Monday, May 23, 2011

Nothin' But a Hound Dog

Up to my hips in book-stuff, but I'm having the best time creating collective nouns for dogs. I started this a couple of nights ago on Twitter, when someone Tweeted they had been lovingly mauled by a group of six pugs.

I decided there was a better name for a group of pugs. After some thought, I declared a collection of pugs is now a bumble of pugs. This was satisfying and better than doing my book-research, so I continued. I was launching some of these on Twitter; I'll note if I remember who came up with the ones which aren't my idea.

A Bumble of Pugs
A Yap of Yorkies
A Commission of Corgis
An Asylum of Dalmatians
A Swiffer of Llasa Apsos
A Mob of Beagles
UPDATE: It's now A Bay of Beagles (Thank you, TimWarp)
A Furrow of Shar-Peis (Thank you, Consort)
A Patrol of German Shepherds
A Shiver of Chihuahuas (Thank you, Sarawr)
A Crew of Labradors
A Hamlet of Great Danes (Thank you, Daughter)
A Phalanx of Rottweilers
A Link of Daschunds (Consort)
A Cloud of Pomeranians
A Pool of Mastiffs
A Wave of Poodles
UPDATE: I stand corrected; it's A Puddle of Poodles (Thank you, Multiple Sources)
A Wodehouse of Cocker Spaniels

UPDATE:
A Blizzard of Huskies  (Thank you, Marni)
An Academy of Border Collies (Thank you, Wayne Decker)
A Raft of Newfoundlands (Marni)
A Parliament of Afghans (Thank you, Jennie Davies)
A Coronation of Cavaliers (Thank you, D. Garey)
A Coalition of Cattle Dogs (Thank you, Sara J. Henry)
A Posse of Bloodhounds (Thank you, Howard)
A Ring of Boxers (Thank you, Multiple Sources)
A Waggle of Boykin Spaniels (Thank you, Deb)
A Party of Pitbulls (Thank you, Anon. Really.)
A Suite of Papillon (Thank you, Rebekah)
A Clique of Bichon Frise (Rebekah)
A Clump of Pulis (Rebekah)
A Scoop of Neapolitan Mastiffs (Rebekah, who must be avoiding something truly dire.)
A Fjord of Norwegian Elkhounds (Thank you, Anonymous)
A Flock of Sheepdogs (Thank you, BMHicks)
A Delegation of Dobermans (Thank you, Anonymous)
A Glissade of Greyhounds (Thank you, Kathryn)
A Motley of Mutts (Thank you, Multiple Sources)
A Tide of Golden Retrievers (Thank you, Anonymous)

Heads up: I think pitbulls are unfairly maligned and their bad behavior can be nearly always traced back to the owners. I'd love a name for them, but it's going to need to be positive or at least neutral. If you want more information on the breed, go to http://www.badrap.org/.


Now, it's your turn. If I think yours is the correct collective noun, I'll add it to the list and credit you. It's completely subjective, but ever afterwards, if someone searches "Collective nouns for dogs," you'll be the voice of authority.

69 Comments:

Anonymous Marni said...

I have been reading and enjoying your posts here for quite a while without feeling the need to add my comments - you've got it covered. I completely relate to your life as a mother in LA - but give me a word game and I can't resist (neither can my husband)- so here are our submissions:
A Bout of Boxers
A Fraternite of Bouviers ( I can't get the accent mark in place- but read that as French.)
A Pursuit of Greyhounds
A blizzard of Huskies
A Raft of Newfoundlands

Of course, this activity will stick in our heads and be shared with the kids later today. Thanks for the fun.

9:37 AM  
Blogger bcre8uv said...

How 'bout a motley of mutts?

~Tami

9:38 AM  
Anonymous Jennie Davies said...

How about --

A truss of Huskies
A rage of Pitbulls
A checker of Boston Terriers
A cult of poodles
A parliament of Afghans

9:43 AM  
Anonymous Hannah Sibyl said...

A Paddle of Corgis. ^^

9:44 AM  
Anonymous Lori said...

A Flock of Sheepdogs.

9:47 AM  
Anonymous D. Garey said...

Howz about a Coronation of Caveliers? from a long time lurker-first time commenter.

