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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think changing a rescue dog's name is fine?

105 replies

punchegg · 13/05/2023 22:29

DH is saying absolutely no, we keep the name. I personally don't see it as an issue if we make it somewhat similar sounding to a dog's ear. I'm just not a huge fan (dog is named Pluto) thought we could go for something with an o sound at the end still, with 2 syllables, plenty of names.

DH thinks it's mean when it's already a new everything for a dog and the least we can do is keep his name.

What do you think?

OP posts:
OrwellianTimes · 13/05/2023 22:31

Depends how old the dog is?

Original poster
punchegg · 13/05/2023 22:32

Dog is almost 3

OP posts:
Findyourneutralspace · 13/05/2023 22:32

What would you call him?

Figgygal · 13/05/2023 22:33

I've had 2 rescues but both overseas rescues so they were named in the shelter where they were for a short period of time
We didn't change one for same reason as your husband but changed the other despite her having had it longer she was responding to it honestly within days - a lot of it is tone of voice to start with

HostessTrolley · 13/05/2023 22:35

Most rescue dogs have been renamed by the shelter, as long as he feels lived and secure he'll adapt x

MuffinToSeeHere · 13/05/2023 22:35

Depends on why you're changing the name. It seems a tad unnecessary if it's just because it's not your personal taste. I mean sure if he's called something inappropriate then it's a sensible idea but there's nothing wrong with Pluto so why can't he keep the same name?

Smoleymoley · 13/05/2023 22:36

It depends really.. what age is your dog, does it respond well to its name, or is it just a random name. Our rescue was called woolly as she’s fluffy. Dog was definitely not attached to the name and we had no issues changing it to a similar sounding name, tbh I think we could have changed it to anything but she was only 2 and had been quite neglected before her rescue.

Nutsabouttopic · 13/05/2023 22:36

We were advised by the centre to change rescue dogs name. Reasoning was that they may have bad memories associated with the name. New home new start new name.

PurpleFlower1983 · 13/05/2023 22:36

I think 3 is too old, he knows his name!

PurpleFlower1983 · 13/05/2023 22:36

Nutsabouttopic · 13/05/2023 22:36

We were advised by the centre to change rescue dogs name. Reasoning was that they may have bad memories associated with the name. New home new start new name.

Oh really?! That’s interesting!

MuffinToSeeHere · 13/05/2023 22:37

Nutsabouttopic · 13/05/2023 22:36

We were advised by the centre to change rescue dogs name. Reasoning was that they may have bad memories associated with the name. New home new start new name.

Really? That's so random surely by that logic the rescue centre would just rename them.

PimpMyFridge · 13/05/2023 22:38

We kept the name ours came with but we knew he'd had it all his life (he was 5 at that point) and his recall was excellent, he responded to the name really well.
If it wasn't for that I'd have gladly changed it as I want keen on it, but, happy ending, I eventually came to think of him as that name and couldn't imagine him being anything else.

2bazookas · 13/05/2023 22:39

That depends if the dog knows its name and responds to it. Some of our rescues did so we kept the name they knew. Some rescue strays have no known name and the one they've been given by the charity means nothing to them.

Hellocatshome · 13/05/2023 22:39

We kept our rescue dogs name as we had no reason to change it but I can say pretty much any word that ends in the same sound in the right tone of voice and he will come.

Bathroomlove · 13/05/2023 22:40

You can change it, DDog won't mind & will quickly answer to a new name if he gets food/play/fuss.

it's sweet DH cares so much though!

I like Pluto 🐶

PinkFootstool · 13/05/2023 22:41

We decided against it when we got out rescue home. She was so terrified and stressed that we opted to keep her name as it was rather than add to her plate

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 13/05/2023 22:42

We changed our adopted dog's name. We had a very good reason for changing it but she was responding to her new name before we'd even driven the hour home. Was very bizarre that she responded so quickly but it worked for us

triballeader · 13/05/2023 22:42

I wanted to change my rescue dogs name…….she would not let me and would only respond to the name she had been given by the rescue …..even with an almost alike sound. Bribes, treats, toys nothing worked unless I used what she considered HER name. That said she had been in a terrible state when found and needed lots of care for months before she was well enough to be rehomed so had become very attached to her rescue name as it meant care, vets help, warmth and safety. Ten years on and she still has that same name and I decided I had not the heart to insist she changed what she thinks.

My previous rescue dog did not care about having her name changed or what she was called as long as l fed her.

Might just depend on how long the dog has had the name and how attached they have become to it.

KarmaStar · 13/05/2023 22:43

Please dont.the name is the only thing he's ever had of his own nobody has taken away from him.this is what an animal Rehoming specialist said when I took on my rescue dog.I wasn't going to but she said it to all of us in a pre release of each dog to the new carers.Please leave him as he is.💖🌈🐾🐾🌻

Floralnomad · 13/05/2023 22:44

Perfectly ok to change but I must say Pluto is an ace name

WestOfWestminster · 13/05/2023 22:44

How about doing a double barrelled name then slowly dropping the Pluto bit to transition him into his new name? Eg Pluto-Milo, slowly becomes just Milo?

BonnieGlasses · 13/05/2023 22:44

It's a dog, you can call it by any similar sounding name. It'll be fine.

Parkerismydog · 13/05/2023 22:45

Our rescue was called Carlo when we adopted him. Our DS wanted him to be renamed Ghost, for some reason. However, when he arrived, he was into everything ( still is actually, 9 years on) and we kept calling him a nosy Parker... and Parker he remains! I had read it's fine to rename them ( he was only around 18 months when we had him), but tbh he now has other nicknames - Pip and Sausage, and he responds to those too! I think you and your new DDog will be good whatever.

JMSA · 13/05/2023 22:45

Ludo would work. It's Latin for play, so would work well for a lively dog!
Or you could go royal and name him Lupo instead!
Both sound like Pluto anyway.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 13/05/2023 22:45

I kept my dogs name but I liked it. I know lots of people who've changed them though.

My old jrt was called Dooley, old lady in my Nans care home thought he was called "Julie" and he responded to that every time we went 😂 so as long as they sound similar I think it's fine.