Each day with a dog is a gift. They only get so many birthdays with us, and each passing year, we’re privileged with knowing and feeling their unconditional love. Mayhem the German Shepherd just turned 4, and the video paying tribute to him is almost too much to take, it’s so sweet.
The 1-minute montage shows the different stages of Mayhem’s life over the last 4 years, from big puppy with adorably floppy ears to a full-grown protector of his human sister. Take a look at the heartwarming clip!
I’m not crying, you’re crying! There’s something about seeing flashes of memories all compiled together to remind us all how quickly time goes with beloved pets. Mayhem and brother, Kaos (@absolute_kaos1), have been stars for a while now, and their near 1 million followers tune in to see the brothers loving on their sister, eating yummy treats, and just being too freaking adorable in matching costumes!
Of the 225k likes and over 10k comments, it’s clear there are a lot of fans who are grateful for a glimpse of the good boy’s life.
“Oh, he grew into his ears. Beautiful boy and the expressions. So much to love in this video,” one person wrote.
“I’m crying over coffee. How beautiful,” another said.
“I’m crying so hard! This is a beautiful video, it really made my day,” another added.
Many others poured in all the happy birthday wishes for this handsome fella. Here’s to many more, Mayhem!
German Shepherds Are Loyal Companions
There’s a reason Search and Rescue and policemen often have this herding and guarding breed to work alongside them. The American Kennel Club describes German Shepherds in three simple, yet spot-on words: “loyalty, courage, and confidence.” Not only do these dogs have an innate sense of confidence that exudes from them, but their dedication and loyalty to their people is unmatched.
Like Mayhem and Kaos, German Shepherds have character. They’re bold and brave when they need to be, but they can be just as delicate and gentle other times. This is what makes them a wonderful family pet, with or without children, because they will defend their pack members with every fiber of their being. Because of this, it’s important to socialize them from an early age, as they tend to be wary of strangers who may be a potential threat to their pack or territory.
However, obedience training will be your best friend with this breed because they’re ridiculously intelligent and can learn to do just about anything. Not only that, they take pride in doing the work required of them. Training with patience and consistency, matched with enough mental and physical stimulation, and you’ll have one amazing pup. One look at all Mayhem has become and all of whom he’s loved in his 4 short years and it’s clear—German Shepherds are true stars!
@absolute_kaos1 Happy 4th birthday Mayhem #dogbirthday #germanshepherd #sablegermanshepherd #souldog ♬ Turning Page – Laura Steiner
300+ Christmas Dog Names for Fun & Festive Pups
Maybe you woke up on Christmas morning to an adorable new puppy under the Christmas tree, or maybe you decided to act in the charitable spirit of the holiday season by adopting a rescue dog from an animal shelter… or hey, maybe you just really, really like Christmas. Christmastime and our beloved pet pooches both bring lots of joy and hope into our lives, so naturally, the two of them go together like… well, like milk and cookies for Santa Claus.
If you want your cheerful canine’s moniker to pay homage to your favorite holiday, there’s no shortage of excellent Christmas dog names to choose from—the real question is, which one do you choose? We’re here to help you get into the spirit of the season and find the perfect fit for your pup with these Christmas dog names!
Best Christmas Dog Names
Not every Christmas-themed pet name has to be a deep cut. Our first picks for the best Christmas dog names celebrate a few of the things we like best about the holiday season (even if they’re a little on the nose):
- Santa
- Claus (or Claws, because we love a good pun)
- Noel/Noelle
- Jolly
- Merry
- Mistletoe
- Figgy
- Humbug
- Angel
- Kringle
- Christmas
- Tinsel
- Joy
- Holiday
- Star
Christmas Girl Dog Names
For your festive female pup, we think these Yuletide-inspired girl dog names perfectly capture the spirit of the season all year round!
- Carol
- Holly
- Mary
- Gloria
- Michelle
- Harmony
- Eve
- Christina
- Grace
- Belle
- Stella
- Bianca
- Charity
- Mercy
- Beth
- Celeste
- Angela
- Epiphany
- Hope
- Evangeline
- Elsa
- Anna
- Felicia
- Crystal
- Dove
- Faith
- Ivy
- Amaryllis
- Spirit
- Natalia
- Heaven
Christmas Boy Dog Names
Whether your dog is on the nice list or just a little bit naughty, you know deep down that he’s a good boy. Infuse his personality with a little Christmas cheer with one of these festive boy dog names!
