Name Change

[stimm19941999]

I'm thinking about getting a rescue dog between one and two years of age. How old does the dog have to be before changing the name would be determental to the dog. I've worked rescue before and some of those dogs have been through enough already, and I don't want to confuse the dog anymore.

Also, if you do decide to change the name, does anyone have some tips for teaching the dog that name in the best and least harmful way possible. Thanks for the help.

Shawn

Remember to spay and neuter: Dogs don't wear condoms.

[Kade]

I think you can do it and it is fine for the dog, if you're willing to give it a little bit of time.

Since the dog doesn't think like a human, he doesn't feel attached to his name. It's not an identity for him. Basically, it's a signal that means, "Give my attention to the human who says this word." So all you have to do is program a new signal. In fact, if someone was cruel to him and used that name, it might even have negative connotations.

Try:

1. Leaving the old name behind altogether. Use nicknames like "sweetie", "good boy", etc., for general communication, and use the new name for things that are "great". Make sure these great things happen with frequency -- when he gets a treat, when he gets a bellyrub, dinner, a snuggle, a favorite toy, etc. (We have trained Winston his emergency recall word, "Aqui", and if I wanted to change his name overnight that would be the easiest thing in the world, because he associates it with everything wonderful.) Dogs can remember a word quite well if it means that something awesome happens.

2. Or try using both names. "Skippy-Leo!" Everything that would require a Skippy gets a Leo, too. Do this for a few weeks and then drop the Skippy. Actively train for it by playing games where you call his name and he gets something great for coming over to you; make sure you eventually use it in training other skills so he doesn't think Leo means "come" AND "sit" AND "dinnertime", LOL.

As with all dogs' names, only use the name (old or new) in a positive situation. If you're frustrated, just call him something silly, but don't use his name in a negative context if it can be helped.

(Hurray for you for rescuing a dog, BTW!)

[TribalRats]

Great suggestions!
I would suggest the latter myself or a name that sounds similar to the name they are already used to.
Good luck to you (and your new pooch) I hope you will come back and post some pictures when you bring home your new friend.

[Mellie]

I'd definitely recommend incorporating the old and new names into one name. Start with more emphasis on the old name, then gradually add more and more influence from the new name until you are only using the new name.
For example... you want to change a dog's name from Spot to Fido. Call it Spot for a day; call it Spodo the next day; Spido the next; and finally, Fido the last. The time progression is exaggerated purely for quick posting purposes. But the progression is an example of how to change a name.

Our most recent adoptee was named Buddy when we got him. We planned to change his name to Bubba. Because of how close the names already were, we were able to go straight from his old name to his new name with no confusion. He listened to Bubba immediately.
So the above was just a suggestion.

Good luck.

[oc_spirit]

Working with rescued horses we have no problems changing their names cause a lot of times they don't come with one! We just switch cold turkey and associate the name with positive things. Say name - dog.horse looks - treat - gooooooood "name" It does take some time before they respond instinctively but they can adapt easily. How we look at it is, new life = new name

[Pugdawg1]

I almost always (just one exception because he had such a happy history prior to coming to me), change names. I just say their new name, praise and/or treat. They don't look back. New name = Happiness. Never had a problem.. and they were always very fast to pick up the new name. Old dogs and young dogs, both.

[calgal]

I've had to give a lot of fosters new names and they didn't mind at all. I always made sure that when I used this new word it meant something great, so come running.

[dedeeboru]

we changed ours, purely because I didn't want to call her "Boots" (that sounds like a cat to me, and I'm not fond of cats--I know, it's stupid). And it's not like she was aware that was supposed to be her name anyway.

Sometimes rescues will put a name with a dog, without informing the dog about it.

[Cassiepeia]

With Jesse, I didn't know his original name so I just started calling him Jesse. Didn't bother praising or rewarding, just acted as though it was always his name. He took to it right away (and he was roughly 5yrs old when I adopted him, I don't think ages matters that much). I really don't think dogs care. They get use to the new 'word' you're using with them very easily.

Cass.