Wednesday, September 16, 2009

It's All in a Name - Pedro

Names are very important. They define who we are. Our name becomes our label, our headline, our identity. How many times have you heard, "I could never name my child so-and-so because I knew someone with that name and I didn't like him/her"? In my dawg house, my mom is the official name giver. She prefers human names but doesn't necessarily always stick to that rule. When it came time to name me, my mom wanted an authentic name that would pay tribute to the Mexican origin of my breed, Chihuahua. She once met a chihuahua named Peelow, but she didn't think that was dignified enough for me. She tossed around Paco and Pablo but finally settled on Pedro. A strong plus for the name Pedro was, of course, the character from Napolean Dynamite. That movie cracks my mom up every time she watches it. The clincher for the name, however, were all the fond memories my mom had of going camping for Spring vacation each year with her parents in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Along the way, for what seemed like hundreds of miles, they would pass signs for South of the Border. Any of you who live on the East Coast of the U.S. and have driven on I-95 South through North Carolina or North through Georgia and South Carolina are very familiar with these signs. By the time they'd pass the 20th sign, my mom would be begging her parents to stop at the tourist attraction (or tourist trap as her father would call it). The funny thing is, the signs were always more fun than the actual place. It seemed that every time they'd stop there half the stores would be closed and never once was the amusement park open. To this day, whenever my mom drives South she stops there and to this day she has never seen that amusement park open! None-the-less, South of the Border and Pedro's signs hold special memories for my mom and so the name Pedro became mine. I do have a BUNCH of nicknames (which are not at all dignified) including PeeDee, PeePee and Little Boy. What was the point of giving me a dignified name attached to such fond memories if they were only going to call me by such demonstrative and highly unflattering nicknames? I don't get humans... but I do love mine :P

UPDATE: My cousin, Coco the Princess, has suggested that I start a Tag for my friends to tell how they got their names. I think this is a great idea and so I officially tag Coco to tell her "It's All in a Name" story!

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think your name suits you perfectly!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

My mom has THAT smile on her face...

Since she was eight or nine, her family made the trek from suburban Philadelphia to MB...

She thinks she remembers they stopped once or twice!

As fur your name, yep - woo are Pedro!

Hear woo roar! I mean BARK!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Bijou said...

Pedro is a terrific name for a boy Chihuahua. Ole!

Wags & wiggles,
Bijou

Chester said...

This was a great story about how you got your name, Pedro! Thank goodness she didn't go with Peelow-even if you do pee low, that's not such a dignified name.
Me and Mom both enjoyed the South of the Border sign pictures 'cuz we never saw them anywhere before.
We think Napoleon is funny too is an odd sort of way.

Good to see ya again, Pedro!
Chester ;0=)

Moco said...

I find the process of naming very interesting. Yours has quite the story with it. We are betting that you are a lot more fun than the amusement park that was never open.

Coco Bean - The Princess said...

Wow cousin Pedro...thats some story! Those signs are hilarious! My mommy nearly weebled herself looking at them!

Thanks for sharing. Maybe i should post about how i got my name...I think you should start a trend in which you tag friends to share what their name means or how they got it.

Tail Wiggles & Puppy Kisses,

Your Couzin Coco The Princess

Coco Bean - The Princess said...

WHOA Couzin Pedro! imhonored you would do that! THANKS! I will post my story later this evening. But can i tell about my sisters names too?

Tail Wiggles & Puppy Kisses,

Your Couzin,
Coco The Princess

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Very cool and interesting story Pedro!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Smileys!
Dory

Byron y Xinver said...

We like PEDRO a lot. It has many meanings for us.

Dino and Family said...

Great post, Pedro! And lovely photo of you too! Thanks for sharing! There is so much to your name and it is really memorable! My name was derived after a chocolate drink called "Milo Dinosaur", how boring is that? Hehe, I love your nicknames too! Muah, Dino

Deefor said...

I'm gonna call Arrow Peelow!!! That is so funny. You are definitely Pedro. Good to learn all the history of how you got your name.

Deefor

Tiffany and the Munchkins said...

Great story behind your name Pedro! It most definitely suits you. We know those South of the Border signs ALL to well. You see, we live in South Carolina! So those signs are a thorn in our side...or Mom's side really.

Chihuahua kisses,
The Munchkins

Astrid Keel said...

what a great history to your name!

Rambo said...

Cousin PeePee,
that was really cool. I like the name game. Maybe if G gets off her lazy butt she will do it for me!
love,
Rambo
pee ess. Happy Birthday to your Mom
peee ess ess. My G has passed those same signs tons of times Every summer when she was itty bitty her family would drive from Jersey to Florida. She's been South of the Border too!!!

Sam said...

Great story, Pedro! I say mom gets you a little brother Chi and names him Pablo - but only if you want a sibling!

Cocorue said...

you have the perfect name for you and what an interesting story...

chikisses
coco

Lorenza said...

