To adopt a dog with the same name as my son

[onetwothreeonetwothree]

I have seen a beautiful rescue dog on the RSPCA looking for a home. I think we're the perfect home for him but his name is the same as my 9yo DS. DH thinks this rules the dog out completely as it would be confusing. I think he's being ridiculous and DS is old enough to understand - we haven't asked his opinion yet as he'll be bouncing off the walls at the prospect as soon as we mention it and it's all very much prospective at the minute. DS doesn't have a nickname or anything we could shorten to and the dog is 3 years old so probably couldn't change his name!
YABU - you can't have a dog with the same name as your son
YANBU - your husband is being silly

Leave it the same name. It will save time having to shout both your son and the dog separately 😝

Is there anyway you can rename the dog to something that sounds the same e.g Harry to Garry , Charlie to Marley etc. Obviously depends what your sons name is.
I know a family who changed their dogs name like that and the dog was non the wiser as it sounded so similar. 🤣

We often call our dog "Babba " or suchlike .I think your son would be really thrilled to have the same name as the dog! Most children love having a pet and if you have found one you bond with then thats great!

The dog's name is probably a new one given to him by the rescue charity. Many abandoned dogs arrive with no name and no history.
He's probably untrained; so he's going to be learning lots of new words anyway. A new name can be one of them.

I'm afraid you are naively focussing on the wrong things. His character is of primary importance. Not the name, or looks.

What matters is to choose a dog that that likes/tolerates/is not afraid of /aggressive to children. A dog whose excercise and company needs match your energy, activities and time at home; one whose food costs you can afford, one that fits the available dog space in your car, can't jump your garden fence, whose weight you are capable of lifting, and you, and your son can control on a lead.

That's actually really sensible advice!
You can always give the dog a new name, but keep his current one as a middle name?
That would also be handy for internet passwords.

Just call the dog something new that rhymes with its current name.

Dogs don't hear human speech sounds in quite the same way as us, and you will find if you have a dog named "Sam" for example, and you shouted "Jam!" the dog would probably come.

Or change you sons name, he could choose his own

We changed our old dog's name to something that was totally different because his original name was ridiculous - think a Doberman called Fluffykins who then became Steve. It took him about two days to pick the new name up and we never mentioned the whole Fluffykins thing again.

No problem renaming the dog. He’ll adapt quickly.

Of our cats, we adopted two as adults. We kept Cleo’s name as she was eight years old and also it suited her. We renamed our other cat though who was called “Queen Bea” which seemed a bit pretentious and unnecessarily complicated. She only responds to “Fennel”, “Fen” or “Food” now.

You are expecting the dog to change its routine, its home, who it responds to as an owner, probably even its food, and it will adapt to all these things really well.
What makes you think it wont manage to change its name? For the first few weeks it will probably come running everytime you call your DS but it will learn quickly.
We changed our rescue dogs name with no issues. Dogs are amazing, good luck.

Haven't RTFT so sorry if this has been mentioned.

As I understand it, dogs don't think of their name as their identity. It's more like, "The noise I hear before things happen to me." If the dog's had a caring owner, it will have mainly good associations with its name (although of course you can still easily change it). However, if it's a rescue, it may actually be slightly 'triggered' by its name, so changing it could be a very positive move.

@eggandonion

That's actually really sensible advice! You can always give the dog a new name, but keep his current one as a middle name? That would also be handy for internet passwords.

This really really made me laugh - imagining said rescue dog at keyboard creating strong internet passwords and also thinking ‘thank god mum and dad kept my old name as my Middle name’. Then I read it the way your meant it (I think).

We've had Rescue cats and guinea-pigs (not together) even if we know the names they have a New Name for their New Lives .

Chances are it's not his 'name' anyway . There was an AMA a while ago from a Dog Rescue Manager who said (some like) the saddest thing is when someone dumps an elderly dog without even the dignity of his name .

Our cats' names are nothing like their Rescue names but thankfully they never bloody listen anyway

I would rename the dog something similar sounding. Don't reject if it's the right dog for you.

I would rename the dog with a rhyming name. However, I would also question your husband’s attitude towards the dog. A rescue dog has already had a tumultuous and possibly traumatic life and to then be moved into a home with a resentful or spiteful adult is not ideal.

Sorry about my previous post it was worded too harshly and I am very tired. You can rename a dog. Someone I now adopted an abused dog with an offensive name. She called the dog something that rhymes with the offensive word and loved the dog.

I had a friend as a kid who had the same name as her cat in the same scenario where already named cat was adopted. It was fine.

But you can rename the dog. I follow a few rescue groups and it’s very common for dogs to be renamed when they’re adopted. If you can choose a name with a similar sound it would be easier but the dog will soon learn its new name even if it’s totally different.

I have a son called for example miniSJT

I have a dog called Link.

Because I have to say (in a stupid voice) “ooo Link what a good boy” a hundred times a day and (in a normal voice) “Link! No!!!!” It means everyone else in the flat is automatically called Link.

Now everyone is essentially called Link I just shout one name and everyone listens (including the cat), telling everyone the dinner is ready is much easier.

Rename the doggie. We got our rescue last January and he was called Bono when we got him. He was named Barney straight away as it suits him more. He’s 5 now as well. No issues with him not knowing the name.

Lol that's sweet they have same name.
Our dogs bonnie and Bruce and they answer to each others name's sometimes don't know if it cos both b lol

You can rename a dog within an hour or two, it's really easy

Parents got given a dog with my name when I was young. Changed one letter in dogs name (think Katie became Kacie) and dog didn't notice.
Dsis has called her child the same name as another dog we had at one point. No big deal.

Op I have a rescue dog arriving in February. Her name is the same as mine! I will be renaming her

Our 3yo rescue was called Daisy. We changed it to Stacey. Took her less than a week when she realised calling her a bee name meant a treat! She came running. She’ll be 11 in a couple of months. 🥰

My dog comes to anything. We've actually tested it out I think he just recognises the pitch of my voice.