Changing rescue dog names
Maybe an informal poll of how many adoptive parents have changed the names of their rescued dogs would be in order. |
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| We were going to change the name of the dog that was placed with us because I wasn't fond of the name Rebecca. She was 5 years old when she came to us and her name was the only word she seemed to recognize, so we ended up just keeping it.
I think it would be easy to get it to respond to a new call name, just train with treats, just like if you had a new puppy. |
| I have changed all the my rescued dogs names. No matter how old.
A few didn't even have names when I adopted. Lacey, my terrier mix was a stray. Pepsi was an owner turn in and I didn't find out that his name had been Clyde until 4 days after we adopted him. He was already responding to the name Pepsi by then. Clyde didn't fit him at all either. The ones that did have names... responded very quickly to the name change. I didn't want them to associate their names with their previous lives. Rags was Kylie. I've had her almost two years now and if I call her Kylie she doesn't even acknowledge that I am talking to her. But call her any of her nicknames or her name and she listens. I'd say, most dogs respond to new names very quickly. |
| Dogs don't get attached to names like we do. They don't even know what their name is...Yes, they will respond, look at you, come over etc...But they don't have the same concept as we do. It is a word to them, that has some meaning that is not the same as us.
I like to change a rescue dog's name. If it was a bad history then I don't want to conjure up memories. If is is a dog with a nice past, it may make them miss their owners. New life, new name..! For me, anyway.. |
| I've read that the way to do it is to use their current name (if known) and then tag on the new name. So if the name were Bob and you wanted to change it to Sue, you would start out with "Bob, Sue" then move to "BobSue" the move to just "Sue" over the course of a week or so.
I also haven't ever heard of someone having difficulties in accomplishing the changeover, so this may be for the owner's benefit more than the dog's!  |
| I actually did that with Rags. I called her Kylie Rags for the first few days then dropped Kylie completely. |
| Practically unanimous! |
Ron wrote: I've read that the way to do it is to use their current name (if known) and then tag on the new name. So if the name were Bob and you wanted to change it to Sue, you would start out with "Bob, Sue" then move to "BobSue" the move to just "Sue" over the course of a week or so.
I also haven't ever heard of someone having difficulties in accomplishing the changeover, so this may be for the owner's benefit more than the dog's! I had never heard this before....what a good idea! 
We didn't change ours, because they all kinda fit  |
| I changed Genevieve's name when I adopted her, too. Also, I foster for our rescue and as a foster parent, you get to name the dog you're fostering. So, unless the dog is an owner surrender, in which case I keep their name and let the new family decided whether or not to rename them, all the dogs I have get new names with their new lives. |
| I changed Maggie's name when I adopted her. She used to be named GiGi which did not fit her at all. |
Valerie wrote: I changed Maggie's name when I adopted her. She used to be named GiGi which did not fit her at all. Sooooo, how'd ya do it? |
| ... but I don't think a name really matters to the dog.
We just lost the senior canine member of our pack (Kato, a mix breed) in July, which leaves us with just one -- Pippy, who's a 6 year-old purebred F OES. I call her by a zillion names other than her own ... Einstein, Stupid, Bozo, Boofhead, Dum-Dum ... she answers equally to all of them. I used to think that it mattered; but Kato often used to respond when I yelled for Pippy, and Pippy did the same when I called for Kato. I never quite understood why. Now I think I do ... the dog isn't born with the concept of a name ... canine identity has nothing to do with humans vocalizing at them. Sure, a dog can learn its name (I think), but dogs have other ways of figuring out when you're addressing them. I guess it has more to do with tone of voice, which dog wants the attention at the moment, and who I'm looking at. |
Maggie was Maggie, then Maddie. When we got her Todd changed her back to Maggie. (Confusing??  )
My rescue basset Simon came as Simon. He actually came when called. That is a really BIG DEAL if you have ever had a basset hound! I wasn't stupid - he kept the name Simon. And it really fits him! As long as we are on the Simon topic - we will sneak in a little brag. Not only does he listen, he actually likes obedience. He just completed his Rally Excellent title - and here is the picture to prove it! I don't think there are many bassets who have done this, much less one that was a rescue adopted at age 6!  |
Way to go Simon!  |
| Congrats Simon! Smart dog! |
| 6???!!!??? Really???
KEWL! |
Ron wrote: Valerie wrote: I changed Maggie's name when I adopted her. She used to be named GiGi which did not fit her at all. Sooooo, how'd ya do it?I just started calling her Maggie. Took about 20 minutes. |
Lumpi was a rescue but we don't know if he had a name before or not. On his paper it said PEN# AD35. He was a criminal case at 6 months old.  The first dog name came to me was of course a common Hungarian dog name and he learnt it fast.
And Boni was Jamie but we got him when he was 8 weeks old so for him he's only name was and is Boni!
They don't think of their names as their names. It pretty much means "Come/Watch me/Attention/Food/etc." |
got sheep wrote: As long as we are on the Simon topic - we will sneak in a little brag.
Not only does he listen, he actually likes obedience. He just completed his Rally Excellent title - and here is the picture to prove it! I don't think there are many bassets who have done this, much less one that was a rescue adopted at age 6! I must print out this picture of Simon for Lucky to hang on his crate wall. Especially since Lucky just loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss Simon. |
| Yes, Simon can stare right at Lucky...with those big brown eyes
Merry Christmas, Lucky! |
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Congratulations Simon!  |
| When we rescued our puppy this last July...
We changed her name and it took a while for her to respond to it. She was starved as a puppy so she had a few disorders to over come. When it comes to food shes aggressive but other than that shes a lover. Her name was JoJo, we changed it to Joey...Shes such a tom boy and lover all in one. Shes a scrapper to...we got her at 6 months old. She took to the name change gradually.. Shes very intelligent and knows when we are talking about her when shes in the back yard, you'll suddenly see her head peaking through the doggie door listening... Shes such a lover like my older one.... I love this breed. This is only my second dog ever... |
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