name would be great. Of course, I am not sure about the breed name, and what name would go with what breed. I do plan to get a medium to large dog though, and I do plan on getting another male, I know that much.

The bigger problem is Boyfriend. He does not want a name that sounds "silly." We've been arguing about this for a while.

This is where you come in. If you were to give your dog a Tolkien-inspired name, what would it be? And what's a Tolkien name that's not "silly"?

Suggestions will be much appreciated.

Kiss kiss,
Lush.

the guy who be short · 08-02-2006, 06:09 AM

I think you should admit defeat, Lush. They're all silly.

Mithalwen · 08-02-2006, 06:20 AM

Well if you are OK with Zizou just about anything will be OK..

.possibly dwarvish /mannish rather than elvish would be best since you need something you can call with authority so maybe Gimli, Balin, Barliman.... some of the "stronger" sounding elvish elements might work like Cirdan or Cirion. Maybe not Carcharoth or Draugluin though...

However I just wouldn't have a dog (well a bedlington maybe) and it doesn't really matter what you call cats....

Estelyn Telcontar · 08-02-2006, 06:32 AM

There are several LotR names that can be abbreviated to sound like normal real life names: Sam; Merry; Theo (from Théoden)...

Or if the dog turns out to be female: Rosie; Diamond; Elanor - the Hobbit names tend to sound very normal.

Just flip through your "Foster's Guide" for more ideas.

Kath · 08-02-2006, 06:59 AM

I quite like Turin for a dogs name, sounds quite normal.

Lalaith · 08-02-2006, 07:44 AM

Good idea Kath. Turambar is even better, I think, (would give any dog a sense of dignity) but Boyfriend may beg to differ.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 08-02-2006, 09:09 AM

How about Maxacár? It's a compound Quenya word that I've just made up from:

soft maxa, moica, mussë

head cár (cas-), nóla, toldë

Or, in Sindarin, Modôl from

soft moe

head dôl

I couldn't find a world for "silly" or even "foolish" or "ridiculous" so I thought "soft in the head" (the original meaning of "silly") would do. Both could easily be shortened to more boring names: Max or Moe.

Alternately, either would do as a petname for said Boyfriend, who need not be informed of their etymology.

Diamond18 · 08-03-2006, 08:38 PM

I find Sauron to be a slightly disconcerting name for a pet.

Whatever you do, don't name him Barney.

Lush · 08-04-2006, 11:13 AM

Oh wow, thanks guys!

How could I forget Estel? Or Gandalf for that matter?!

Right now we're thinking that the possible third dog will be a guard-dog. I grew up with a female Doberman as my friend and protector, and she saved my mother's life twice, so the connection is strong there. A Doberman named Estel might be perfect.

If I go the German Shepherd route, however, Gandalf would be a great name.

Also, Gamgee, Milo, Modol (thanks, F!), Tulkas, etc... Well, I could go on, but this thread is brimming with good suggestions.

Of course, Huan is a wonderful name for a dog.

Have you guys heard about the monks of New Skete? ? They tend to give their dogs Tolkien names, only not names I would like:

Mordor's Winter, for example. What's up with that?

Gurthang · 08-04-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diamond18

I find Sauron to be a slightly disconcerting name for a pet.

Yeah, I agree. I thought about putting an aside comment beside that suggestion. Something along the lines of "that is, if you want him to be evil." But really, if you had a mean dog, or even just a mean looking dog, Sauron would be a good name. Or at least I think so. And it sorta-kinda sounds like it could start with a "Z", so there's another plus.

Bêthberry · 08-04-2006, 01:20 PM

Well, I would have thought that Gandalf would be more suitable for a cat. After all, we all know that cats have nine lives and Gandalf has had at least two ...

A Doberman? Here I was thinking along the lines of a blonde longhair like a golden retriever or great dane. Then Legolas might do the trick--funny how no one has yet suggested this fleet-footed namesake--which could be shorted to "Las", to confuse the (male) dogs.

Or you do go one up from the Zeds and do Y: Yrch.

Then there's the Sindarin for fangs, Carack or Carag. Or go with Ulfang.

Or something more sophisticated such as Cænînion.

Rawr!

Mithalwen · 08-04-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Well, I would have thought that Gandalf would be more suitable for a cat. After all, we all know that cats have nine lives and Gandalf has had at least two ...

!

Especially since cats keep to their own timetable...and are wanderers.....

Lush · 08-04-2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Especially since cats keep to their own timetable...and are wanderers.....

