SIL keeps refering to my dog as his old name

[BeefLasagneForMyTea]

Hi I brought home a 2 year old dog yesterday. I stupidly told my SIL what his previous name was, which is a stupid name (Ratty McFatty!). We have chosen a new name. SIL thinks we should have kept his old name as, in her words, "he's old to learn a new name" which is complete bollocks.

She keeps calling him his old name. I've asked her not to but she's still doing it!

AIBU to expect her to call the dog the name we have chosen and not his old name?

"he's old to learn a new name" which is complete bollocks.

No it's not.

Can you even rename a dog? I thought they hear "blablahblahblah RathhyMcFatty (dog reacts) blablahblablahblablahblablahblablah Go for a walk (reacts) blablahblablahblablahblablah RattyMcFatty (reacts)"?

When we got a rescue dog, we were asked to keep the name his previous owner had given him, as being called a new name after some years would cause him distress! So Ratty McFatty may be the way forward. .......

When I adopted an 18 month old dog with behavioural issues, I was told by the shelter that I SHOULD change his name, because he would associate his new name with his new life and the new way he should behave. His old name was Denzel. Which I always thought was pretty silly till I heard Ratty McFatty

It does seem mean to change his name when he's all settled into the wondrous Ratty McFatty moniker.

The most you can do if you HAVE to change a rescue pet's name is pick something that rhymes very closely with their original name. Otherwise they'll just be confused and upset.

That gives you limited options with Ratty McFatty, I suppose.

Hatty McJacky?

His old name is brilliant! I love it

Is she round at your place a lot? Enough to confuse him? Just call him by name a lot when you're home; he'll learn the one he hears most often. Don't take her with you when you're training him, and tell her why. It doesn't have to become a big argument.

is it one of the Hairy McClary names? What were they ?
Hairy McClary from Donaldsons Dairy
Muffin McClay like a bundle of hay
Schnitzel von Krumm with the very low tum
Bitzer Maloney all skinny and Bony
Bottomley Potts all covered in Spots
can't remember any more?

Chatty McBatty, GooseberryRoolz.

maydancer I also thought of Hairy Maclary, loved those books. Definitely don't remember a Ratty.

This thread has tickled me :o
What is his new name? Zazzles

pax

I like that.

Carrying on from Border, can you get one of those clicker things or a high-pitched whistle and click it in SIL's ear every time she calls him Ratty McFatty.

Fwiw I love the name Ratty McFatty

I love Ratty McFatty

Mind you, shouting 'McFatty' in my local park is likely to get you a kicking, especially as it's opposite McDonalds.

Blah blah blah Ratty McFatty

Why did my image not attach?

LOL at not being able to change a dogs name.

They're like my old uncle, 'Call me what you like, as long as it's not late for me dinner'.

YABU and, frankly, insane if you expect to drop Ratty Mcfatty in the conversation and expect anyone not to use it.

It's brill, possibly consider changing your own name too

What did you change it to?

My mother always insisted the dog understood every word she said. Her pet example was to exclaim, "biscuits!" and watch the ecstasy. So one day I did the voice and said, "boot polish!" Identical reaction.

A dog can learn a new name. They care a lot more about walks, food and consistently reliable and gentle affection than a foreign species' weird language, IMO.

MrsTerryPratchett . Just as I thought.

Matty

That is an excellent name! I'm going to call my dog Ratty McFatty! It will be added the to plethora or other names he answers to including Yeezy, Cheesit, Dobby and Chunker. He is a chihuahua called Nacho

This reminds me of seeing a picture of an owl cage at a zoo with a plaque bearing the names of the animals, selected by their adopters. Maximilian..and Hooty McOwlFace.

I adore Ratty McFatty but I'm sure she'll adapt to the new name over time. Change can be hard....for SILs.

I'm going to change my 2yo DS' name to Ratty McFatty. He'll cope.