Hi, Pedro!
Thanks for sharing the story on how you got your name!
Pedro is great! I love it!
My name is Lorenza but my mom calls me Cochina (pig) all the time!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Sweepy said...

Woof! I'm late and I missed out on your bday, Pedro! HapiBertdeyLatey!

Ok, Pedro is definitely better than pee-draw, or pee-pee, or pee-poo. Ugh. If I had a choice I wanted to have some really super names like VamFire, WizHowl, or even MadWoof. But no, I have to be named Sweepy because I was sleepy and at times called Fifi. FBOL.

Also, I moved. Again. New.

http://superpinoydogsweepy.blogspot.com/

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Hey Pedro, we think Pedro is the perfect name for you. Thanks for sharing all of this with us, it is nice to know how we got our names. We did a post a little while ago about our names too.

Tail wags, the OP Pack

Jack & Moo said...

Khool story! Pedro does seem to be YOUR name. What else could it possibly be?

Woos & a-roos,
Star & Jack a-roo

Dexter said...

Hee hee. Momma discovered her blogging "policy" one time when she was behind about 50 postings in her google reader and accidentally marked them all as read. At first she panicked, but then she just said, "oh well" and moved on.

Slobbers,
Mango

Deetz said...

Pedro is the perfect name for you!
Your mum is brilliente....
My kitty likes to hang on to my backleg whilst I try to walk...snicker snicker.
She is getting fatter and looking a little tastier these days
Deetzy

Doctor Dre said...

yo master-P!

missed you buddy! how you doin?
good to be back.

oh yeah - about your mom's dream. yes. it was actually dre hisself communicating to your human through me magical power. (i can do that).

ps. we live in idaho like napoleon too. and our neighbor have pet llama. (really!)

the many Bs said...

we like your name! we think it's very appropriate for you. we're gonna tell our mom to watch that movie too!

woofs.

Juno said...

Hello Pedro! :)

We've always loved your name but after reading the latest post we love it more! Happy belated Barkday!!We are droooooling to see that sausage shaped barkday cake with three candles. That is very cute. :) :)

Thank you for your barkday message to Pinot. We'd love to see the picture that your Leah girl took with her friends!

Those signs are very funny!

Momo & Pinot

Honey said...

Hi Pedro!
Thank you for leaving a note on Golden Honey's site. Not sure if you know, but Golden Honey's mom and dad now have ME to keep them busy. They tossed around a lot of names for me, and settled on Sierra Rose (my hometown is near the Sierra Buttes).
I like YOUR name, and love the story.
Please come by and visit sometime. Hope we can be bloggy pals:
www.goldensierrarose.blogspot.com

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

Bobby said...

Well Pedro is you, it is just right.
Better than my idiots calling me Tess it is a good job John changed it to Bobby, that is me and I like it.

Cassie said...

Wow Pedro, this is a good post. Now we know...the rest of the story! Your idea for a is great. Now we'll amble over to Coco's to see how she was named.
Smooches from pooches,
BabyRocketDog and Hootie
(usung mommy's blog today)

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

That is a cool story about your name. I like your nicknames too.....but PeePee? How did that name come about? Uh, ok, I guess I know. Miss you, buddy!
How is your new little kitten sibling?
--JB

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Pedro you have an awesome name..

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Pippa said...

That's a great story. Mistress and Master thought about calling me something Spanish (beginning with P as their other two dogs were Paddy and Prince) and got as far as Paco and Pepe. But in the end they went for Pippa. There is a silly story about why on my sidebar if you haven't read it before.

Pippa

Unknown said...

Hi Pedro,

Thanks so much for coming to visit me and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to return the visit! I loved this post - it was so interesting finding out about your name! I think it suits you really well.

My human likes to name pets after food so both me and my kitty sister were named after food - becasue they got us together at the same time and we were to be "a pair" - they called us "Honey & Lemon" after the hot drink that makes you feel better when you have a cold. And also coz I'm honey-coloued. And coz I'm really sweet!! :0)

hee! Hee! I LOVED your birthday sausage! What a great idea! Just perfect for a dog of your perfect (tiny) proportions!! :-)

Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane

Sketching with Dogs said...

Hi Pedro
We think your name suits you completely!
Dip-dip has tons of nicknames but she originally got Dinah because her pedigree name was Black Diamond and her breeder called her Di for short which mum lengthened to Dinah, Dip-dip, Dippy and Doo-dee.
Bridget was the name mum came up with as soon as she saw her, she just looks like a Bridget - from there the family called her Bridge and would say things like "where's the Bridge?" Thats how we got our names.
Wags and kisses, Dinah and Bridget xx
ps, thank you for all the lovely things you said about Dylan xx

Jackson and Patrick said...

We have so many nicknames and some of them are not so dignified either. Cool story!

Dogs for sale said...

Pedro you have an awesome name..

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