In that case, a Siberian Husky would be perfect as a "Gandalf." Too bad we've already decided on Zizou for the Husky.

08-01-2006, 10:28 PM	#1
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	The Puppy Wars Dearest, I need advice from some good, old-fashioned Tolkien fans on this one. I recently got a new puppy. She is hopefully the first of three dogs that Boyfriend and I plan to adopt over the next year and a half. The puppy's name is Zara, it's both English and Arab, and she is a German Shepherd/Collie mix. We also plan to get a male Siberian Husky and name him Zizou, after one of our favourite footballers (eat your heart out, Materazzi). cough To get straight to the point, I would like to give our third dog a literary name. I think a Tolkien-ish name would be great. Of course, I am not sure about the breed name, and what name would go with what breed. I do plan to get a medium to large dog though, and I do plan on getting another male, I know that much. The bigger problem is Boyfriend. He does not want a name that sounds "silly." We've been arguing about this for a while. This is where you come in. If you were to give your dog a Tolkien-inspired name, what would it be? And what's a Tolkien name that's not "silly"? Suggestions will be much appreciated. Kiss kiss, Lush. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

08-02-2006, 06:20 AM	#3
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Well if you are OK with Zizou just about anything will be OK.. .possibly dwarvish /mannish rather than elvish would be best since you need something you can call with authority so maybe Gimli, Balin, Barliman.... some of the "stronger" sounding elvish elements might work like Cirdan or Cirion. Maybe not Carcharoth or Draugluin though... However I just wouldn't have a dog (well a bedlington maybe) and it doesn't really matter what you call cats.... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

08-02-2006, 06:32 AM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	There are several LotR names that can be abbreviated to sound like normal real life names: Sam; Merry; Theo (from Théoden)... Or if the dog turns out to be female: Rosie; Diamond; Elanor - the Hobbit names tend to sound very normal. Just flip through your "Foster's Guide" for more ideas. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

08-02-2006, 06:59 AM	#5
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	I quite like Turin for a dogs name, sounds quite normal. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

08-02-2006, 07:44 AM	#6
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Good idea Kath. Turambar is even better, I think, (would give any dog a sense of dignity) but Boyfriend may beg to differ. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

08-02-2006, 06:09 AM	#2
the guy who be short Shadowed Prince Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Thulcandra Posts: 2,343	I think you should admit defeat, Lush. They're all silly.

08-02-2006, 09:09 AM	#7
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	How about Maxacár? It's a compound Quenya word that I've just made up from: soft maxa, moica, mussë head cár (cas-), nóla, toldë Or, in Sindarin, Modôl from soft moe head dôl I couldn't find a world for "silly" or even "foolish" or "ridiculous" so I thought "soft in the head" (the original meaning of "silly") would do. Both could easily be shortened to more boring names: Max or Moe. Alternately, either would do as a petname for said Boyfriend, who need not be informed of their etymology. __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

08-03-2006, 08:38 PM	#8
Diamond18 Eidolon of a Took Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: my own private fantasy world Posts: 3,460	I find Sauron to be a slightly disconcerting name for a pet. Whatever you do, don't name him Barney. __________________ All shall be rather fond of me and suffer from mild depression.

08-04-2006, 11:13 AM	#9
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Oh wow, thanks guys! How could I forget Estel? Or Gandalf for that matter?! Right now we're thinking that the possible third dog will be a guard-dog. I grew up with a female Doberman as my friend and protector, and she saved my mother's life twice, so the connection is strong there. A Doberman named Estel might be perfect. If I go the German Shepherd route, however, Gandalf would be a great name. Also, Gamgee, Milo, Modol (thanks, F!), Tulkas, etc... Well, I could go on, but this thread is brimming with good suggestions. Of course, Huan is a wonderful name for a dog. Have you guys heard about the monks of New Skete? ? They tend to give their dogs Tolkien names, only not names I would like: Mordor's Winter, for example. What's up with that? __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

08-04-2006, 01:20 PM	#11
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Posting the dog Well, I would have thought that Gandalf would be more suitable for a cat. After all, we all know that cats have nine lives and Gandalf has had at least two ... A Doberman? Here I was thinking along the lines of a blonde longhair like a golden retriever or great dane. Then Legolas might do the trick--funny how no one has yet suggested this fleet-footed namesake--which could be shorted to "Las", to confuse the (male) dogs. Or you do go one up from the Zeds and do Y: Yrch. Then there's the Sindarin for fangs, Carack or Carag. Or go with Ulfang. Or something more sophisticated such as Cænînion. Rawr! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.