- Nick
- Joseph
- Gabriel
- Emmanuel
- Jack Frost
- Harold
- Garland
- Felix/Feliz
- Chris
- Michael
- Pascal
- King
- David
- Shepherd
- Nicholas
- Rey
- Aspen
- Charlie
- Frankie (Frankincense)
- Hollis
- Nadal
- Pax
- Kane
- Cedar
- Lux
- Bellamy
- Celyn
- Stellan
- Nathaniel
- Christian
A Toller Retriever puppy holding a teddy bear in their mouth
Tatyana Vyc via Shutterstock
Cute Christmas Dog Names
Christmastime is cute: all the twinkling lights and glittery ornaments, the toothsome sweets, the soft-hearted stories we watch and read together snuggled up on the couch. The holiday season is warm, wholesome, and sweet—just like these cute dog names.
- Elf
- Glitter
- Sugar
- Pine
- Poinsettia
- Fairy
- Cosmo
- Dickens
- Cider
- Marshmallow
- Reindeer
- Twinkle
- Sparkle
- Happy
- Jubilee
- Crackers
- Goose
- Tiny Tim
- Peace
- Mittens
- Boots
- Snickerdoodle
- Juniper
- Fudge
- Sprite
- Mint
- Gum Drop
- Ribbon
- Latte
- Olaf
Christmas Dog Names From Movies
Movies are a staple of the holiday season, whether you’re watching a kid-friendly holiday classic or a favorite cult Christmas flick beloved by your family. We took inspiration from a few of our personal favorite Christmas movies for this list of dog names, but we’re sure you can come up with many more of your own.
- Zero (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Buddy (Elf)
- Hermie (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Olive (Olive the Other Reindeer)
- Kevin (Home Alone)
- George (It’s a Wonderful Life)
- Zuzu (It’s a Wonderful Life)
- Ralphie (A Christmas Story)
- Hans (Die Hard)
- Gruber (Die Hard)
- Max (The Grinch)
- Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- Kermit (The Muppets’ Christmas Carol)
- Gonzo (The Muppets’ Christmas Carol)
- Rizzo (The Muppets’ Christmas Carol)
- Harry (Home Alone)
- Marv (Home Alone)
- Martini (Olive the Other Reindeer)
- McClane (Die Hard)
- Scott/Calvin (The Santa Clause)
- Ultraman (Jingle All the Way)
- Cousin Eddie (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
- Clark/Griswold (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)
- Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life)
- Linus (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
- Lucy (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
- Snoopy (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
- Yukon Cornelius (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Dizzy (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Bumble (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Clarice (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
- Heat/Snow Miser (The Year Without a Santa Claus)
A Pittie dressed up in a Santa hat and Grinch beard
Christiana Amado via Shutterstock
Christmas Dog Names Inspired by Characters
Some of our favorite Christmas characters come from more than just movies. These names celebrate beloved characters from a few of our other favorite works of holiday fiction.
- Frosty
- Grinch
- Clara
- Fritz
- Drosselmeyer
- Ebenezer
- Scrooge
- Marley
- Crachit
- Alabaster Snowball
- Fezziwig
- Cindy Lou Who
And of course, you know…
- Dasher
- Dancer
- Prancer
- Vixen
- Comet
- Cupid
- Donner
- Blitzen
- Rudolph
Christmas Dog Names Inspired by Food
Christmas is a time for feasts, treats, and tummy-warming drinks. You really can’t ever go wrong with an adorable food-inspired dog name, especially when you’re referencing culinary Christmas classics like…
- Gingerbread
- Cookie
- Chip
- Hambone
- Cocoa
- Clove
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Thyme
- Sage
- Peppermint
- Eggnog
- Chestnut
- Green Bean
- Gravy
- Fruitcake
- Candy Cane
- Roast Beef
- Cranberry
- Pudding
- Coquito
- Sprinkle
- Panettone
- Mince
- Sprout
- Pavlova
- Horseradish
- Tamale
- Buche de Noel
- Anise
- Sugar Plum
A trio of white Golden Retrievers running in the snow
otsphoto via Shutterstock
Winter Dog Names
Though the weather outside is frightful, your pup is so delightful. Get inspired by the look and feel of the winter season with some of these winter dog names. They’re not just cool; they’re ice-cold.
