It’s Okay to Change Your Dog’s Name

“They named him ‘Baby’ and I just hate it. I feel so silly calling him that, but obviously I can’t change his name. He’s already three years old.” It’s not surprising that my client, a new owner of a 130-pound full-grown Hungarian Kuvasz wasn’t that crazy about the name ‘Baby.’ It’s common to adopt an adult dog with a name that doesn’t really thrill you, and many people have soldiered on for the rest of the dog’s life, stuck with a name that they just don’t feel right about.

There’s good news, though: If you don’t like your dog’s name, you can change it. Period. It’s easy to do it and it causes no harm to the dog. Dogs can have multiple names and respond to each one, as is the case in many homes where the dog is called by his actual name as well as variations by different members of the household.

Changing a dog’s name is one of the easiest parts of adopting and training a new dog. Here’s how you do it. Start by saying the new name and giving him something great like a piece of chicken, a belly rub, or a play session if he looks at you. This teaches him to love hearing his new name and responding to it. Most dogs learn a new name within a few weeks if you do this multiple times each day, and some learn it in just a couple of sessions. Progress will be faster if you avoid using the name for no reason and also refrain from associating it with anything bad.

Names like Baby, Poopsie, and Pudding are often not popular with new adopters. On other extreme, many people feel a mismatch when they adopt a dog who has been going by Killer, Spike, or Vengeance. I knew a family who adopted a dog named Spot, and chose to change it. They could not imagine why someone would give their dog this cliché of a name. A year later, they learned from the rescue group where they adopted their dog that the couple who had surrendered him had been named Dick and Jane, which made the choice of Spot for the dog’s name seem not just understandable, but almost obvious.

 --Karen London

Comments

[cheap jersey]

I have a friend to her little JRT pita. It is very cute, until she began to reach her name! My friend was renamed as pizza. Don't know the dog behavior to improve, but the boss seems to be more happy.
Recently, I decided to buy a dog, and I live for two years. I like dogs, but never like this name and he came here. I changed his name, he never blinked!

[my paris hotel]

I have a friend who named her little JRT PITA. It was cute until she started living up to her name! My friend changed the name to Pizza. Not sure if the dogs behavior improved, but the owner seemed happier.

I recently decided to purchase a dog that lived with me for two years. I loved the dog, but have never liked the name he came here with. I changed his name and he never blinked!
+1

[Bob Maida]

It's ok to change your dog's name.
It's easier for the Dog if you come up with a name sounding similar such as Luke instead of Duke or Molly instead of Holly.
But if not at least be sure the name is short.. as it is than more easier for Dog to process the sound.

[Michelle]

Excellent post! I always find it odd when people think they can't change their adopted dog's name. I mean, how many dogs come into shelters as strays whose name no one knows? Dahlia was picked up as a stray when she was around 2 years old. Who the heck knows what her original name was. But she sure does know her "new" name!

[rick smith]

when i start pet training training with someone i often encourage them to change the name. here's how i go about it....
first i always have the owners show me "what it can do (and not do)"
...inevitably i will hear the name repeated over and over with no response from the dog :-)
...i will use some other crazy name and show the dog how to make eye contact before they get the treat, which takes most dogs a couple of minutes :-)
- i explain how important it is to get the dog's attention before it can learn much of anything
....i then say that right now the dog really doesn't know its name, so why not think about a new name and only reward the dog when it gives EC
- of course they like the game and also get some instant gratification that they have "taught" it something so quickly
- then they have a ball trying to figure out what their "new dog" will have for its new name
---win win for dog/owner

[CLH]

I have a friend who named her little JRT PITA. It was cute until she started living up to her name! My friend changed the name to Pizza. Not sure if the dog's behavior improved, but the owner seemed happier.

I recently decided to purchase a dog that lived with me for two years. I loved the dog, but have never liked the name he came here with. I changed his name and he never blinked!