RENAMING YOUR RESCUE DOG OR PUPPY
There are few things in life as rewarding as giving a homeless animal a second chance at life. Some have never had a proper home, many have never had a good home and some have lost their home because of their owner's life circumstances, often the death of the owner or the birth of a child who is dangerous allergic to pets.
One question that often arises is whether or not to give your new dog a new name. This may sound frivolous to some but it's a serious question and a real consideration. Here's my "rule of thumb" for renaming a dog.
If the dog has been in a loving home and has only positive associations with his name, I advise keeping the name. He has already lost so much in life, why subject him to losing the last familiar thing? It will help make the transition easier if he knows that you're talking specifically to him. Acknowledge who he is and always use his name in a loving tone of voice.
On the other hand, there are certainly times when changing your dog's name is advisable, when he needs a fresh start in every possible way, including a new name. In some cases, the dog may have been brought into a shelter off the street and has no name. In that case, the shelter volunteers have named him but his only real association with the name is a loud, cold, noisy shelter environment and what little affection the volunteers can spare when it has to be spread among so many animals. In other cases, the dog has a bad association with his name. These are often the dogs that have been relinquished to shelters. In Breed Rescue Groups, volunteers foster the dogs to help them make the transition to a new home so, for our purposes, we'll be concentrating on shelter dogs or those off the street who have appeared in your life.
Usually, dogs who have been relinquished by their owners have come with some sort of history or their reaction to volunteers can tell part of the story just by watching their body language. While most small dogs are given up because of housetraining issues, many people get a dog and get tired of it so they stick the dog in the backyard, totally ignoring this living, breathing, sentient being. Or they get bored. Or they no longer want the responsibility, or it grew bigger than they thought. The human-animal bond means nothing to these people and it is the dog that suffers. Other people take out their hostilities on the dog, hitting it, screaming at it, kicking it , etc. Not one of these dogs will have a positive association with his or her name. These dogs have often been called by name only to be punished, they've been screamed at, they've been abused.
Along with the tender, loving care you provide a new name will help set the tone for a new life.
Naming your adopted dog will give you both a fresh start. You may want to start with something close to the dog's previous name and use the old name first, quickly followed by the new name. Then switch to new first and then old name, and then phase out the old name entirely.
If the dog's background has been so horrible that quakes when he hears his name, just change it immediately and remember to associate it with only good things. Use his name and toss a treat his way but not directly at him. Don't frighten him because he's had a lifetime of fear. Always call him to you to pat and praise him and give him a small treat. You never want to call any dog to you for punishment or to yell at him. Always make the association positive and loving.
Remember to be patient with your new family member. It takes time to adjust to a new home, a new name, and feel secure. Positive training will help him make positive associations with his new home, his new family and his new life. Speak softly to him, tell him he's a good boy (or good girl) and set your dog up to do things that you can encourage. Mistakes happen. Don't yell at him, especially be careful to use the new name in positive, loving ways and don't rush your newcomer. Allow him to have some time get acquainted. He's going to expect to be yelled at for no reason that he understands, or punished, or left alone in the yard, or returned to the shelter. It takes time to build trust and that wonderful human-animal bond. A slow, steady start and a brand-new name will lead to a lifetime of wonderful experiences and a deep and satisfying human-animal bond for you and your dog
One question that often arises is whether or not to give your new dog a new name. This may sound frivolous to some but it's a serious question and a real consideration. Here's my "rule of thumb" for renaming a dog.
If the dog has been in a loving home and has only positive associations with his name, I advise keeping the name. He has already lost so much in life, why subject him to losing the last familiar thing? It will help make the transition easier if he knows that you're talking specifically to him. Acknowledge who he is and always use his name in a loving tone of voice.
On the other hand, there are certainly times when changing your dog's name is advisable, when he needs a fresh start in every possible way, including a new name. In some cases, the dog may have been brought into a shelter off the street and has no name. In that case, the shelter volunteers have named him but his only real association with the name is a loud, cold, noisy shelter environment and what little affection the volunteers can spare when it has to be spread among so many animals. In other cases, the dog has a bad association with his name. These are often the dogs that have been relinquished to shelters. In Breed Rescue Groups, volunteers foster the dogs to help them make the transition to a new home so, for our purposes, we'll be concentrating on shelter dogs or those off the street who have appeared in your life.
Usually, dogs who have been relinquished by their owners have come with some sort of history or their reaction to volunteers can tell part of the story just by watching their body language. While most small dogs are given up because of housetraining issues, many people get a dog and get tired of it so they stick the dog in the backyard, totally ignoring this living, breathing, sentient being. Or they get bored. Or they no longer want the responsibility, or it grew bigger than they thought. The human-animal bond means nothing to these people and it is the dog that suffers. Other people take out their hostilities on the dog, hitting it, screaming at it, kicking it , etc. Not one of these dogs will have a positive association with his or her name. These dogs have often been called by name only to be punished, they've been screamed at, they've been abused.
Along with the tender, loving care you provide a new name will help set the tone for a new life.
Naming your adopted dog will give you both a fresh start. You may want to start with something close to the dog's previous name and use the old name first, quickly followed by the new name. Then switch to new first and then old name, and then phase out the old name entirely.
If the dog's background has been so horrible that quakes when he hears his name, just change it immediately and remember to associate it with only good things. Use his name and toss a treat his way but not directly at him. Don't frighten him because he's had a lifetime of fear. Always call him to you to pat and praise him and give him a small treat. You never want to call any dog to you for punishment or to yell at him. Always make the association positive and loving.
Remember to be patient with your new family member. It takes time to adjust to a new home, a new name, and feel secure. Positive training will help him make positive associations with his new home, his new family and his new life. Speak softly to him, tell him he's a good boy (or good girl) and set your dog up to do things that you can encourage. Mistakes happen. Don't yell at him, especially be careful to use the new name in positive, loving ways and don't rush your newcomer. Allow him to have some time get acquainted. He's going to expect to be yelled at for no reason that he understands, or punished, or left alone in the yard, or returned to the shelter. It takes time to build trust and that wonderful human-animal bond. A slow, steady start and a brand-new name will lead to a lifetime of wonderful experiences and a deep and satisfying human-animal bond for you and your dog