Wine Inspired Dog Names

Honey came on the scene back in December of 2016, and you’re going to absolutely adore this beautiful golden Labrador Retriever if you haven’t heard of her already. She works two important jobs at Napa Valley’s Honig Vineyard and Winery, located specifically in Rutherford, California. Honey's name is not only a nod to her sweet demeanor, it also has familial meaning, as the family's last name, Honig, is actually German for honey!

Honey is a diabetic alert dog, and she lives with her family of six humans and three other dogs on Honig grounds. The Honigs (yes, that’s the family’s last name as well) appreciate Honey as a household pet, but she’s more. Sophia, the eldest child, actually lives with Type 1 Diabetes. She’s insulin-dependent, and monitoring her blood sugar levels is essential at all times. When the Honigs discovered that there was a furry companion who might be able to lend a helping paw to a then 10-year-old girl in need, they were definitely interested in learning more.

Honey has been trained to obey over sixty commands and to stand by Sophia’s side at all times. This wonderful, superhero pup can detect a shift in Sophia’s blood sugar fifteen minutes before the girl’s monitor can. Honey then nudges Sophia to inform her parents immediately. How amazing is Honey? We can’t get enough of this pure sweetness.

Honey’s job doesn’t end there. She’s really special. She not only takes care of Sophia but also sniffs out mealybugs in the family’s vineyard. These bugs are invisible to humans, but they are completely devastating to vines and grapes. Honey makes it possible for the Honigs to remove a few vines before the bugs spread. This keeps them from having to use pesticides. Bow WOW!

The Honigs have been working with Bergin University since 2005, and they’ve trained a few vineyard dogs. Honey is the first, however, to do double-duty. The university loves training Labs because they have terrific noses and a wonderful work ethic. They like to make their humans happy and be helpful. Truly, they’re humans’ best friends, and Honey is no exception.

Honig Vineyard and Winery loves to use Honey in their social media posting, and they operate a dog-friendly vineyard, which we, of course, really “dig” about them. She can be seen online with the Honig family as they celebrate holidays, take vacations, bottle and ship their wine, and welcome people into their winery. Keep up the excellent work in the vineyard and as Sophia’s alert dog, Honey!