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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

useitorlose · 14/05/2023 02:04

My dog is on his third name and he's only 18 months old. We got him in December and it only took him a week to be 100% secure on his current name. He's Harvey now, the rescue called him Joe and I've no idea what it was before that.

DiscoBeat · 14/05/2023 02:08

If I hated it I'd change it to something similar-sounding (in your case probably Hugo). I'm sure if whatever name it was if it were called out with an accompanying biscuit they would soon learn!

BritWifeInUSA · 14/05/2023 02:09

We changed one of ours because his name was a swear word. We were told dogs don’t hear names the way we do and they only hear the first syllable and the tone pattern. So we kept the first syllable and tone pattern and changed it. He responded to the new name immediately. He was 6 when he was adopted.

TwoShades1 · 14/05/2023 02:43

We have done twice. Once he was a lost dog we found and couldn’t find his owners so we ended up keeping him. We had no idea of his name so just named him. The other one we really hated the name so changed it to one of a similar sound, dog seemed to have no issues adjusting.

WishingMyLifeAway · 14/05/2023 02:45

Your DH is anthropomorphising. It's not an adopted child!

The dog won't give two shits if you change its name. It doesn't understand language. Or the things/people or pets have names. It knows to respond to a particular sound and can be retrained to respond to a different sound. Obviously as you have said if that sound is similar that will be an easier process.

The more important thing is to give your dog a good home. Make him feel safe and give him lots of love.

WiddlinDiddlin · 14/05/2023 05:11

Depends on the dog and the situation they came from.

From an abusive situation, name they had whilst there, I might well change it.

From a shelter, had that name only a matter of weeks and has no real positive association to it, yep, I'd change it.

Older dog from a loving home, responsive to the name and no negative associations, I would probably keep it unless i REALLLLLLLLLLY hated it and then I'd change it to something v similar but thats more my sentimentality rather than the dogs needs.

So I had a dog called Gabi, from a very abusive set up, she'd flinch on hearing the hard 'Ga' start to her name, so we dropped the G and she was Abi and that worked out just fine.

If the whole name had made her tense up (I had a Molly who did!) then change it totally.

Names are really only a word that means 'hey you, pay attention' and they SHOULD mean 'the next thing that happens involves you and it'll be lovely..' but for some dogs it doesn't mean that, it means 'oh shit, trouble' or even 'blah blah white noise do as you please'.

Change if it you want, as long as you build the right association with it, the dog won't care

Rotormotor · 14/05/2023 05:16

I could call my dog a thing as long as he gets a treat 😆

Rotormotor · 14/05/2023 05:16

Anything

AwaaFaeHom · 14/05/2023 05:26

You could call it Bluto (character from Popeye) which might be closer enough for your husband to agree..

tabulahrasa · 14/05/2023 06:07

Dogs don’t speak English, or understand how names work...it’s just a sound people make at them that means they want their attention, same as sit means sit down and come means come over here.

Personally if a rescue responds to it and it’s not hideous I leave it, but just out of convenience.

You’re not taking away their name, you’re changing a command really.

Totalwasteofpaper · 14/05/2023 06:18

We kept our rescues (stupid) name because we didnt want her to have even more change.... because ot was mean (what an idiot i was)

My dm didnt keep her rescues (perfectly nice) name because it was boring.

Now both our dogs have dumb names 😅
Ours has about 10 nicknames and answers to them all... if you have a dog biscuit

BoobyDazzler · 14/05/2023 06:25

My dogs got about 9 names and he responds to them all 😂

change it if you like, he won’t mind.

Swannyb · 14/05/2023 06:27

Change it! My dog was named by the rescue so he didn’t respond to it. I misheard the name so I was calling him something else anyways 😂

Nice job on getting a rescue dog, by the way. 🙌🏻

Catsmere · 14/05/2023 07:09

Depends, is it his name from before or did the shelter choose it? I have only once kept a pet’s name from a shelter, because it was one I had wanted to use previously. All the others were unappealing and my cats quickly learned their new names!

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/05/2023 07:11

It’s fine (psst: he doesn’t speak English 😁). If I understand it correctly, it’s not the name your dog responds to, but your tone.

TeaDrinker247 · 14/05/2023 07:22

Changed our 3yo rescue cockers name from Daisy to Stacey. Trust me as a rescue, a name change is typically the last of their problems.

hungryh1ppo · 14/05/2023 07:23

I adopted a dog called 'baby' 🙄 I renamed her a different name (completely different number of syllables and sounds) and she was responding within a day. Dogs are not emotionally attached to their names - they respond to the sound that gets them attention/praise/food.

ginsparkles · 14/05/2023 07:39

Ours was a stray so was given the name when they picked her up. So she had only had the name a couple of weeks. We changed it straight away and from the moment we reserved her, the rescue centre used our chosen name to get her used to it.

I would ask the rescue place how long he has had the name, if it's 3 years probably harder to change, if they gave it when he came in, might as well go for one you all like.

Paq · 14/05/2023 08:16

It's fine to change it. The dog doesn't know it has a "name", it's not like its identity. It just associates a particular set of syllables and intonation with "look up/pay attention/come here".

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 14/05/2023 08:18

It's absolutely fine!

All my animals have at least 15 nicknames and they respond to all of them

SouthCountryGirl · 14/05/2023 08:18

We kept one name because it suited him. Changed another dog's name because it sounded stupid and mum "wasn't going to shout that down the park!"

Velvian · 14/05/2023 08:24

Another vote for Lupo. We kept our rescue dog's name the same, as she was 5. Our friends that rescued a dog at the same time changed the of their dog to something that sounded totally different.

I did think it was a bit mean, especially as the first name was better. 😅

Nobledeedsandhotbaths · 14/05/2023 08:26

We were advised it was fine to change it as dogs are pretty clever, and quickly work out "That was the sound those people used when they wanted me to come, and this is the sound these people use."

My3dahliasarebloominlovely · 14/05/2023 08:35

We changed all of our rescue dogs' names in case of bad connotations.

KrasiTime · 14/05/2023 08:37

We changed our rescues name - she was 6. We wanted positive associations for her with a new name. Didn’t take her long to adjust to it.

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