Is a kennel name appropriate? I'm not a breeder, though I don't rule out someday doing some limited breeding. I've had Goldens for 40 years doing search & rescue, tracking, therapy and obedience, but have finished only one conformation dog. Now, I am shifting from those other things to focus on owning and showing conformation dogs.

My question is: Is it appropriate for a non-breeder who owns multiple show dogs to create a kennel name for her dogs? I guess my thinking is that, as I shift from those other activities to conformation showing, I'm aware that people become recognizable and like to "brand" their dogs. I've always felt a kennel name is to recognize the breeding lines, and that a "mere" owner adds nothing by having a kennel name. But someone with many years of experience just recommended to me that if I'm in conformation for multiple dogs and plan to campaign specials and perhaps breed in the future, I should establish a kennel name now so that it aids in establishing a reputation for having quality dogs.

Is this for real? Good idea, bad idea? Frankly, the notion is both kind of attractive to me and kind of off-putting.

Your thoughts?

I would definitely do it FWIW. If you will be breeding even on a very limited basis, you need branding and a reputation. If these are to be show dogs it is especially important.
A friend of mine bred afghans and did give her kennel a name.

If there is a particular name you are fond of, I would chose it now, rather than later, just so that somebody else does not take it before you.

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You can create a kennel name BUT keep in mind that dogs purchased from other breeders will still maintain their kennel name as the first word... I know someone who has some mutts (said affectionately) that she needed to register to compete with in performance events so she created her own kennel name for their registered names now that hte akc allows mixes to compete.

The other way to use your kennel name even in the dogs that you purchase is to use your kennel name as second or as an "at _____ "

so in my case Natalie who was purchased from another breeder is
O'lugh Milbrose Dare to be Different
you could also do
O'lugh Dare to be Different at Milbrose

so if you have something you like and have checked out to make sure nobody has or is not close to someone else then go for it... but make sure it is something that you really like, yoiu are going to have to live wiht it a long time

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

Here is my friend's name. She is also a rare bear and doll broker and sells Afghan hound sculptures and carvings. She is now retired and living in Mexico with her last Afghan, Hugo.

Badjaboodi - Fort Lauderdale - Reviews of Badjaboodi - TripAdvisor

You can create a kennel name without even breeding. But as Shalva said, the breeder's kennel name is always first...

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Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

Oh yeah, I know the breeder's name is always first. My question was more along the lines of whether it's appropriate for a non-breeder to have a kennel name anywhere in the dog's name. I've always thought that tradition had it that a dog's name was to indicate its lineage. If it contained two kennel names, my understanding was that traditionally the second name would be a breeder who bought the dog for the purpose of making it part of her breeding program.

Whether or not that is right, I'm gathering from the responses here that it's not a big faux pas for a nonbreeder to put a kennel name on a dog, so long as the breeder's name comes first. Anyone disagree?

no not necessarily the second name would be the kennel to which the dog went regardless of wehther or not hte dog is going to be bred... I think it is fine for you to have a kennel name as second kennel ... it is an indication of where the dog is... and for someone doing performance events that is important as the breeder bred the dog but you trained the dog... just my opinion of course

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

Thank you!

After 40 years of life with Goldens, I am amazed at how I seem to know less and less the more I learn.

Ive been in the same boat as you.. And coming up with a kennel name is not easy. Ive already registered her name under my breeders name so she herself wont have my kennel name in her akc name but if I should breed or even get another dog my kennel name will be in there somewhere.. I have still a bit to decide on it as plans for breeding and/or getting a new pup isn't occurring until maybe next year or after?

Think i may just keep in the back of my head and think about it every once in a while. Need to focus on getting her a Rally title, maybe a CD, getting back to the conformation ring as well as her hips/elbow clearances done in february or march ..depending on her next heat cycle.

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Alison and 2 Furry Kids and 2 non furry kids

Lilly- Golden DOB 1/28/11
AKC name: Goldridge Lights Action Lilly RN CCA
http://k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=433352
Sanford- JRT DOB-9/5/06

Bridge dogs
Toby-Boxer 10 yrs. old (rescue) 9/17/2002-11/1/12
Charlie- Boxer (1st "child" together)2/19/02-3/18/12
Julie- golden retriever ( my heart dog) 5/6/96-3/3/07
Ruby- terrier/chow mix (my 1st dog) 8/1/90-1/15/05
Rusty-shih tzu (million dollar dog) 2/5/99-1/20/04