- Icicle
- Snow
- Blizzard
- Frostnip
- Flurry
- Igloo
- Yuki
- Polar Bear
- Snowflake
- Frost
- Snowball
- December
- Winter
- Iceburg
- Arctic
- North
- Gale
- Hail
- Avalanche
- Spruce
- Wintergreen
- Stormy
- January
- Moose
- Yeti
- Solstice
- Zephyr
- Burr
- Slushy
- Orion
- Tundra
Unique Christmas Dog Names
In case you want to steer clear from overused Christmas names, try these unique dog names on for size (many of which celebrate other exciting Christmas traditions from around the world).
- Santa’s Little Helper (yes, like the pooch from The Simpsons)
- Mele Kalikimaka (Hawai’ian for Merry Christmas)
- Ganna (Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas, celebrated on January 7)
- Wenceslaus (as in the “Good King Wenceslaus” of Bohemia)
- Hosanna
- Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior (aka, the Three Wise Men)
- Tannenbaum
- Pickle (for the Christmas Pickle)
- Sinterklaas (Dutch Santa Claus)
- Jolasveinar (Iceland’s Yule Lads)
- Advent
- Belen (Spanish for Bethlehem)
- Morozko (Father Frost of Russian/Slavic tradition)
- Joulupukki (Finland’s Yule Goat)
- Schwarz (like toy maker FAO Schwarz)
- Bauble
- Evergreen
- Wish
- Stocking
- Spruce
- Navidad
- Myrrh
- Gift
- Coal
- Persimmon
- Spruce
- Sweater
- Mantle
- Frosting
- Miracle
A Havanese with a stuffed doggy dreidel
Alan Budman via Shutterstock
Names Inspired By Other Winter Holidays
These dog names celebrate some of the other culturally significant holidays celebrated around this time of year, like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali. Of course, there are dozens of winter holidays from all over the world you could potentially pull inspiration from—it’s all about finding what’s important and meaningful for you.
- Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights)
- Latke (potato pancakes eaten around Hanukkah)
- Dreidel (a four-sided top played during Hanukkah)
- Umoja (Swahili for “unity,” the first principle of Kwanzaa)
- Yule (the winter solstice holiday from ancient Germanic tradition)
- Lucia (for St. Lucia’s Day in Scandinavia)
- Challah (braided bread that’s often served around Hanukkah)
- Maccabee (for the Maccabees, whose victory against their oppressors is celebrated during Hanukkah)
- Rangoli (brightly colored sand patterns made during Diwali)
- Karamu (Swahili for “feast,” an important part of Kwanzaa)
- Nia (Swahili for “purpose,” the fifth principle of Kwanzaa)
- Imani (Swahili for “faith,” the seventh principle of Kwanzaa)
- Mazel/Tov (Mazel Tov is a Jewish phrase expressing congratulations – and a potentially adorable set of names for a pair of pups)
- Zawadi (Swahili for “gifts”)
Christmas Dog Names Inspired by Holiday Songs and Singers
What would Christmastime be without the music? From historic hymns to holiday radio classics to hard rocking originals, there’s more Christmas songs than we could ever hope to count. These catchy canine names celebrate the music of the season and the singers and bands that made them memorable.
- Wham! (I couldn’t help myself – though you’ll probably never win Whamageddon again if you choose this name)
- Mariah
- Jackson
- Jingle Bell(e)
- Bowie
- Kirsty
- Bublé
- Nat
- Sinatra
- Eartha
- Paul
- Shane
- Presley
- Elvis
- Bing
- Drummer
- Armstrong
- Brenda
- Louis
- Ronette
- Jose
- Wizzard
- Simon
- Theodore
- Alvin
- Partridge
- Guaraldi
- Thurl
- Crosby
- Cole
- Feliciano
- McCartney
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