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?

Perhaps you should change it to Arty McFarty?

Surely you can't just change a dogs name at 2 years old? Wouldn't that be really co fusing for him ( no dog experience btw )

Ratty McFatty is a great name anyway

I think I see where the name for the new polar explorer vessel has come from: metro.co.uk/2016/03/20/boaty-mcboatface-leads-online-poll-for-name-of-new-research-ship-5763140/

Ratty McFatty is a great name anyway
as is Hooty McOwlFace

Oh Be, that's hilarious!

Best name ever!

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

op I think at this rate you're going to have to go nc with SIL and all of MN. Ratty McFatty is a damn fine moniker.

She shouldn't really but tee hee, Ratty McFatty is brilliant,.

Find out what her parents called her before they decided on a name and call her that. Using 'Ickle wickle baby' each time she calls Ratty McFatty your dog will surely put her off using it.

Alternatively, tell her she is right, how the dog loves her and looks so much like her that you keep getting them confused - then start calling her McFatty.

Can you rename a dog? I think it would need a huge amount of positive reinforcement so having her use the old name would be confusing.

Dogs don't speak English, though. If the sounds are similar they won't be able to tell, and if you consistently use a new name and reinforce with a treat when they respond, they'll learn it easily and fast. Apart from anything else, they may well not have any concept that a name is theirs, as opposed to something indicating them and likely to signal human attention in some form. I think it's a bit anthropomorphic to think otherwise. They don't have the huge emotional weight we attach to language and words because even if they do have a complex language of their own (which is an unknown, surely?) we don't speak it, and it doesn't mean they have the same emotions about it.

I can't help wondering whether worrying to this degree would be like a dog fretting that we were traumatised every time the flowers changed seasons, because the air smelled different. We are attributing something to them which is important to us, ie our names. Human adoption, and I agree changing names is hard. Canine, and I don't really see it unless it's an older dog who was settled and happy in their old home and really doesn't need any more changes to routine.

Having said that, I love the name. I think it is fab. I can see why SIL is loathe to part with it - maybe point out (if she's a dog lover and likely to have one) that you're vacating it for her own future dog?

Made me think of Boaty McBoatface too

Please come back and post a pic of your legendary dog OP! or I'll start thinking you've made it all up for bored Sunday japes

Is she married and dud she change her name? If she'd keeps it up you could start calling her by her maiden name, though I do prefer the squirty water training.

Every time she calls the dog Ratty McFatty (which is a great name, but obviously not his now) call her Stupid McFuckwit. I bet she'll soon call him by the right name.