Congratulations on your recent addition! As a newly adoptive pet parent, you’re probably both thrilled and apprehensive.
Will he like me?
Will he get along with other dogs?
Will he fit in with our other animals?
Is he really healthy?
Will he be gentle with my kids?
Is he trainable?
These are probably just a few of the questions running through your mind at the end of his first day in your home. Another common question: is there anything I can do about that name??
Your new pooch is so cute and fluffy and snuggly, and you think that the name he came home with (seriously – who names a dog “Flupner”?) doesn’t quite fit. But what can you do about it? Luckily for you, changing a dog’s name is relatively easy and quick to do. If you’re consistent with recognition and praise, he should know and respond to his name within a few days.
The Scenarios
The reasons behind a dog becoming available for adoption are varied, but they typically fall into at least one (sometimes multiple) of these four categories:
Shelter Dogs
The people or agencies that run pet shelters often give new dogs a name off the cuff. Some agencies even have a rolling list that they cycle through as new arrivals come in, so it’s unlikely that the dog’s name has any significance. The only exception is an owner surrender where the owner told the dog’s name at the time of surrender (more on that later).
Many shelter dogs are strays with unknown histories. Could the dog have just escaped from a loving family? Possibly. Unfortunately, it’s more likely that the dog has never had a proper home. Shelter dogs generally carry no allegiance to their shelter-given name, especially if they have been there for a short time. Many times, shelters are crowded and understaffed, so a dog – while given a name there – probably hasn’t heard it more than a handful of times.
Foster Dogs
Fostered dogs often have a similar backstory to shelter dogs, but they live in a home with a family while awaiting adoption. The pet placing agency still usually chooses the name at random, but the foster family uses it in a positive way often, so it’s more likely that the dog will respond to it when he enters your care. That’s not to say that you can’t change it – it just may take a little longer.
Owner Surrenders
Owner surrenders usually have had the dog for a while, and they will tell the shelter the name they have used. Depending on the kind of home the dog came from, changing the name could be a good or bad thing. Still, any dog can learn a new name, and ultimately, the choice is yours.
Abused Dogs
In many cases of abuse, a dog’s name was repeatedly spoken during the abuse, so it might be a good idea to rename him to alleviate some of the negative feelings he has toward his existing name.
Good Naming Etiquette
Deciding on a name is sometimes a challenge. It needs to fit the dog’s looks and personality and roll off the tongue easily. While you’re figuring out a new name for Flupner, consider the following naming etiquette:
- Make It Unique: You don’t want every Fido and Spot at the dog park to come running when you call his name.
- Keep It Short and Sweet: It’s ok to have a longer “full” name (Admiral Jax Fluffybottom, for instance), but have some shorter nicknames ready to use more often. Shave it down to one or two syllables, and not only will you have an easier time saying his name, but he’ll hear you better.
- Change It Up: There are two schools of thought on how to change a dog’s name. Some people think it should be phonetically similar (Tank to Hank or Fido to Phineas), while other people say it should be completely different (Flupner to Jax). There are pros and cons to both ways, but in the long run, a new name is a new name is a new name.
- Keep Away From Commands: The way dogs process sound is different from how humans process sound, so it’s best to stay away from names that sound like commands like “No” (Beau), “Heel” (Neal), etc.
- You should like it! If you don’t like the name, you’ll probably use a nickname anyway, so just make the nickname official.
Steps to Retrain
Every dog is different, so there isn’t a hard and fast timeline for how quickly he’ll learn his new name. The best thing that you can do is follow the canine training steps below and be consistent and patient.
- Ditch the original name entirely or combine his old name with his new name (FlupnerJax). If you get rid of the original name right off the bat, move to step two. If you combine his names, reward him every time he acknowledges the new names, and then eventually drop off the original name after he gets used to hearing both.
- Use treats every time you say his new name (hint: it helps to keep them in your pocket at all times).
- Use a sing-song, high-pitched voice, similar to how you would talk to a baby or a puppy. Whenever he acknowledges his name, praise him, give him a treat, and pet him.
- It’s crucial that you wait until the dog responds to the name before offering a reward – whether it be just cocking an ear or turning his face toward you. You may need to grab his attention using other sounds (such as kissy noises, lip-smacking, whistling, etc.) right after saying the name, but don’t repeat the name a million times as that can be boring for him.
- Say the new name as often as possible, but try to keep away from using it when you’re mad especially during the training phase.
- Be consistent and repeat often!
It’s ok to wait a while to start the naming process until your dog has settled into his new home. If you feel that he is too overwhelmed at first to train well, you can wait weeks or even months to change his name. That might even give you a better idea of names that fit his personality, anyway. Who knows? Maybe he really is a Flupner after all!
And if you need help training your new dog, Coddled Critters Pet Resort and Spaw is a leader in Utah dog training. Whether you need dog obedience training or emotional support animal training, our experienced staff knows how to help your pooch master the skills and habits that they will need to thrive in your home.
