How do you feel about changing a pets name?

If you really feel the new name would be more fitting and appropriate or if you dislike the old name , I think you should go for it. I am sure the Dog would get used to it and try not have any moral issues. Dogs in general are quite smart and will answer to the name you come up with. The important issue here your comfort level with the dog's name. Personally I wouldn't change a pet's name, it will be a lot of work I think. I would treat it as a friend anyway and accept the name that comes along with the package. I was one of the lucky ones who got to name their pets so haven't really faced this dilemma ever. If you like the name then it will not be an issue at all.

My cat was named Shakti when I got him, and I thought it was cute, so I kept it. When I was a little girl we got a puppy named Jenny. There was a little girl across the street named Jenny, and when we called our pup, the girl would come running thinking we were claling her, or get upset when Dad would yell "Jenny, get out of the flowers!" We changed the dog's name to Penny, which sounded enough like Jenny that the dog would understand, but was different so that Jenny across the street would know we were talking to the dog.

No, I havent. I wouldnt like my name changed so I wouldnt change a pets. I ahd a cat once who'se name I didnt really like, but i didnt want to change it. My other two cats already had names also. My cats name now is Fluffdaddy everybody seems to get a kick out of it. I cant take credit for the name but it's funny.

I kept Sophie's name when we got her. But you can change the dogs name if you like. The dog will learn to associate the new word with it's name, given time. You can also use a double name. Your chosen name for the 'first name' and the original name for the 'middle' name and your last name to indicate that the dog is your family member. So, you use the three names together for a time and, sooner or later, you can drop the original name. The dog, like Pavlov's, will associate the name you wish and disassociate the original name. The dog will be fine.

That is cool that you are adopting a dog tomorrow my friend and I wish more people would adopt more pets and give them good homes,and that is cool that they told you that you could change his name if you choose to,but I agree with you he knows his name and that is the name he answers to,and it would not really be fair to give him a new name to have to learn and get used to answering to,and if we got a dog I would not change his name I would just use the name he came with.

Change the dog's name only if you have a very good reason of doing so. Like if you already have a dog who's got the same name, or just like the "jenny-penny" story of one of your respondents (that was really funny!), or the dog's current name is something that is so out of this world you'll have trouble pronoucing it. Dogs as we all know adheres to their names, that's how they get attached to their owners, and changing his/her name especially if he/she is already old enough as it will certainly cause confusion to the dog. I won't change the dog's name if I were you...I'll leave it as it is. Never mind if its a very common name (i.e. Rex, Sam, Bob, Brownie, Blackie, etc), its his/her name and he/she got every right to retain it.

My pets usually end up with two names from me at least. It would be more like giving them a new name to go with the one they already have. Dogs are smart, they can learn a second name to go with the first. He would probably answer to both.If you really like the original name, though, I guess it would not matter.

One year ago I got an 8 month old male chihuahua puppy named Chuck. The name did not fit him at at!! I changed it to Pepi, short for Pepito and because he was full of pep. He took to his new name right away and seems to be happy being my Pepi.

Dogs aren't attached to their names like people are. He won't have a doggy identity crisis, if that is what you are worried about. Just use the new name a lot (especially at mealtime!) and he'll get used to it really fast. YOu could even pair it with the old name for a bit (use the new name first) so he may make the transition faster. We did change our dog's name when we got him, the rescue group had named him Deeohgee (d-o-g), which was cute, but not what I wanted to be yelling out the back door for the next 12-15 years. He took to his new name really fast, however, part of that was probably due to him getting so much undivided attention for the first time in his life.

Sometimes I do, especially a dogs name. I try not to change it too much though, especially if the dog is used to the name. It's easy for a dog to learn a new name if it has the same vowel sounds. (That's what they respond to most) Lenny to Benny and Rake to Jake are two I've changed. The dog we have now didn't have a name that we knew of even though she was 3 yrs old, so the rescue centre named her Zara which I didn't think suited her. We called her Willow and she quickly got used to it. I think she'd have responded to anything we chose as she was just happy to be taken notice of.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to change the dog's name. When we adopted our dogs a few years ago we thought about it. But we ended up not changing them because they already knew their names. And on top of that they suited them. If the dog knows his name then you will most likely find it a bit difficult to get him to respond to something else.

