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[Shelties]

Well first question is, is it possible to change an older dog's name? as you all are aware im getting another sheltie, her current name is ranis, & i don't really like the name so i want to change it to Chloe, im hoping she'll be able to pick up the new name.

2ndly when you're training your new dog what do you do with your other dog that you already have?. I just know if i start training chloe, Casey is going to want to get in on it too, so i think it'll be challenging to try to train one dog and have the other try to get in on it. I could always make it a game i guess LOL.

This is the first time i will be owning two dogs, so this will be interesting .

[Shelties]

sorry about the typos in the title "owners" i was typing and being distracted at the same time LOL

[britishbandit]

Yes, you can change a dogs name anytime really, the usually pick up on the new name pretty quickly.

As for training, until my dogs know a command, I train them individually, and then start having them do them around each other with distraction. For Maya, she has picked up a lot of commands from me having PJ and Tysa do them in front of her.

[TribalRats]

I agree with BB.

Yes you can change her name and she should pick up the new name relatively quickly. Some people suggest using the old name infront of the new name and then eventually dropping hte old name.
When Rasta came into our lives he had been a stray until he was picked up and surrendered to the rescue, they foster parent called him Luke, I called him Rasta and with in 48 hours he knew Rasta was him.

[Mirg]

I agree with BB and TribalRats. When Simetra was a puppy, my friend had a very hard time getting her from the name "Tree-Head" (my nickname for her because her mark on her head looks like a dead tree) to Simetra, but she made it, Simetra responds very well to her name now.
As for training, ive always just taken my dogs out of the house one at a time to train, but i might have to try what BB does. I never thought about using the other dogs as distractions, thats exactly what i need because im teaching A.j. to heel and ignore all distractions because im taking him to the spring fair and i want him to heel good like all the well-trained agility dogs. Hes doing great so far, so i will use Wiener as a distraction, he will sit there barking at a rock or basketball. Whoops, sorry to get off-topic lol. I seem to do that a lot when talking about dogs.
Good luck with your new sheltie!

[roman]

you can change the name but i think if the dog is like 5-7 years old you should leave it it is what they have known for their whole life

[Doglover1988]

Well of course all dogs that come from the shelter have their names changed especially strays. I have no idea what Gracie's name was before since I got her from a shelter I thought of the name said it and she looked up at me with a wagging tail. Same with Zoe she was a stray I found I just found a name that suited her and it fit perfectly.

[Jamila]

I agree with everyone else. Ive changed dogs names cause I didnt know what their previous name was. I also have three fur kids and I train sparate at first then got them all in on it. Although they are still monsters, but its funny to see them bump each other out of the way to be able to sit right in front of me LOL.

[oc_spirit]

Yup no problem in changing a name for a dog just make sure you stay consistant. Dont call her with the old name sometimes and the new name other times ALWAYS call her with the new name.

As for training, formal sessions are done with one dog in the crate and the other with me and informal training sessions are done with both dogs loose.

[Agile PAWZ]

You can change a dogs name with my foster dogs I usually try and stay with a similar sound or starting letter to ease the transition, ie I would call her Rani (Rainey) vs Chloe but that is just my opinion.

When training a new dog I shut everyone else up so I can concentrate on just the single dog with less distraction for both of us

[Beryl]

I have nothing to add to the answers provided.

I do want to tell you --Congrats! This is the first time I've owned more than one dog and I wish I'd done this before. 2 is better than 1 and not twice as much work. It is actually easier in some respects.

[trainingrixie]

Originally Posted by oc_spirit

Yup no problem in changing a name for a dog just make sure you stay consistant. Dont call her with the old name sometimes and the new name other times ALWAYS call her with the new name.

As for training, formal sessions are done with one dog in the crate and the other with me and informal training sessions are done with both dogs loose.

I agree totally. I work with Trixie for like 15 minutes one on one with Shelby in the other room in a down stay...she's lazy, so that's her favorite thing. She just watches TV with Jeremy during trixie's session. But then I bring her in the lower Living Room and work them both....Shelby never did agility, but I've been doing tiny little "jumps" (They're so short she just steps over 'em) with Trixie, and shelby learned that now. Also, i htink Trixie learned shake faster by watching shelby. But the dog needs to learn that you are the focal point, and one on one reinforces that and then the distraction of another dog pushes it, which you need to do once in a while.

p.s. i love dogs!