There are various reasons for changing your dog's name. The great thing is that your furry friend is able to learn this pretty quickly and easily, regardless of whether it's his first name or a new one. In a few days, and with a little persistence, you will be able to teach your pet this and get him to respond by following some basic training techniques.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choose the Name
Step 1. Know that it is not a big problem to change the dog's name
The animal will probably be a bit confused at first, but dogs learn quickly. In addition, many experts recommend changing it to those specimens that have been mistreated (or suspected of having been victims of it), as they may have associated fear, punishment and abuse with their original name. In these cases, much more than a simple name is changed, in reality the animal is allowed to move forward and overcome the trauma.
There is no reason to feel guilty in changing the dog's name, unless the previous owner has specifically requested not to do so
Step 2. Choose the name
Once you have made the decision to change it, the next step is to choose the new name. You can get some advice by reading the article in this link. Here are some guidelines:
- If you know the previous name, choose a word that sounds similar to help the dog in the learning process. For example, the two names could be rhyming or starting with the same sound.
- Usually, dogs learn short, one- or two-syllable names like Ruby, Bonnie, Billy, and so on more easily.
- Try to use 'hard' consonants and vowels, such as 'k', 'd' and 't'. Their sound is better received by the dog, which is able to distinguish them better than 'soft' consonants such as 'f', 's' or 'm'. For example, names like Katie, Dart and Tommy are easier to recognize than Fifì or Sally.
- Avoid any names that sound similar to common dog commands ("no", "sit", "kennel" and "come"). In these cases you can confuse the animal that does not understand exactly what you want.
- Don't choose a name that sounds like that of another family member, human or animal. Again, this would create confusion and slow down the learning process.
- Do not use temporary nicknames while choosing the final one. If you use different names, the dog doesn't understand what you want and you make the name change more complicated.
Step 3. Tell the whole family the new name of the dog
Before re-training your faithful friend, you must be sure that all family members are aware of the name change and are in agreement. If called by multiple names, the dog would be very confused. If everyone is aware of the process, then the training will be more consistent.
Part 2 of 2: Teaching the New Name
Step 1. Give him some treats
Teaching a dog its new name is very similar to any other type of training. Just like when you train him to respond to your call, you need to make sure he associates his new name with treats and cuddles, like positive reinforcement. Give all family members treats to keep in their pockets and instruct them to call the dog by the new name from time to time and reward it.
Remember to say the name in a positive tone. Never use it when you feel exasperated, angry or when you scold the animal with a "no". It is vital that your furry friend only associates positive experiences with his name and not punishment and unhappiness. Get all family members to do the same
Step 2. Take your dog to a place where he can give you his full attention
Try the back garden or another quiet outdoor setting where there are no other dogs to distract him. You can also start home training. The dog can be either free or on a leash.
Step 3. Say his name in a cheerful and excited voice
Give him a treat and lots of cuddles. Repeat this process several times over the course of five minutes. Your friend will soon learn that that sound indicates his or her new name and will focus on the person pronouncing it.
- Training sessions must be short, because dogs can keep their attention for a short time and get bored quickly.
- Divide several short sessions throughout the day. When you are not training him directly, you should say his name every time you talk to him. Plus you can also call him when he's not focused on you. But remember not to overdo it. If your dog responds to the call, reward him with a treat and lots of cuddles.
Step 4. Say the dog's name when he is busy with other chores
After several training sessions, during which your faithful friend pays attention to you, wait for the moment he is not looking at you before calling him. Again, use a cheerful and happy tone of voice.
If the dog is on a leash and does not turn around when you call him, then gently tug him as you repeat the name, give him a treat and praise him. In this way he associates his name with a positive experience
Step 5. Gradually stop giving the reward food
When your dog constantly reacts to your every call, it is time to gradually reduce the treats. Begin rewarding him at alternate times when he responds to his name and approaches you. Keep decreasing the rewards until they are no longer needed.
Step 6. Be consistent
Although it may take some time for your dog to learn his new name, know that if you say it often, always in a cheerful tone and punctually give him treats and cuddles, then the training process will be quick and your friend. he will answer every time you call him!
