[KingstonTodd]

We may be getting a new doodle who is 2-3 yrs old. However, we arent thrilled with her name. How easy is it to teach an adult dog a new name? Would it be easier if we never use her old name, she can associate her new name with us?

 

[lmtoth2]

that's an interesting question. We looked at another dog prior to Kirby who's name was Baxter which would totally be confusing with Dexter Could you choose something that sounds like the old name?

 

[MaxandMe]

Well i guess if you keep calling the dog by its new name it will learn it? just like a puppy learns their name?

OR you could use the dog's real name and then start using the NEW name like a nickname eventually not using the original name anymore?

does this make sense? hahhahhaaaaaaaaaa

AND you could always use a treat if needed :wink:

 

[Maureen]

Todd, dogs are amazingly flexible about their names... when we got our Yankee her name was "Sam" - but having a child with that name there was no question we'd be changing Yankee's name, and it happened EASILY! My hubby took peanut butter on his finger, and called "Yankee......Yankee..... and eventually she came to him, got the treat, and heard her name. The first time he called 3 times before she looked..... 2nd time he called her twice.... 3rd time...it only took calling "Yankee" once, and voila! She came for the treat and answered to her new name ever after!

 

[blueteal]

Tod
What ever name you consistently call him
when you get him home, is what will become his name :wink: :wink:
Good lucky and lucky doggy!!!!

 

[rowendoodle]

My grandparents got an 8-year-old chocolate lab a few years ago and wanted to change her name from Mickey (there was already a Mickey dog in the family). They decided that the name should sound similar to "dog," because every dog comes to "dog!" Sooo they named her Duchess.. and ever since she has come to her new name! Who knew?

 

[Calimom]

A friend of mine acquired two dogs, brothers, from a elderly lady who could no longer care for them. However, they came with the names Pearl and Diamond. My friend just couldn't bring herself to call the boys Pearl and Diamond, so renamed them Earl and Simon to keep as close to their original names. It worked!

 

[Bigfoot]

i got my labradoole froday 3 weeks ago and his old name was Frodo. I renamed him Bigfoot the min i got him. it has been 3 weeks now and he answers all to bigfoot and seems to have forgotten his old name.

 

[seazr]

How about all the dogs that are found, sheltered and (hopefully)adopted? Their new families don't even know their old name.

 

[gene]

The woman who rescued Miko told me in the transition stage, all the dogs in their care are called "puppies", as in...."Come on puppies, let's gp outside!", etc. When I decided to adopt Miko, I asked her if she would start calling her that for me and she did. At 6 months it didn't take her long to pick it up.