I was like you too...I adopted a dog with the name of an old boyfriend. Oh my goodness... I had a hard time with the name for a while. And I felt the same as you...it wasn't "fair" to change his name. BUT...I tried to. Yeah...a little selfish...however, my little dog...he is quite the stubborn goof. He would not have it. He would not come for any other name. So...now I have a dog with an ex's name. Oh well...he is much better than my ex ever was. Ha ha ha :-) I hope you have a GREAT life with your little buddy. I just love dogs. Is that him in your picture? He is a cutie (if it is). Well...take care and have a GREAT weekend. ENJOY your new dog...whatever his name is. ;-)

I think that you should leave it. He already knows it. I'm sure that he would get used to a new name, but he would be under a great deal of confusion at first. I mean, how would you feel if everyone started calling you a different name. ( I know its not the same, but still)

I think it's a personal choice, but I feel it may honestly confuse the dog if he/she is already accustomed to the name. I am sure you can have them learn the new name, but it might take a lot of time, and effort.

I had an Alaskan Husky and his name was beaver. He was called this because he would chew on his dog house and it would be in pieces. I had said his name once a bit too loud at a crosswalk and I got some really funny looks. I changed his name that very day. He did not mind as he seemed to like his new name. It's quite easy to change their name. I had an Old English Sheepdog named WooWoo. As you have already guessed, I changed his name!!! It really depends on the name they have as to whether or not I will change it. We got Kai, our Siberian Husky from welfare and we didn't change his name as it suits him.

I too think if one knows it's name it should not be changed. It's unrealistic to change their name when they already know the one they were given. I have added to a name before but not changed it so the little one doesn't know I'm talking to them. For instance, Jack was changed to Jackie Lyn. His first name on his papers is Cash, but the ones I got him from said he never answered to that name. So they named him Jack. Well, I don't like having ones named the same as I've had a name before. I had a wolf, husky named Jack. That was his name and his alone. So Jackie is my newest member in the family.

The cat I have turned up on the doorstep one night after Christmas a few Years back as a kitten..It moved in,got fed,cleaned up..We took it to the Local vet for a checkup,who told us it was female,so My SO gave "Her" a feminine sounding name..then came the time we decided She wasn't going to be presenting us with litters of Kittens,and took her for the "Op"..or rather,My SO did..and She returned with news..an op was performed,but not the one we'd expected..yep,our kitten turned out to be MALE! So we had to rename him...

how old is the dog? if he is already an adult i think it'll be easier if his name remains. also, do you have any issues with his name? i got my cats when they were kittens. only one had a name given by the animal shelter. i didn't like it because his name then was frisky. believe me, he was THE friskiest kitten i've ever seen. i changed his name since he doesn't really answer to frisky anyway. cheers ;p

Yes, yes, yes! You are the leader in this one. Changing your dog's name when you first get him/her is more than okay. I think it is a new start for them and they need to know they are now "..." I changed my new puppy's name and that was 8 years ago. She loves her new name and wears it proudly. She associates her new name with me and our home. It is a positive thing. I think calling her/him the same name may send their memory back to the "other" place--you know? My opinion. Even if he knows his old name dogs have the capacity to learn at least 300 words. So go with your flow and do what you want. After all, you will be responsible for his health, life, emotions, environment, etc., etc. Love the picture, by the way of the dog in your question. I had one just about the same color and just like that...was the love of my life and will always be my favorite dog...we had one of those special things between a dog and his master, you know? Uncanny how much love she had for me and I for her. All I can say is that she better be there in heaven when I get there! (and I have a feeling she will be...her name was Panda). Have a great time with your new dog!!!

I guess that all depends on the dog. How old is it? How long has it had that name. I adopted a Collie when he was 2 (he had been a show dog but was mainly kenneled) so he had a "call name" of Striker I tried the name and he didnt even look at me. So I figured he was a clean slate. His name is now Tennyson. :)