Scream. Scream!
That’s neither a command nor an exclamation. That happens to be a dog’s name. Scream. We had a dog that came from the rescue with that name. That’s what they put on file for the poor dog. It’s hard to believe, but things like this do happen.
So what can you do if the shelter dog you bring home from the shelter comes with a name that, to you, just doesn’t fit? Maybe it sounds bad, is associated with something unpleasant, is just plain inappropriate, or happens to be the same name as your second child. Maybe it’s your name!
Can you change your dog’s name? Yes, you can change it to whatever you want. You’ll just need a little training to help the new dog make the connection.
Can You Change a Dog’s Name After Adoption?
Imagine stepping outside and yelling, “FIRE!!” to call your dog, Fire, home. That would surely stir up the neighbors.
Changing a dog’s name after adoption is not unusual. People want their new dog’s name to represent a way of fitting into the new home. We sometimes pair dogs we train as service dogs with veterans who have had traumatic brain injuries or PTSD. They often have an idea of what they would like to name the dog. It helps them bond.
Most shelters often name the dogs that are brought in. Shelter names are used for advertising the dog’s availability for pet adoption and keeping track of who’s who within the shelter. But the shelter dogs probably never learn and get attached to those names.
Others that previous owners surrendered know and are used to their names. You can still rename these dogs but will need to spend more time training them to recognize their new names.
One other important point is that some shelter dogs come from abusive situations. As a result, they may associate their name with punishment, in which case a name change can be a relief.
Choosing a Name
Now that you’ve decided to rename your dog, how do you pick a new name? A little imagination, some online research, locations, favorite songs, baby name books, the dog’s personality traits, and fictional or historical characters; anything that grabs your attention, really.
We encourage you to choose a name that leaves your dog some dignity, and that won’t cause chaos when you yell the name outside (“Scream” and “Fire” just don’t fit the bill!). Here are a few additional suggestions:
- Use no more than two syllables in the new moniker to ensure your dog can understand the name.
- Names that sound like the commands you want the dog to learn can confuse the dog.
- Try to be unique. If all the dogs in the neighborhood have the same name, things will get chaotic fast!
When NOT to Change a Dog’s Name
There are a few situations where a name change might not be a great idea. First, if you are fostering a dog, it may be best to wait for them to go to their forever home before renaming; the new pet parents will want to do the honor. Second, if the dog is surrendered by a long-term parent or the parent passes away, you may want to wait or at least take a gradual approach to renaming the dog.
How to Change a Dog’s Name
Teaching a dog their new name is not terribly difficult to achieve. It’s simply a matter of positive reinforcement training and getting the dog to respond as they would to any command. Basically, you repeat the dog’s new name, wait for eye contact, then reward the behavior. Then you can connect it to commands: Spike, sit. Spike, down. You continue to reinforce that until the dog understands that their name is Spike now, not Fluffy. Most dogs will learn their new names within about two weeks.
There are a few tips available to make renaming your dog easier:
- Double name: Use the old and new names together for the first few days.
- Rhyming name: Pick a name that includes similar sounds to the former name.
- Stick with the new name: Once you pick a new name, be consistent with its use. Don’t use the original name at all.
- Pick a name that starts with the same letter or sound as the old one.
Positive Reinforcement
Your dog should associate their new name with good things: praise, treats, fun, and attention. Don’t use their name when scolding them. Instead, as described earlier, start training by giving treats when you make eye contact after saying their new name. Repeat this often.
Kennel and Call Names
Dogs from professional breeders often have kennel names. The American Kennel Club registers kennel names to protect the reputations of professional breeders. This name refers to the dogs produced by that particular breeder.
There’s always a kennel name for show dogs with an AKC paper trail. This is the dog’s name on paper. They have a big, long name, typically representing the kennel that the dog came from. Then they have a call name, the name they’re typically called. It’s always different.
Let K9 Basics Help You Change Your Dog’s Name
It’s possible to change a dog’s name no matter how old the dog is or how long they have had their old name. It’s a great way to make a fresh start with your new dog and integrate the dog into their new family and home.
Changing a dog’s name and having them recognize and respond to it takes some time and patience on your part, though. If it’s already been a couple of weeks, and your dog is still not responding, contact us at K9 Basics. Sometimes, pet parents need a little help.
Our dog training team will teach your dog to connect their name with themselves and with good things happening around them. And we will teach you how to keep the momentum going after you leave our training program.
K9 Basics trains dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages. We teach dogs how to successfully socialize and interact with people and other dogs. We will help make that transition from the old to the new name as smooth and as quick as possible. Give us a call at (866) 592-2742, or, if you’re from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New York, give us a visit at 131 Kenilworth Road, Marlton, New Jersey 08053, to learn more about our dog training services. Also, browse our blog and follow our social media for various topics about dogs and their lives with us.
References
“Can You Change a Dog’s Name? When and How to Make the Switch.” BeChewy, Chewy, be.chewy.com/should-i-change-my-rescue-dogs-name/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2022.
“Guest Column: What I’ve Learned from Renaming My Rescue Dogs.” Diamond Pet Foods, www.diamondpet.com/blog/adoption/rescues/guest-column-renaming-rescue-dogs/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2022.
Permenter, Paris. “How to Rename a Dog: 2 Easy Tricks!” DogTipper Dog Blog, 6 Aug. 2022, www.dogtipper.com/tip/2019/03/renaming-your-new-dog-2-easy-tricks.html. Accessed 5 Oct. 2022.
“Registered Kennel Names Help Breeders Protect Reputation and Legacy.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 9 Aug. 2021, www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/registered-kennel-names-help-protect-breeder-reputation/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2022.