9:57 AM  
Anonymous Robin Raven said...

Love it.

I don't think these really work, but here are some attempts. hehe

A Formation of Fiests
(I know, lesser known breed, but that's what they called my little mutt, Marta, when we got her. They're bred to, ugh, hunt.)
A Mess of Mutts
A Congregation of Collies
An Accumulation of Alaskan Huskies
A Bevy of Bulldogs
A Posse of Poshies
A Syndicate of Saint Bernards

Okay, I'm getting a bit carried away. You should have seen me the other day when my friend started the hashtag #kittenfilms. ;-)

Fun blog entry! Thanks!

9:58 AM  
Blogger CameoRoze said...

A muddle of mutts

10:02 AM  
Blogger Sara J. Henry said...

Coalition of cattle dogs ...

10:11 AM  
Blogger Julie said...

A pledge class of Golden Retrievers. Not much alliteration, but I think the visual is appropriate.

10:33 AM  
Anonymous Barbara said...

I have two pits and when they lay on me for rubs and kisses we call it a "pile of pit bulls", but that requires a little explaining so maybe
A Passel of pit bulls

10:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A ring of boxers...

10:58 AM  
Anonymous Howard said...

A Hunt of Hounds

A Spring of Spaniels
or
A Bounce of Spaniels

A Staunch of Pitbulls
An Allegience of (Irish) Setters

A Posse of Bloodhounds

11:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love pit bulls! If they aren't abused by their idiot owners they are the sweetest, most lovable dogs ever!

Sorry, my brain isn't working well enough to come up with a collective noun but I thought I'd at least share some pit bull love.

11:41 AM  
Anonymous Ten Words said...

A couch of bull mastiffs.

(And I agree that pit bulls are wonderful dogs!)

12:30 PM  
Anonymous Mitzi said...

How about a jowl of basset hounds?

12:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A Foothill of Ridgebacks

1:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A fjord of Norwegian Elkhounds.

1:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A bay of beagles?

1:50 PM  
Anonymous Rebekah said...

A Platoon of Plotts
A Jab of Boxers
A Congregation of St. Bernard's
A Troop of Komondors
A Dither of Dandie Dinmonts
A Plate of Chow Chows
A Clump of Pulis
A Scoop of Neapolitan Mastiffs
A Bundle of Bedlingtons
A Scruff of Bearded Collies
A Patrol of Border Collies
A Syndicate of Black Russian Terriers
A Suite of Papillon
A Clique of Bichon Frise
A Gaggle of Greyhounds

And thank you for my afternoon time suckage/entertainment!

2:00 PM  
Anonymous Tracy A. said...

A cacophony of cockapoos??

2:22 PM  
Anonymous --Deb said...

I threw some out on Twitter the night you were playing with this, but the only one I remember was

A waggle of Boykin Spaniels

2:28 PM  
Anonymous C. Gibson said...

An adoration of australian shepherds and a pomposity of pomeranians

2:39 PM  
Blogger Kristen said...

As a Cavalier owner, I'd like to throw "A Cuddle of Cavaliers" into the mix.

For Pitbulls, how about a "Pride of Pitbulls" or a "Powerpuff of Pitbulls"g

3:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A Passel of Pitbulls

A Party of Pitbulls

A Peck of Pitbulls

A Jackpot of Pitbulls

or a jackpot of Jack Russels

Kim P.

11:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A battalion of Bulldogs

6:37 AM  
Anonymous chickenbocks said...

A Ring of Boxers!

8:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A friendship of Golden Retrievers

10:14 AM  
Anonymous joanr16 said...

A scribble of labradoodles

An attitude of pitbulls

10:23 AM  
Anonymous MM said...

A Protectorate of Pitbulls

I realize protectorate can mean both the protected as well as the office or position of the protector. I think pitbulls fall into the second meaning since they can be very good at protecting people.

10:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

an oodle of poodles

12:47 PM  
Anonymous babz said...

no no no it's A PUDDLE OF POODLES.

1:25 PM  
Anonymous shannon said...

a beleaguring of basset hounds

1:49 PM  
Blogger The Lens Gypsies said...

