Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
This year my blog posts for the April 2024 A to Z Challenge will be about the recipients of the Dickin Medal, which you can read about here. They are in alphabetical, not chronological order, within the different letters.
Q
As there are no Dickin Medal recipients whose names begin with Q, I’ve had to employ a bit of jiggery-pokery to get round this problem.
Naming a dog takes time and thought. The name must be meaningful, easy to remember and pronounce and suit the dog’s personality. It also needs to be clear enough to capture the dog’s attention, particularly with a working dog, whether it’s engaged in mountain rescue, drug detection, assistance for people who need specialised help or any of the myriad other tasks it may be asked to accomplish.
So, I’ve chosen Quester, which means adventurous and daring, and questing means searching, so it would be a good name for a search and rescue dog, or a detection dog. The female form is Questa.
Another one that caught my eye was Quill, (feminine form, Quilla) which means sleek and elegant.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
I also like Quip. It’s short, sharp and to the point, but might possibly be lengthened to Quippy or Quippo, which I don’t like. Actually, any name can be altered, lengthened, shortened or turned into a phrase. The dogs don’t mind – they answer to just about anything.
Military War Dogs are considered non-commissioned officers and are assigned a rank at the end of their training. Traditionally, their rank is one higher than their handler. This ensures that the MWDs are not mistreated as it is a severe misdemeanour to strike a superior officer and carries a heavy penalty.
Misconduct towards a superior officer: Using violence against a superior officer 10 years’ imprisonment
Threatening behaviour or communication to a superior officer 10 years’ imprisonment
Police sniffer dog still working hard
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
There are no problems with R.
That is funny, that dogs outrank their handlers.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense, though. Military discipline is strict.
DeleteThat top photo is so cute! I find it funny that their rank is higher than their handler rank
ReplyDeleteIt has to be so, for discipline - of the humans, that is.
DeleteI didn't know anything about a dog and its rank.
ReplyDeleteThe dog doesn't realise, but its human handlers do, and respect the rank.
DeletePuppies are like babies in their first year.... totally adorable faces and bodies.
ReplyDeleteUnformed, with all their lives before them.
DeleteI hadn't thought about Q names, maybe somewhere there is a Queenie or a Quinn that no one knows about? Police sniffer dogs do excellent work, I see them on the TV news sometimes, sniffing out drugs coming through customs diguised as harmless packages.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are, just not DM winners . . . yet!
DeleteLove Springer Spaniels. We had two together for 12 years, our eldest one, Biscuit would have made a good sniffer dog. Our little rescue dog came with the name Fred, previously called Socks. His foster mum called him Freddie so we kept that name, although he will respond to Fred, Freddie, Frederick or teddy bear :-)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely:-) I remember my childhood Springer, Punch, with great affection. I like 'teddy bear' for your dog - I bet he's cuddly.
DeleteAustralians would definitely turn Quip into Quippo.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteThat top photo is adorable. I like Quester. In Aberdeen the female dog would Quine, or Quinie.
ReplyDeleteWho can resist puppies?
DeleteSo glad the dogs are the bosses! If only ...
ReplyDeleteWe should listen more to our dogs - they're very wise.
DeleteThat's a nice profession for the puppies ! With names for my cats I made it easy, I took the first name of uncle and aunts or grandparents so in one way they continued to live with me. We had a Mizzi (aunt of Rick) Arthur (an uncle) Rosie an aunt, Max my grandpa, Lisa (aunt of Rick). We also had Kim and Pookie which were the cats of Dario.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice idea.
DeleteGreat use of the Q word. I feel like posts are getting harder to title toward the end of the alphabet. What will we do for Z? That's always the toughest.
ReplyDeleteX and Z are exercising me at the moment.
DeleteAww I think your first photograph is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI quite like the names Quester/Questa :)
All the best Jan
I was rather pleased with 'Quester' - one day, maybe, though I don't want to wish away Roxy and Gilbert.
DeleteFascinating fact about the dogs' rank being higher than their handlers', although it actually makes perfect sense! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt sounds strange to those who don't know, but it does make sense, as you say.
DeleteQuite a workaround for Q, proving you are no Quitter. I like Quester.
ReplyDelete