Odd question - Call name experience - Page 1

I am bringing in a 2.5 year old female permanently to my kennel in a couple weeks.  She does not have a call name, only pedigree name, and quite frankly, I am not a fan of it.  Depending on how well she knows her name, I am considering changing it.  Obviously any dog can learn a new name, but anyone have any experience if it's a big deal?  It's not the end of the world to keep it either.  Like I said, odd question, but doesn't hurt to ask.  :)

Hahhaaaa, I think she will get used to her new chosen name. I recently bought a 3 month old male puppy, pedigree name is HOOK, I named him ABSAL. As he's only a puppy he got used to his new name in a few days, lol. Good luck with her. By the way does her new name sound better than the pedigree one?

Ibrahim

Thanks Ibrahim!

Like I said, odd question, but wasn't sure with her being 2.5 if it'd be an ordeal or not. Other dogs her age I have taken in had acceptable names or fun call names.  Hehe.

I have yet to decide on a new name.  I have 2 weeks.  She is black and red show line.  

Jessi

I got a female years ago, I no longer own her,  that was 2 years old when I got her... I changed her call name and she learned it in about 2 or 3 days. So it is possible.. I just made a game out of it.... I said the new name and gave her a treat when she looked at me.... she was food driven and learned her new name quickly.

Hope this helps!

Ask the former owner about her call-name, it´s not seldom pedigree name and call-name differ.

In case she is used to the name, I wouldn´t change immediately, but wait for a while. This dog is going to loose its home, the call-name will be the last constant for her

Good to know past experience, but also good points Susie.  I guess that is partly why I asking for opinions....if having a new everything would be too much, or if it would somehow help to be different.

I appreciate the feedback!!

My first GSD was named Lassie by her previous owner. NO WAY was I going to keep that name!!  I chose to call her Lilli Marlene after the famous WWII song (Lilli for short, of course!)

Although she was already 5 years old, she adjusted very quickly!

My current male GSD was named Ralph by his previous owner. Apparently, Ralph is Quebecois slang for a joint. He earned the name after he ate a pot plant that the boyfriend of his owner's daughter was growing.

I changed his name to Ranger. I didn't care for either the sound or the history of the name! (Ralph is also English slang for upchucking, another reason I didn't like the name.)

Thanks for the morning smiles Sunsilver.  :)  Great stories!  Ralph.....lol.

I have never changed the name of an animal I got as an adult unless it came from a really horrible situation and was actually fearful of its previous owners. Rescues seem to do even better with new everything- dogs who were cared for seem to "get with the program" just fine and adjust to ME better if I use their old name.

A year ago, I'd have said who cares? Be kind to the dog and call it what you want. But....let me share what happened to me recently.  

I imported Beauty Krasnoocko in March. The woman I got her from speaks zero English. Google translate pretty much handled it, lol. When she got here, she was polite but standoffish. Kept acting like she had to be somewhere. Slept by the front door. Didn't come when I called her but listened to commands pretty well after a week or so. About 3-4 weeks into having her, the lady I bought her from sends me a message that the only word I couldn't translate was "Megy." I asked her what Megy was. She said "Ooooo, I say Beauty Megy." I yelled "Megy!" and Beauty comes flying into the room with this happy look like "You know me?! I'm supposed to be here?!" and her entire demeanor warmed more in those few seconds than the entire previous month. I have never seen a name make such a huge difference before this experience but even after 3-4 weeks, she did not respond to Beauty at all. She is Megy. (Granted, she is not a young dog. She is 6, and she had a loving home that she no doubt missed, so to her, her old name was comforting as opposed to a dog who would fear the old owner saying their name.)

Interesting story, Jenni! Thanks for sharing!

Ranger was abused by his former owner. That didn't stop him from anxiously watching EVERY pickup truck that drove by for the first couple of weeks, thinking it might be his original owner coming to take him home...

Dogs - if only us humans were that forgiving!