As a Pitbull owner, when choosing our Samson...I'll always remember my first comment when I saw those puppies, "What a Passle of Puppies"! I find that in too many cases, the Pit Bull is much more intelligent than the owners, thus the grossly misaligned opinion of the breed. Samson is 5 now and absolutely, hands down, the best dog I have owned in 54 years of my life!

5:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A regiment of English Setters

6:47 AM  
Blogger steptrig said...

I'm terribly sorry but NO, it has to be a Pom Pom of Poodles.

7:16 AM  
Anonymous Krissie M said...

I agree 100% with your pitbull message

a parade of pitbulls
a posh of pitbulls
a pit of bulls
a plush of pitbulls


my favorite....a parlay of pitbulls

=)
super cute article!!!

7:29 AM  
Blogger Rosalita said...

Love this word game! Great choices...
As a Havanese "owner", I can suggest

a Bounce of Havanese.

OR a Happy of Havanese.

9:43 AM  
Blogger Diane Perin said...

A wag of labrador retrievers

A loyalty of pitbulls

9:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It took me this long to come up with this.
A pittance of pit bulls- because you can never have enough of them!

8:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, and here's pictorial proof of the pittance of pit bulls point:
http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=676
:D

8:31 AM  
Anonymous Stephanie said...

My breeds--
A Beaucoup of Bouviers
A La-di-dah of Labradoodles

10:12 AM  
Anonymous Rebekah said...

The "something truly dire" would be work. Thanks for including some of my contributions!

11:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My pit bull/Doberman mix that we rescued 4-1/2 years ago is by far the SWEETEST dog I have ever owned. She is Princess Pit Bull in this house!

12:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the juxtaposition of:
a melange of mutts.

10:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, Cattle dogs don't work in groups, so let me suggest a Round-up of Cattle Dogs.

11:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A Delegation of Dobermans

8:17 AM  
Anonymous Robin RAven said...

Ah, I love these. I was only thinking alliteration at first. Now, I get the full appreciation of 'em. Keep them coming. They're so funny. :) Dogs should be a necessary conversation subject for at least a third of every day.

12:07 PM  
Blogger Barbara said...

How about a flock of shetland sheepdogs?

6:40 PM  
Blogger Jennifer Wright(Davidson) said...

A bevy of Boston terriers!!

1:04 AM  
Blogger Jennifer Wright(Davidson) said...

A bevy of Boston terriers!!

1:06 AM  
Blogger Kathryn said...

A glissade of greyhounds.

5:40 AM  
Blogger Kathryn said...

A tussle of terriers!

11:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw a great article about the pittie's role in the family 100 years ago: The Babysitter! "A nursery of Pitties"? Here's the link to an interesting article.... http://www.ywgrossman.com/photoblog/?p=676

5:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As an owner of multiple goldens the correct answer is a tide of goldens!

1:59 PM  
Anonymous geloftus said...

Perhaps a flutter of papillon?

4:55 PM  
Blogger Miss Cavendish said...

I'm partial to a "snort of bulldogs." And I completely agree with your "bumble of pugs." "Bumble" was the term my husband and I lovingly used for the wiggly bottoms of our beloved bulldogs, which are quite similar to those of pugs :-)

7:09 PM  
Anonymous TomH said...

I've raised them for nearly 30 years..

A "Lounge" of Afghan Hounds

1:02 PM  
Anonymous shirley said...

i thought of a "paggle of pugs," but i did a search on it and found others have thought of this first (somewhere).

1:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about a "mountain of mastiffs"?

12:13 PM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

How about "A shroud of Shelties"?

5:08 PM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

A "passel" of peppy papillons.

5:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A "lap dance of labradors" because my labs love to crawl
into my lap

8:05 PM  
Anonymous cgarey said...

How about... "A Box of Scotties"
CGarey

2:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A shItload of Shih Tzu (sorry, I had to do it)

12:39 PM  
Blogger Tripping Daisy said...

A blur of Jack Russells?

11:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ideas:
A carpet of Afghans
A dot of dalmations
A tide of poodles

I am new to your blog, and I love it already. You are such a great mom, Quinn!
--Winter Rose

3:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A fetch of goldens
A column of collies

10:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A virtue of vislas
A titter of terriers
A shuffle of sheepdogs

10:07 PM  

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