Once you get your cute new puppy home, one of the first things you need to do is decide what to name it. This can be a surprisingly difficult task - even though it doesn't sound like it should be! In fact, you might find it harder to pick a name for your puppy than to potty-train it. If you're having a tough time deciding on what your dog should be called, here are some tips for finding the perfect puppy name:

One option is to go with a physical characteristic. If your puppy has darker fur around his feet, maybe Boots is a good name for him. Likewise, Spot is always a favorite, although it may not be original enough for you. If you're looking for an easy way to pick a name, though, naming your dog based on the way he looks is easy. Spot, Boots, Socks, and more are all good names for dogs, if a bit plain.

Another way of naming your dog is to go with tradition. King, Bruno, and Lassie are all traditional names for a dog. Maybe it's not the most creative, but drawing on these classic dog names does shorten your list of potential puppy names significantly. It will also make it easy to explain where you got your dog's name from.

Television, movie, and book characters also make great names for dogs. Lassie has become a pretty standard name for a dog, but you can always name your puppy after one on your favorite TV show. Fluffy, Fang, and Norbert - animals in the Harry Potter books - have become new favorites among children. Marmaduke and Odie - both dogs from cartoon strips - are also fun names for a dog. Of course, you don't have to use dog's names for a dog. You can name your puppy after any TV, movie, or novel character. For example, Star Wars fans might name their puppy Wickett after the cute Ewok, or Chewbacca after the famous Wookie.

If you have two puppies to name, you can go with a duo. Thelma and Louise or Old Dan and Little Ann - from Where the Red Fern Grows - are great pair names. You'll find a lot of these duos in television, movies, or literature, and chances are you've come across a few already.

Naming your puppy after a famous celebrity or politician is also an option. If you're politically-minded, you can name a pair of dogs after the current governor and lieutenant governor of the state you're living in. You can also name your puppy after the president, vice president, or even the mayor of your city. Or go the political celebrity route and name your puppy something like Schwarzenegger or Ventura.

Literary fans might also name their puppy after their favorite writers. Dante, Blake, and Coleridge make for nice dog names. Or you can use a more modern writer if you like. Gresham, Rowling, and Sedaris are very different names for dogs, but they're unique and fun at the same time.

Mythology also makes for a good source of dog names. Zeus, Odin, Thor - all of these are strong names for a dog. There are so many different regional mythologies that you can easily find a name you like if you search long enough.

All of these sources can provide great names for your puppy. The most important thing though, is to pick a name for your puppy that reflects its personality and your tastes. This is the name your dog will have for its entire life - so don't make a hasty decision.