We are thinking of getting a dog from some friends of our friends, and he is around 4 years old. The problem is, we don't like his current name- Riko (sounds like reeko). Does it work to change the name when the dog is this old?
2007-10-22 14:54:02 · 22 answers · asked by Leanne J 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes you definately can!! I changed a dog's name when I got her. Her name was Cassey & I changed it to Ginger. Three years ago I got a rescued dog & didn't care for her name.
What I did was use the two names together for a week or so & eventually dropped the old name.
I am here to tell you you can & to say, dogs are a lot smarter than some people give them credit of being!!!!
2007-10-22 15:04:01 · answer #1 · answered by ® 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My dog was about 9 months old when I got her and changed her name. I asked my vet about the best ways to do this, and here is some of his advice:
* If possible, make the new name sound similar to the old name (same number of syllables, same ending sound, or something like that)
* Don't flip flop between names. The minute you get your new dog, call him by the new name and never ever call him Riko again.
I'm not sure how much harder it would be for a 4 yr old dog, but it worked REALLY well for my dog. Dogs don't have the same psychological attachment to names that humans do, so don't worry - its not "cruel" or anything like that. The dog will probably just think that his new family has its own way of getting his attention :-)
2007-10-22 15:02:00 · answer #2 · answered by Bella 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can change a dog's name at any age. Both of my dogs had different names when I adopted them from rescue and I really didn't like them, thus they got their new names before they even set foot in my house. My boy was only 14 weeks old and went from "Buddy" to "Tatsu." My girl was at least two (estimated at 2-3 years, although she could have been older) and went from "Angel" to "Aina" (and who knows how many owners she had before us and what name(s) they called her).
Personally I don't think the new name has to sound anything like the old one (as Tatsu knew his original name in his foster home when we picked him up but has never answered to "Buddy" since we've had him....and Tatsu sounds absolutely nothing like Buddy). I also think it makes the transition smoother if you just act as though the dog has never had any other name. Using the old name seems like it would be confusing and most dogs will quickly pick up a new name if that's the only thing you call them.
2007-10-22 15:21:18 · answer #3 · answered by ainawgsd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes as long as the new name sounds like the old one. ie. Manzy to Sandy, Buddy to Muddy...I actually like Riko and have a dog named that but spelled differently. As long as the sounds and syllables are similar, he should respond.
2007-10-22 15:05:21 · answer #4 · answered by Smurfette 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do rescue work and I worked in a shelter for 4 years. What I tell people that are going to adopt from me is that if you went to a shelter and adopted an adult dog that was picked up as a stray and now is available for adoption, you will give that dog a name. The chances are very, very slim that you will pick the same name the dog had before it was picked up as a stray. There is no harm in changing the dogs' name. They aren't attached to their names as we are. Our names are part of our identity, the dogs' just want to be called for dinner.
2007-10-22 14:59:57 · answer #5 · answered by gringo4541 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You should try so by a series of names....let's just say you wanted to change his name to Charlie you should say
"Riko Riko Charlie" It has a rythm, and dogs love that sort of thing. Once he gets used to that, you can slowly integrate just Charlie. :)
2007-10-22 15:02:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! You can change your dogs name. I adopt my dogs from the pound without knowing their names sometimes. It only took 1 day for my dog to learn her new name. Just call the new name, and when the dog comes, give it a treat! It is very easy.
2007-10-22 14:58:38 · answer #7 · answered by sonyafly 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can change his or her name but it will take a wile for he/she to get used to it. Riko's owner's probably called him/her this for years so it's not going to respond to you for a long time.
2007-10-22 15:02:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you could change it to a similar name like "Meeko" or "Keeno" and it probably wouldn't make much of a difference to the dog. Just keep the vowels he same, and the dog will probably be receptive. I've got all sorts of nicknames for my dog, and he comes to all of them if I call it in a high pitch.
2007-10-22 14:59:28 · answer #9 · answered by Jen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It'll take a little time, but the dog should get used to his new name. Dog's don't really know their name, they just associate the sound of the call with good things.
2007-10-22 14:57:40 · answer #10 · answered by Dan H 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