Rescue dogs and name change

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Hannah W — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 10:43:55 GMT

Just remember that dogs don't have the same emotional attachment to names like we do and when we agonise over things like this is down to our human emotions/attachments :)

Another example would be if you're training a dog to recall and the owners have been using the word "come", if the dog comes 50% of the time to that word then ignores it the other 50% of the time, the advice given would be to abandon that word and start training a new word. The dog has already built up a history of ignoring that word which is much harder to change. By getting them to change the word to "here" for example and then training the recall with that, the dog has no history with that word so you're starting from an even playing field :)

Words are just words where dogs are concerned (if you wanted to use the word "bicycle" for your recall or "balloon" for your sit you could!), it's what we do with them and the associations we build to them that matters.

I guess what I'm getting at is don't let it trouble you too much, if you don't like the dogs name change it. It's not going to send the dog into a meltdown. Just make learning the new name fun/rewarding :)

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Keely Young — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 21:08:37 GMT

Our girl came from a puppy farm (as a breeding bitch) and was called Sandy. When in rescue she was renamed Inge (Inga) - when she came to us, we respelt her name Inga!

She responds to Inga now (or PingPing...or Springy Ping...or Ingy...!). Our other girl, we rescued from a horrid family who as far as we know, didn't name her at all. She's now Roxy. Our Dino came with his name and still doesn't respond to it!

I know with horses, it's supposed to be unlucky to change names (hence why we have a Pebbles.....although she rather suits it now!) but I think if a name really disagrees with you and the dog doesn't really respond anyway there's no harm :)

Same with our cat - an ex breeding cat - he was called Coco, we didn't like it at all and he had no response to it, so he was renamed Possum which he responds to fine :)

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Dove — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:06:01 GMT

Well, we got him, he's got a lovely temperament but just needs a little more training for basic commands and he pulls quite a bit on the lead. He also doesn't seem to respond to his name anyway! Still undecided, hubby really doesn't like his given name but can't decide what to do.

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

WelshyNurse — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 18:16:36 GMT

I would keep it in this instance

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Dove — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 17:11:23 GMT

We are visiting tomorrow, his name is Brandy, which isn't one I'd chose but not awful. He has been from a loved home and there due to sad circumstances (although that is the only info I know). I'm thinking I should keep his if he was well loved but then it makes sense that they'd soon adapt to a new name.

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Diane Westwood — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 10:36:12 GMT

We got our boy from the Blue Cross. His name is Clive, we know it was Clive from 8 weeks old as the BC had his history. There's no way we could change it, it really suits him. He's awesome.

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Julie-Anne Wilson — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 19:17:15 GMT

All three of my pets are rescues and have had their names changed.

My old lady was a "stray" and I have no clue what her name was but she responded to Tasia almost immediately.

My cat's name is nothing like her previous name and she responds with no problems to her name and comes when called.

And my young boy went from one food item to another - he's not the brightest penny in the box but still managed to pick up his new name almost instantly.

I'd always heard about keeping it similar to the old name but I think that's rubbish. If you say their name often enough, they'll learn it.

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Hannah W — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 09:52:35 GMT

This came up at an IMDT training course that I attended a few weeks back. The general consensus was that it depends on the background of the dog and why it has ended up in rescue.

Dogs don't hear a word and think "oh that's my name", they hear a word and know that they have to provide the associated/learned behaviour or that something is coming. For example if I say my dog's name, he knows that he has to come to me, effectively his name is his recall word. If I say the word "fish" he waits by the cupboard door for me to give him dried fish. He doesn't know he's getting fish, he has no idea what fish are, he just knows that the word means something good comes from this cupboard.

If you've got a dog that has come from an abusive background or you don't have any history, the "name" may hold negative associations for the dog.

One of my rescues had a particularly crappy start in life so I didn't want to keep her name. I gave her a new one and spent 10-15 minutes each day playing the name game and it only took her about 3 days to learn her new word.

It has no detrimental affect to a dog to change their name, it's just a word with associated consequences be it positive or negative :)

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 10:33:42 GMT

Welshynurse has a good point, so my suggestion is this; if you don't like the name he was given at kennels and wish to change it, then try changing it to something that sounds similar and you do like.

So if he is called Arthur call him MacArthur and then just switch to Mac gradually (actual case) or Dennis and switch to Haggis (another case)...

Ali h

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

WelshyNurse — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 10:21:16 GMT

My rescue knew his name, and was a bit nervous when I first had him. I think keeping his name made the transition easier rather than confusing him.

He definately knew his name and wouldn't respond to anything else. I think it depends on the dog.

also, it's a fab name

RE: Rescue dogs and name change

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 09:33:20 GMT

Hi,

IME dogs will happily respond to any regularly used pet-name. For example, my old lad was called Jake but also tuned into 'Fatlad', 'My Boy', 'His Hairiness', 'Where is He', 'Pastor Stinko' etc etc etc! Bless him, he came running and his ears pricked up for all of his nicknames.

A friend recently adopted a rescue mutt who had been atrociously treated and wanted to change her name to something she wouldn't associate with this period of her life. She radically changed it and Miss Minnie is now Miss Minnie through and through. If the name is said with happiness and the animal treated with kindness, then there is no reason, in my experience, for it not to stick.

Hth and happy times with new paws!

Ali h