This post came about because of a chat on Twitter with @writerjeangill. (She is Blanche’s biped.) There was an interesting interview on her blog, featuring some gorgeous photos of a group of Pyrenean Mountain Dogs. We agreed that there should be a group name for Great Pyrenees and we had fun discussing a few options.
I kept thinking about this, as I find collective nouns fascinating. The best collective nouns tell us something about the items being grouped together. A “squabble” of seagulls tells us more about the nature of seagulls than a “flock” of seagulls does. A “drift” of swans immediately brings to mind how elegant swans look on water.
I asked my bipeds if they had any ideas to add. Of course they did! I discarded most of them, as they were too rude to put on a blog that puppies read! But I have to admit they came up with the perfect description of Pyr puppies – a pandemonium of Pyr pups – I cannot deny that Pyr pups are a handful and love getting into mischief.
I’ve found it much more difficult to choose the name for a group of adult Pyrs, so I’ve listed my favourites, along with a few words about them, and would like you to help me out by voting on them.
Omniscience
Once we’re adults we don’t claim to know everything, but if we don’t know something then it really isn’t worth knowing.
Paradox
Bipeds sometimes find us confusing – I think it’s because we have minds of our own!
Perfection
Modesty prevents me from expounding on this one!
Persistence
When we decide to do something, we persist until it’s done.
Pinnacle
This brings to mind our heritage in the mountains, as well as being a figurative peak (yes, I meant peak – not peek, and not pique, and very definitely not Peke)!
Pride
If anyone can persuade the lions to share this name, I think we can! We are justly proud of our noble heritage and our abilities, but our pride is under good regulation because, as observed by Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen), where there is real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation!
Prowl
We are always on the alert for potential danger.
It’s time to vote!
A Challenge
I love collective nouns, so I would love to see some of you come up with some new ideas. It doesn’t have to be dog breeds. Cats already have some group names, but I think they need more! It doesn’t even have to be animals. If you choose to write about this topic, let me know and I’ll link to your post.
Other News
I’m featured in an entertaining tale on Icewolves of Europa.
See you in a few weeks!
We love collective nouns! Here’s a great site if you want to find an existing one: http://palomaraudubon.org/collective.html as for making them up, we do it endlessly π
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That’s a great list on that site – I’ve bookmarked it now! An exaltation of larks is one of my favourites.
It is lots of fun to make up collective nouns.
Mom says I am one of a kind. I can’t even fit into a collective noun.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I think that’s a compliment, Cupcake, it’s good to be unique!
Collective nouns are fun! I love ‘a pandemonium of puppies’ π
Yes, I love collective nouns! Pandemonium is quite apt. The bipeds also suggested “puddle”!
Hah! ‘Puddle’ is good too π
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Yes, but “puddles” soon become “lakes” with a Pyr pup! π
Pandemonium of puppies is such a cute concept. And some of your group names are more descriptive than what they’re given, especially a drift of swans. Love that.
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I think group names can be lots of fun! But not as much fun as puppies! When you see swans on the water, they seem to move without any effort.
Hmmmm…. you know I thought and thought on this, and just couldn’t come up with anything better than you already have Clowie!!
α¦ husky hugz α¦ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
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Something may occur to you later – now that you’re thinking about group names!
I love the pandemonium of pups, too. π And there’s just something about the flow of “a persistence of Pyrs” that strikes a chord with me. Ah, those collective nouns, indeed!
(And the current manuscript includes a fun scene with a ‘piddling’ puppy. π While not a Pyr, the effect is similar!)
I love collective nouns! It’s shame they don’t get used more.
“Piddling puppy” is fun to say! You’ve probably noticed from my list of words that I quite like alliteration. π
I really like Pandemonium!
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It does suit most pups! It’s a good thing puppies are cute to make up for all the mischief!
When I think of Pyres, I always think of guardians.
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Yes, that is an important part of our nature.
What a great post, Clowie! Those puppies were very cute – but SO BIG!! MOL. I chose Persistence, as I think you are!!
How about a tyranny of tuxies!!! π
xxx
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Thank you, Austin. My bipeds used to say they could see me growing!
Tyranny of tuxies is great! I knew you’d be good at this because you enjoy playing with words.
I voted for Persistence!
That’s in the lead – it’s close though!
We are just happy to be a group of hounds here with a guardian Kuvasz.
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It must be nice for hounds to have a guardian like Katie so that you can concentrate on sniffing!
Interesting idea. I’ve never thought about nouns that way. I’m starting to think….Labrador. LOL
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I always think Labradors are lots of fun to be around.
Very interesting! This is something I’ll have to spend some time thinking about. π
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I hope you have fun thinking about it. Enjoy the weekend!
Persistence.
Which sounds much nicer than stubborn – that’s what our Gracie gets called; I think in general though more people call the Gracies of the world Bull Terrors. I get called Loving Lil the Labrador Cuddle Bug. That also sounds much nicer than stubborn. But Graice doesn’t care…so she’s persistent, right?
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I was called stubborn a lot when I was a pup! But I agree that persistence sounds much nicer. I’ve also been called determined quite a bit – that’s when the bipeds were being polite!
That video is too cute! π I’m surprised only one of the puppies was adventurous enough to get in the pool. “Pandemonium” is perfect!
“Pinnacle” seems fitting for the adults.
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I could watch those pups for ages! I thought it was sweet when one of the pups grabbed the hose.
Okay, I want the one who went in the pool! We have a GP near The Holler. I bet they are a challenge to raise! But man they are cute!
My biped said she’d have trouble choosing between the one that climbed in and the one that went to the hose and started moving it.
You’re right about Pyr pups being a challenge though. Fearless and confident works with an adult brain, but makes it a full-time job keeping a pup out of trouble!
Pandemonium is a good collective noun for any puppies. But because I love the alliteration of a Pandemonium of Pyrenean Puppies, I think you get to keep it.
Loved all the adult names and chose Perfection. But I see that Persistence has the lead. Perhaps these votes are from people who know Pyrs better than I do? π
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Pandemonium of Pyrenean puppies is a lot of fun to say!
I hope the votes for Persistence are from people with pups and adolescents because i think we are Perfection as adults!
Love all the descriptive nouns! Had fun voting! The pups are adorable Clowie π
Luvs
Marty
I could watch those puppies all day!
Clowie, I have missed you. I don’t see your posts anymore. Are you ok? And your bipeds and kitties too?
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Hi Savannah! It’s lovely to see you, thank you for stopping by. We are all okay, we’ve just been very busy. I’ve missed writing my blog and visiting my friends. I will publish a post before the Christmas holidays and hope to get into a routine again in the new year.
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