Can I change dog’s name?

[OutbackQueen]

I’m hoping to adopt a 2 year old dog from a rescue. I don’t like his name though (he’s had it since he was a pup and was with the same owner) and want to change it. I love the name Oscar but his current name ends in “ey”. I previously had a rescue who had no history when I got him (he was 5) so obviously he was given a new name when I rehomed him. Any thoughts please?

I've changed the name of two of the rescue dogs we've had. Neither particularly responded to their original name so I just called them by their new name and they started responding to that after a few days.

Yes. I've done this in the past and the dog worked it out quickly.

My dog has a few names he will respond to. His actual name and a few pet names.

So yes, you can change a dog's name.

Yeah it’s fine I call my dog loads of different nicknames it’s more the tone of voice he responds to

I always thought I should have just called him “what’s this” as that always gets his attention more than anything!

Their name isn’t really their name in the sense our names are. It’s a “pay attention to human/return to human/human about to give me more specific command” signal.

@LemonViolet yes absolutely

So I have loads of dogs. It's me that's the key, if you shout and I shout they will come to me.

Parsnip the terrier. Parson terrier.

Parsnip
Parseee
Parsy
Party
Pars
P
Nip
Parsy warsy

It's just you, a great person once told me, as they were teaching me to train gun dogs and collies, it's you. You could shout fuck off I want you to move out and take your stinky pumps with you but as long as your tones good, it doesn't matter.

Good to hear! I’m very pleased and Oscar it’ll hopefully be. I like Bear as well and may well call him Oscar Bear as my favourite childhood teddy is called Oscar.