Just got a dog from the shelter. He already had a name given by previous owners. Is OK to change it.?

Answer 1

I have adopted several dogs in my day. For the most part, we stuck with their original name for commands, but for cuddle time, we used nicknames that were a little similar. Example: Butch we called BooBoo or Boo. Bruno we called Bubby.
It's going to be hard enough for your new friend to get adjusted to a new home, new smells, and new expectations and rules. If you're insistent on changing the name completely, do so slowly. They'll come around and figure it out eventually, but don't get angry if it takes longer than you think!
Good luck with your new addition! :)

Answer 2

First thing to look at, would be the dogs age. If he is older and he has been called (ex. Fido) all his life calling him a new name while he is adjusting to your environment might be a little confusing. However, try saying his first name followed by the name you want him to be called. He will then get used to the word to where you can eventually just say the name you want for him and he will be familiar with it. It has worked for me before. Another thing might be, he does not know his real name because he has not been 1 on 1 with a person in a shelter enough to have heard his name repeatedly. So use what you know to decide where you can slip his new name in. :)

Answer 3

I husband and I have 2 Siberian Huskies. We got one as a stray, so we had no idea what her previous name was. We picked a named for her and started calling her by that name. Within a couple of weeks, she began responding to the new name we had picked for her. We adopted a second dog, another huskey from the pound about 6 months ago. At the pound, they had no idea what her previous name was, so they gave her a new name. When we adopted her and got her home, we picked out a different name for her and began calling her that name. Like our other dog, within a couple of weeks, she began responding to the new name we had picked out for her. I'm not sure if age has anything to do with it our not. Our dogs are 3 and 1/1 2 years old.

Answer 4

Age has nothing to do with a dog responding to a new names. Dogs generally live in the present, so they won't be hindered by worrying about what their old name was.

It may take a few weeks for them to begin to understand and respond to the new name, but given time will adjust to the new one.

Dogs aren't people and don't become attached to names like we do.

Answer 5

I think it is ok. Just realize that it may take the dog a while to accept the new name. I heard that you should always make the new name a positive thing, so always sound excited or happy when you say it so that the dog sees the name as a positive thing.

Answer 6

yeah because he's your dog now. you bought him from the shelter. and i think that if you get a dog from someone or a shelter you have the right to change the dogs name.

Answer 7

My Saint Bernard Delilah was five when we got her, her name then was Cloe, unfortunately for her, that was the cat's name, so . . . Her name got changed. It took her about a week to learn her new name. I think she looks more like a Dela than a Cloe anyway.

Answer 8

I personally have changed the name of an older dog, but we started calling him both at first, then just the one, his name was Duke, we called him Duke Panzer, and then Panzer. He didn't mind, he was 6.

Answer 9

yes i got a dog from a pound when i was little she was already named but i changed it to purdy she responded well and was the same loving dog i saw at the pound

Answer 10

if he is young enough then he will be ok. in my house our dogs go by many names like my one dogs name is Grizzly but we call him Grizz, Poopsie(lol), Pup, Puppy, Fuzzball, Grizzybear etc... you could nickname him sumthing like his name but when u first get him used to it dont yell stuff like bad ____ <-- his name, call him sweetly and he should think that his nickname is a good thing and not a punishment word,