Dog Health Questions: Dog training: Is a name only a name?

Question: If I get a dog, say a two year old and it's name is like say 'Buttercup' can I teach that dog to respond to say 'Butch' later on or is it going to look at me stupidly? :) The question being: Can you rename a dog after it has learned its name and get it to answer to a new one?

Top Dog Training Tips

Recommended Answer:
I woudn't

but that's just me

What To Look For In Dog Training Ebooks

• I think you can. We have dogs that not only respond to their name, but also respond to numerous nick names that they have given throughout their life.


• Dogs will answer to anything, try them. Some however, are smarter than others.


• Yes. In fact, if the dog has came from an abusive situation its strongly suggested that you change their name.


• You CAN teach an old dog new tricks, which name changing is considered a trick. =P So yes, it could be done. Not easy, but done.


• Yea, but it takes awhile before they relise you are talking to them. But you can, my friend has my old dog "Eddie" he responds to kiba now, and getting him to acknowlage the name eddie doesnt happen often


• Yes you can rename a dog. That's what shelters do. They name strays that come in. The dogs will learn their name as long as you reward them for answering.


• Yes, but it takes patience. Think of all the strays and such that go to animal shelters, they get new names all the time.


• yes most definately! i thought i was going to have this problem when i got my new dog who was 3, but after a couple of weeks of constantly saying joe instead of henry, and giving him treats whenever he came near me after i said it, he soon assoiated the sound with himself and treats! now hes great!


• I think you can as long as you are consistent. Our dog has several names and answers to all. her name is Chloe but we call her fruit loop, brat dog, you get the point. Once you have established strong communication your dog will know when you are addressing them even if you call them a different name.


• well a word is a word. i have 2 names for my dog. one for getting her attention and another wile hunting. (i dont really hunt, just play stalking birds and lizards)
  so i would say i yes, but its easier on the dog to limit their vocabulary to a few different sounding words. sit, stay, no, lay-down, name, cookie... if you want to rename her, best to use butch to feed her cookies, that will get her attention and train her to come to you.
  
  remember not to use their name negatively or when she has done something bad. if you do it will tell her that she may be punished when she hears her name. mixed messages.


• Yes so say the dogs name is buttercup now like you said and you want it to be butch so you join the two names together and then start putting emphasis on butch ten after awhile you will be able to drop buttercup all together!there are books that have the whole training of this laid out for you.good luck!


• The dogs I have had over the years have come to a variety of names. I think they are like our kids and pick up nicknames as they get older. SO - I am sure if you give it a try you'll find your dog will answer to pretty much anything.


• Dogs don't understand what a name is. For them, the name is only an association to something else. It could be good (like if you taught the dog its name by rewarding it with food when it responded) or it could be bad (its previous owner kicked it while yelling the dog's name). Feel free to rename your dog or use multiple nicknames. The dog won't care. :)


• try to pick a name that sounds like the one he has. if your dog is a male why would someone name it "BUTTERCUP"? poor thing probably hasn't been able to hold his head up in the dog parks.


• no you cant because a dogs name is important to them, like lets say some won wanted to shorten your name and you didn't know so you didn't respond to it well its the same with a dog she wont know your calling her let Alon talking to her so just call her by her actual name.


• You can and clicker training (used properly) is one quick way to do it.


• Yes, of course. Just call him his new name when you pet him, play with him and feed him. Dogs are smart, and they pick up on cues easily. They pay attention when their beloved master is speaking to them.


• Sure, just pair the new name with a treat every time you say and it and the dog will start paying attention to you when you say the name.
  
  www.fearfuldogs.com