Ok to Rename a Dog?

[cyncyn]

Is it ok to give a rescue dog a new name? Only if it is a puppy? Anytime? Dogs do seem to know their names...is it traumatic for them to get a new name especially when they are trying to get used to a new home with a lot of new stuff?

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

we renamed our pound puppy from fran to fancy when we got her. she adjusted great imo, and had a great life with us considering her age when we got her and her radical mastectomy.. my vote is yes, but if you can have it be a smilar sounding name for an older dog that probably mkaes it eaisest. just guessing.

[LeahBoo]

Yes, any age.

Dogs don't care what you call them, as long as they get attention. My 6 year old Australian Kelpie, Leah, has lots of names, comes to all of them, even Kelpie . I could change her name today and she'd be happy. She's a dog.

My friend has a rescue dog (owner turn-in at the shelter). He came with the name Danby. He was a fru-fru spoiled dog, yorkie mix. Probably a very expensive "designer dog". But my friend is just not that type. Her other dogs are named Diesel and Dammit. Danby soon became Elvis, and got a mowhawk. (he's just as spoiled though)

[jocelyndale]

Our first poodle was renamed when he was first taken into rescue and rehomed. He was returned to rescue and we ended up adopting him. We kept his name because he was very used to it and responded to it.

Our most recent poodle was left in a rural dropbox and was only with the rescue for 2-3 weeks. He wasn't really answering to the name the first shelter had given him and he'd not had that name for very long. We renamed him instantly.

He now answers to his name. Positive reinforcement/clicker training does wonders.

[Ola_]

We renamed Chaos when we got her at approx. 6-8 months old (she was a stray and we knew nothing about her, including her previous name). We renamed Mayhem when we got him at 5.5 years old (his previous name was Tyler and I don't like human names for dogs).

Both had no problems learning their name, I don't think it's a problem no matter their age. I've even heard rescue people say that a new name helps them associate it with their new life and not the bad things that may have happened in the past. Just make sure you use it often, say it in an upbeat voice, and associate good things with it (food, playtime, walk).

For example when we got Mayhem I would take him on walks and bring a small handful of kibble in my pocket. As we were walking I would say his name, and as soon as he looked at me (i.e. responded to his name) I would hand him a kibble. This had two benefits: teaching him to check in with me on walks, even when there are distractions, as well as learning his name.

[SevenVeils]

Traumatic? What about all the people who get dogs from the shelter or similar, and have no idea what that dog's name had been in the past?

It's fine at any age.

[Sailor]

Yep, any age is fine. Just use his old name, followed by his new name. Then, eventually, just drop the original name he came with.

It's very easy, people do it all the time. We give names to the dogs in our rescues, but most of the time those names are changed once they're adopted.

[HealingBeam]

We named our dog Ginger but called her (over a 14 yr. period) Ging, Gingy, Gingerella, Gingerosa, ... she didn't seem to mind and knew we called her.

[jocelyndale]

I'll add that with our last dog, ANY name would work once he knew us and our voices. It was more about tone. So Jerry-dog, doodle-dog, poodle-dog, Jericho, Jerry, Poodiddle, spoodle . . . you name it. He answered to it. Heck, to prove a point, I would occasionally call him Fluffy or Fiddlesticks. And he'd come running.

Whiskey so far knows his name. And he'll also look up to Whiskey-doodle. I don't know what other nicknames will surface.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I only have 1 renaming experience and it was fine. Our dog was a couple of months old, and the rescue had named him Nolan. We already knew that we wanted to use that name for a boy when/if we had one, so we changed the dog's name. He was just fine with the name he got, Slugger. It is kind of funny to think about that and remember it now considering we did have a son and did indeed name him Nolan.