When his family adopted him, they had no idea what his proper noun was. Now information technology's Pedey.
Photo past Phil Monahan

Renaming your dog is easy and y'all tin practise it when she is whatever age, young or quondam. She does non actually care what you call her, whether a classic proper noun or a more outdoorsy dog proper noun —as long every bit she understands you are the source of all good things and that she belongs to y'all. And in some situations giving your pooch a new moniker is non only okay, just actually good for her.

Renaming Your Dog Is Advised…

  • When you lot prefer a shelter dog . Chances are she came to you with a proper noun. But find out if the shelter assigned her a name to requite her more than appeal or to "marketplace" her to an adoptive family. In this instance she'southward probably unused to her new name if she even knows it at all, and changing it will be of petty consequence to her. If she was an owner give up, her name may be familiar to her and keeping it tin be a source of stability and security while she settles in. You can still change her proper name when you lot experience the time is right, even after a full yr or more. Whether you should rename your rescue d og is up to you. If y'all similar her rescue proper noun, and so past all means, keep it.
  • When your new domestic dog was removed from an abusive home. Changing her name is an act of kindness; she may, in fact, continue to associate her one-time proper noun with abuse. Your dog needs a new lease on life and giving her a new name tin can actually assist her brand a clean start.
  • When your dog has learned to ignore her name. Information technology'south fourth dimension for a new one. The main reason to name her in the outset place is safety: C alling out your domestic dog's proper noun is the best tool you've got to grab her attention, which makes her more likely to execute the control that follows. If over the course of years y'all've tirelessly repeated her name when you want her to come but she stubbornly continues doing any she wants instead, it's time for a new name, paired with rewards-based dog preparation .

How To Rename Your Canis familiaris

  • Take your time. Y'all don't need a new proper name ready the instant you cross the threshold with your new canis familiaris. It's okay to hang out for a couple of days and get to know her, observe her personality, observe her quirks, report the markings on her coat, and see whether some distinguishing trait emerges—maybe she's appreciating, playful, agile—something that might influence what you cull to telephone call her. For at present, a friendly "Here, daughter!" will suffice, followed by praise and domestic dog treats ; this is how you offset bonding with her. She is but getting to know you lot, and for the time beingness will respond to your upbeat voice and torso language.
  • Advantage her response to her new proper name with treats. For the start few days you lot're using your dog's new proper name, conduct treats in your pocket. When you want her attending, call out her new name. Then immediately smile, praise her liberally, and care for her; do this even if she is unresponsive—she will soon learn the new word ways good things are coming and will begin to acknowledge it every time she hears it.
  • Combine the one-time canis familiaris name with the new one. If her old name is long established, smoosh it together with her new name and call her by both for a while. For example, if Emerge is to be Maddie, call her SallyMaddie until she recognizes information technology, and and so drop the Sally.

Helpful Canis familiaris Name Changing Tips

  • Your dog's new name should mean only good things to her. Practise whatever y'all can to reinforce this; if you can, treat her every fourth dimension you say her new proper name in the get-go.
  • Try to avert using your dog's new proper noun when you lot scold her. Or give her a middle name and use information technology together with her first name simply for scolding, just like your mom did when you were a kid. She'll learn hearing the two names together means she'southward in trouble.
  • Avoid naming your dog anything that sounds like "No." Ditto names that sound like anything else you say to right an undesirable behavior; examples include Bo and JoJo.
  • Pick a new proper name that starts with the aforementioned letter as the former one. Or that includes similar sounds or vowels, but however holds more than entreatment for you. This is an excellent strategy for renaming a shelter dog. For example, Molly can become Maddie, Muffy, or even Polly.

Potential Problems With Renaming Your Canis familiaris

As mentioned above, there aren't many downsides to renaming your dog as long every bit you take a thoughtful, planned approach to the change. Besides informing friends and family, updating tags or personalized items like collars and canis familiaris beds with your dog'southward name, it should be a shine, easy procedure.

It's never too late to change a dog's name, only the time it takes for your canis familiaris's new name to "stick" varies from a couple of grooming sessions to a few weeks, depending on the dog; the process volition go faster if yous avoid using the name frantically or associating it with anything negative. But dogs don't process identity like we do—your domestic dog will acquire her new name. And while frequent name changes might be confusing, most people routinely telephone call their dogs by various nicknames, and the domestic dog somehow "gets" it and responds to all of them. Chiefly, use your canis familiaris's new name with amore and consistency, and she'll soon recognize it as her own.

Take yous e'er changed a canis familiaris'due south proper noun? We'd love to hear your story in the comments. Looking for the perfect proper noun for your dog? You tin find some cracking dog names in our 10 Most Popular Canis familiaris Names blog post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Cruel To Rename a Dog?

No, and in fact renaming your rescue canis familiaris can be a kindness if she assembly her proper name with an abusive or neglectful living situation. In short, renaming your dog tin can help her wipe the slate clean and start afresh. Just remember to be patient during the transition while she learns her new name.

How Long Does Information technology Take a Shelter Domestic dog to Learn a New Name?

Teaching most rescue or shelter dogs a new name should take only a few days if you use a rewards-based training system. For example, treat her each fourth dimension you call her by the new proper noun and she'll soon associate it with merely positive emotions.

Should Domestic dog Names Finish in a Y?

There's no single correct answer to this question—give your dog a name that ends in a Y if it suits your fancy. Names ending in Y are quite popular, though, maybe owing to their upbeat, piece of cake-to-distinguish sound. Four each of the ten most pop girl and boy dog names nosotros embroider every year onto Orvis dog swag end in Y, so if you go that route with your dog, you'll exist in good visitor.

What Should You Not Name Your Domestic dog?

Avoid naming your dog annihilation that volition sound to her similar a command she knows (or that you plan to teach her). For example, the proper noun Kitt could be singularly confusing for her as paired with the sit command: "Kitt, sit!" Besides, make sure your dog's name is one you're comfortable shouting aloud in a public setting, steering articulate of any moniker people might find offensive, embarrassing, or just downright dangerous. Examples include "Booger" and "Burn."