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Many of you want to know: "Can I rename this dog? What do I call him if I don't know
his name?" After all, names are special to people. For most of us it's important that
others use the right name or form of address in all aspects of our lives, from friends to
business contacts. However, dogs are much less picky about their names.
We at SCLRR do not always know a dog's name, especially if we got the dog from the
shelter who in turn picked it up as a stray. We give names to all the dogs coming in.
We retain the old name if known, and give new ones if not. Most rescue organizations
do this as well. In fact, the greyhound rescue folks more often than not arbitrarily
rename all their incoming dogs, discarding track names even when known. And quite
often, the adopting family will select another name they prefer after adopting the dog.
We simply start using the new names. It normally takes about two to three weeks for
most dogs to learn their new name. Give the dog a treat each time you use his new
name; he'll start paying close attention very quickly! If you're changing a dog's name
and you know the old name, it can help to chain the old and new names together and
then eventually drop the old name. For example, to change Kody's name to Kona, you
might start by calling him Kody-Kona, then Kona-Kody, and eventually just Kona.
Dogs are not traumatized by learning a new name. In fact we suspect in some cases,
they are glad to be rid of an old name that has associations of pain, misunderstanding,
or fear. So go ahead and think up that perfect name for your new companion!
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