| Because dog confusion is a major obstacle to | | | | Another way is to make a list of your |
| trainingsuccess, what you name your dog and | | | | favorite names and--ina playful and animated |
| how you use thatname can determine your | | | | voice--try them on the dog. The one towhich |
| success in his training andbehavior. | | | | the dog reacts best is IT! And he WILL react |
| | | | differentlyto different names! Try it! |
| Dogs are vocal, not verbal. How words sound | | | | |
| is important tothem, so consider that then | | | | Contrary to popular belief, a dog's name |
| choosing names and commands. Toyour dog, the | | | | should change withevery new owner. The old |
| words "No," "Know," "Beau" and "Joe" are | | | | thought was that once a dogrecognized hits |
| thesame sound; the dog will have trouble | | | | name, you couldn't or shouldn't change it. |
| knowing which you mean. | | | | |
| | | | Wrong! Since many owners make the mistake of |
| If you name him "Beau" and use "No!" as a | | | | using the namewith a reprimand, or even AS |
| reprimand, saying, | | | | the reprimand, if you keep theold name you |
| | | | tell the dog you're one of THEM--the former |
| "Beau, you know what I want!" reprimands him | | | | crew. |
| twice althoughyou didn't intend a single one! | | | | |
| | | | If the dog is now yours, you can't presume |
| You always want your dog to come to you when | | | | former owners dideverything right. If they |
| you call him, sohow much sense does it make | | | | did, you probably wouldn't have him. |
| to name your dog "Beau" and use | | | | |
| | | | And you're trying to tell the dog this is a |
| "NO!" as your reprimand? He'll have trouble | | | | new start in a newhome, right? Then why use |
| knowing whetheryou called him or yelled at | | | | the old name--especially when it waslikely |
| him. | | | | used negatively in the past? |
| | | | |
| I like to have a dog choose his name. There | | | | Be sure to teach the dog his new name by |
| are two ways todo this. First, spend enough | | | | using it only withthings the dog likes such |
| time with the dog to really getto know his | | | | as treats, praise, meals and loveand |
| personality and select a suitable name. | | | | affection. And don't choose a new name that |
| Forexample, when new to us my Husky-mix not | | | | sounds a lotlike the old one, like "Bo" and |
| only jumped on me,he pinned me to the wall | | | | "Noah". |
| and took stuff out of my shirt pocket! | | | | |
| | | | Use the new name consistently and positively |
| I said to my wife: "Look at this! I'm getting | | | | ONLY with thingsthe dog likes and within a |
| mugged! | | | | week or two he should respond nicely. |
| | | | |
| " Naturally, he became Mugger! A client had a | | | | We changed the names of two of our dogs and |
| veryrambunctious Great Dane pup and I love | | | | now they ignore theold names. |
| the name shechose: Chaos! Let the dog earn | | | | |
| his name! | | | | Article written by Dennis Fetko, Ph.D., "Dr. |
| | | | Dog". |