{"id":27905,"date":"2026-11-01T19:09:37","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T18:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/?p=27905"},"modified":"2026-11-01T19:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T18:10:23","slug":"labrador-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/labrador-advice\/labrador-names\/","title":{"rendered":"Labrador Names: How to Name Your Puppy (and How Pedigree Names Work)"},"content":{"rendered":"

What should you call your Labrador?<\/strong> It\u2019s one of the first questions anyone expecting a puppy asks, and often one of the most hotly debated in the family. But when your puppy comes from a breeder with a pedigree, it actually has two names: the official one on its pedigree, and the one you\u2019ll call it by every day.<\/p>\n

In this article we explain how pedigree names work with ENCI, the Italian Kennel Club, what a kennel affix is, why all the puppies in a litter often share the same initial, and how to choose the right name for your Labrador, with some ideas for boys and girls.<\/p>\n

Pedigree name and call name: not the same thing<\/h2>\n

When you buy a Labrador puppy from a recognised breeder, the breeder registers the litter with ENCI to obtain your puppy\u2019s pedigree<\/a><\/strong>, its entry in the Italian stud book (LOI, Libro delle Origini Italiane). ENCI is a member of the FCI, the international federation of kennel clubs.<\/p>\n

On the pedigree your puppy is registered under its official name<\/strong>, which includes the breeder\u2019s kennel affix<\/strong>. Ours is “MyLabrador\u2019s”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The name you\u2019ll call it at home, on the other hand, is up to you. It\u2019s the name you register with the microchip database or dog registry in your country, and the name your Labrador will learn to answer to.<\/p>\n

For example, on its pedigree your puppy might be called “Oliver MyLabrador\u2019s”, but at home it will simply be “Bobby”. That\u2019s absolutely fine: they are two different things.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is a kennel affix and why does it matter?<\/h2>\n

The affix is the breeder\u2019s “surname”: a name registered with ENCI and recognised by the FCI that identifies every dog born at that kennel. MyLabrador\u2019s has held its own ENCI-FCI affix since 2014.<\/p>\n

Only if the breeder holds an affix will your Labrador have a “first name and surname” on its pedigree. Otherwise it will have just one name. The affix guarantees traceability: from the dog\u2019s name you can immediately tell which kennel it was born at.<\/p>\n

Why puppies in the same litter share the same initial<\/h2>\n

Many breeders give every puppy in a litter a name beginning with the same letter<\/strong>, changing the letter with each litter. It\u2019s a simple way to recognise littermates at a glance and keep the records tidy.<\/p>\n

Your puppy\u2019s pedigree name may therefore already have been chosen by the breeder. Sometimes you can agree on a name you like, as long as it follows the litter\u2019s initial, but this isn\u2019t a fixed rule: ask when you book.<\/p>\n

When does the pedigree arrive?<\/h2>\n

When you buy your puppy, the breeder usually hasn\u2019t finished registering the litter yet: the paperwork is completed in the following months, within the timeframes set by ENCI rules. That\u2019s why the pedigree doesn\u2019t come with the puppy. It is issued by ENCI\u2019s head office in Milan, usually a few months later.<\/p>\n

With the original pedigree you can enter your Labrador in dog shows<\/strong> and, in future, in activities reserved for registered dogs.<\/p>\n

Do you need a pedigree if you don\u2019t plan to show?<\/h2>\n

Yes. Even if all you want is a healthy puppy to love, the pedigree is the only guarantee that your dog is a purebred Labrador Retriever, born to parents that are registered too. Before you buy, ask to see copies of the sire\u2019s and dam\u2019s pedigrees.<\/p>\n

Remember, though, that a pedigree certifies the breed, not health. It doesn\u2019t protect you against problems such as dysplasia or inherited diseases: for that, what matters is the parents\u2019 genetic tests and X-rays, which a responsible breeder will happily show you. You\u2019ll also need a good vet to look after your puppy from the very first days. You can see our breeding dogs on the Our Labradors<\/a><\/strong> page.<\/p>\n

How to choose your Labrador\u2019s call name<\/h2>\n

A few practical tips, especially useful for training:<\/p>\n