can you change your dogs name??

Question

I was given a 6 month old puppy from my sister who had called her ugly...I know shocking, she was nearly bald as a pup, but now she's grown she's not bad. Although I did overhear someone say she's like 'a weasel on a rope' .....(....I am just composing myself from the indignity)
Anyway I want to call her Ugly Betty, like the TV, and then leave of the Ugly bit. She looks at me when I call her Betty, but still seems confused, She comes when I call her , anything.

Answer 1

poor dog, might b a bit confusing 4 a while.
but dogs can pick on many names & still know u're talking either 2 them or at them.
my dog has many names/nicknames but he knows i'm talking 2 him.
ugly? i've heard worse names!
call her UGH, c if she answers?
Ug.
bet she's far from ugly.

& may i say thanx 4 giving her a chance.
not all dogs r so lucky.
:)

Answer 2

It's fine to change her name; but do it soon, you have to train her to answer to Betty, call her Ugly Betty for a a few weeks and reward her with treats if she answers to it then leave the Ugly bit off and do the same thing with the treats, it is a gradual process like teaching her a trick, try it!

Answer 3

You can change your dogs name, dogs from dogs homes oftwn have their name changed. You don't always know what the original name was, although it helps if you do. You can also change any word of command using this method;
Be consistant. Decide what you want her new name to be and stick to it. Stick to the same tone of voice for now as well, it will help her learn faster.
Use the new word immediately followed by the old one. Consistantly reward her for paying attention to you when you use it.
When she answers this - in about 2 weeks - drop the second part which is her old name.

Answer 4

Poor ugly, I bet shes a babe!!!

What was your sister thinking!!! Beauty is in the eye etc, and don't mind those inconsiderate shites calling her a weasel on a rope. At least she was out enjoying her walk at the time.

Answer 5

You can change the dog's name, but it is best to change it while they are still small (around 6 months, like you say is probably the maximum allowed time), because they will learn to incoroprate sounds they hear and respond to them when they become familiar. So changing the name of your dog after it is 1 year or more could confuse it.

Answer 6

You can definately change your dogs name, regardless of how old it is. I rescued two greyhounds - one was 4 and the other was 7. They had wierd names, so i changed them. It took a while, but they soon learned them, and responded to them. A lot of what a dog responds to is HOW you say the word, not actually what you're saying.

Answer 7

She is young and you are a new owner, so I guess you can change the name, it's not too late. She is at the best training age, so she will learn the new name if you call her a lot and reward her when she comes to you at this name.

Answer 8

If you keep calling her Betty,offer her a biscuit and tell her she's a good girl. She will learn her new name in no time.I bought a 2 year old husky, her name was Sumo, did not suit her. I changed her name to Mariah. She learned it fast.

Answer 9

Be careful u might be resposible for giving ur dog a identity crisis, then pay so much money at the vet psychiatrist, trying to undo the damage

Answer 10

Yeh you can, just keep calling her it and making a fuss when she comes to the "correct" name. We changed our rescue dogs name from "Bernard" to "jam"!! I've also managed to change several cats names. They just respond to the noises that mean FOOD!!
Hehe.

Betty is an awsome name for a dog btw ;)

xxx