Is it too late to change my dog's name?

Question

I got my puppy from a rescue foundation in August. When I got him, they had already named him Petey. I have been going with it ever since because he seems to know that it is his name. But, I do not like the name at all. Is it too late to change it? I am also taking him to obedience classes right now, and I am hesitant to change his name while he is learning.

If you think it is OK to change his name, do you have any suggestions? He is a mutt, hound and lab on the paperwork (although I definitely see German Shepard in him too).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer 1

you should definitely change his name. He is your dog now and it sounds silly but by naming him you will bond better and he will become more of a member of the family. I to have a "pound" dog and I renamed her. She seemed to "like" her new name better. LOL I certainly did!!

Answer 2

Talk to the obedience class instructor and see what the instructor says.

You can change his name but the best thing would be to change his name to something that sounds similar to Petey like Sweety or Poppy, Porter, or whatever. Dogs respond to the sounds you make when you call their names; they do not really respond to their name, per se.

We got our dog at a Humane Society and he was 2 years old. His name at the time was Calvin - which we disliked. We changed his name to Pagnol (pan-yol) and he did not have any trouble responding to the name after a couple of weeks.

Just be sure you spend a lot of time with the dog - to bond with him - and keep speaking his name. Give him treats if you call him by the new name and he comes. Be sure to call him by the name when you feed him.

Answer 3

Since it's only been since August it's not too late but as mentioned it may take some serious work and patience to get him to come to his new name. Just keep using the new name over and over and DO NOT use the name petey again or you will confuse him!

Answer 4

Ask the trainer at the obedience class what is best. If he knows this name he could get confused now or after the training. Why don't you just keep the name?

Answer 5

If you want to change it change it now. I have adopted dogs for years and always end up changing their names. He is learning new things so it is probally the best time to incorporate it. With the new new commands he can get used to a new name. Do the name changing at home, use the reward system to re-enforce it. He will learn quickly.
Cooper
Copper
Ollie
Dallas
Baily
Tobby
Noah

Answer 6

He probably will not know that you are talking to him. It might take some serious working with him to get him to know a new name. If you are taking him to classes it might be a good time to try with him since you are introducing him to a whole new world of obedience.

Answer 7

It may not be too late, I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure dogs can't understand english but recognize sounds that we make and that maybe y dogs react to certain commands that we give them!! So if you were to change his name it would probably be just like teaching him a new trick. It may not be a bad idea to give him a similiar name like Pete or something that sounds like Pete its up to you!! P.S. Its all about repetition!!

Answer 8

I have a lab/husky mix that we rescued when she was 18 months old. Her name was Shebezz (she thanked us when we changed that one) we renamed her Sherbet and she took to it. Try to stick as close to the name the dog already has and he will pick it up no problem.

Answer 9

No, it's never too late to change a dog's name. You will have to train him to respond to the new name though, just as you train him to respond to the word sit, or stay.

Answer 10

It would probably be to late to change Petey's name becuase he already understands it and he's used to the name when somebody calls him.