CollineRosso

Would it be morally wrong to rename a rescued Doberman? I think I want to rescue one from Aztec, but the names of some of them don't appeal to me. Am I being too selfish? Or will renaming possibly help the dog to overcome any trauma? Please let me know what you think. Thank you
-Michelle

Toby'shuman

My mum used to say renaming was bad luck and as I am superstitious I follow her creed.

Regards helping a dog get over trauma. To be honest I don't think a dog associates its name with something like that. Actions, situations yes, but not its name. But of course others may not think this.

Personally I believe a dog has enough to contend with when coming into a new home so renaming it might be a bit much.

However, when I adopted a Beagle he came from an American family who called him Jordi. Now the English pronounce this name differently we also tend to spell it differently (Geordie) to you guys. So the way we got round it was, we would say his name first as they used to say it, (with the american twang) then how we say it, eventually we dropped the American version when he started to prick up his ears when we used the English (and correct way may I add, lol) of saying it.

Thank you by the way for considering a rescue. I hope you find your forever friend real soon.

OldDrumDobes

Be less concerned about the dogs name and more concerned about what dog best fits your lifestyle and personality! You can name a dog anything, it's often the tone of your voice they respond to. If renaming I suggest picking a name that sounds the same (ex. Holli, Molly). Realize some dogs in rescue got there without a name, they were found, dropped off without info, ect.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________

Ali & Martin Doughty
Old Drum Dobermans

Anton-Caesar

i was going to say its more tone than actual name

blueberry

I re named my rescue from Bernie to Huckleberry. I just started calling him by is new name as soon as we got in the car in a sweet tone....he responded pretty quick to Huckleberry. That being said....I have always had a few different nicknames for each of my dogs and they respond to them. It's more about the tone while giving them eye contact. So as others have stated find a dog that fit your situation and worry about the name later. And thanks for rescuing!

Adobe4two

Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. Some rescue names annoy the tar out of me or are so bizarre for that animal / personality. Or were just randomly named based on a rescue worker's / previous owners interests (like Harry Potter, Twilight or Hunger Game names). Or they end up with names that are bad luck (like lucky). Plus, many of the breeds end up with stereotypical names like Diesel, Tank, Spike, Jager for big dogs or Fluffy, Fifi, cupcake, maggie, molly, Daisy ect for small dogs. Or seasonal names like Kringle, Claus, ect,

Plus, it adds to the fact the dog is getting a fresh start. Shelter / rescue names are just too over-used or impersonal in my opinion. Many are given just to make it easier to connect to the dog because its more intimate to introduce potential homes to "Max" than it is to introduce them to dog A195.

Go with whatever name you want. Chances are, they've already had at least one name change anyways. And its very easy for a dog to recognize a new name, like others said: Its the tone.

My last foster got called everything from his name "Patriot" to cow dog, moo cow, slobber monster, monster mutt, Dweeb, ect. He answered to everything.

dax0402

My Baron was 13 months old when he was rehomed to us. The woman used part of his registered name and it didn't roll off my tongue that good so we changed it the night he came home and by the next day he responded to it. Sound of voice and treats always help. I wouldn't be concerned like others have said.

__________________
2013 Dobermantalk Calendar on sale now!

Lois and Baron

cmcassity85

Our rescue boy's name was Reemer when we adopted him....

That wasn't going to fly so we named him Chance instead (i.e. 2nd chance at a home and his personality reminded me of Chance from the movie Homeward Bound)

dragonflyz

I rename all the dogs that I bring into work as most of them come from bad situations..... so a new name is a fresh start. When I foster dogs if they came with a name I tend to keep it knowing full well that their new people will probably rename the dog but my own personal dogs thru the years I have always renamed. My mastiff (RIP) was Bertha- I renamed her Hayden. My Bouvier I renamed Raina (can't remember what her name was). My Chihuhua's name was Chewey- my daughter renamed him Zak. The only dog I haven't renamed is Shultz because I actually like that name. LOL

As previously stated be more worried about finding the right dog, a good name will come to you. Dogs don't care what you call them as long as you feed them and pay attention to them. LOL

__________________

PatchworkRobot

I also see nothing wrong with it. While not a rescue, I got my little dog at 6/7 months of age and changed her name as soon as we got into the car - she was fine.

__________________

Deathmetal

The name my GSD came with was Scooby. I think I called her that once before throwing it out the window so to speak. Her name is Shenzi and it fits her well. My doberman's registered name is Frolic and I gave her a call name, Zira. So there are two words that are 'banned' in my house. No one says scooby, no one says frolic.

__________________
-Cassie
Shenzi the GSD
R.I.P Zira, I love you always

lulu582

I don't see anything wrong with renaming them. They are starting a new life, why not give them a new name?! I renamed my rescue boy because his previous name didn't fit him or appeal to me, and he learned his new name very fast! He probably got tired of hearing me say his new name, Deacon, all the time lol!

Best of luck finding the perfect guy or girl to fit your family and lifestyle, that's the most important part :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

__________________

Thor_Red

I renamed both my rescues. They picked up their new name in no time. Cleo was approx. 6 years old when I got her and Thor about 2 1/2. I didn't like either of their names. Cleo actually had 2. The rescue gave her one when they pulled her from the shelter where she showed up as a stray. After they spayed her, her previous owner showed up, but they didn't want her back since she was already spayed and just told them oh and by the way she has a torn ACL. We just never got it fixed. To them I say good riddance. They are just lucky my husband never found out who they are. He is normally a big Teddy Bear but you don't want to f#@$ with on of his fur kids that is if you survive Mama Bear

__________________

Leliel

Even if you kept the same name, they might not recognize it if your voice is significantly different than the previous owner or foster. Go ahead and rename them. The rescue won't be offended and the dog will learn their new name pretty quick.

__________________

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made." ~M.Facklam

BenVera

I've renamed all but one dog we've rescued or adopted. They all learned their names within just a few days. I don't see anything wrong with it. For some, change is good.

__________________

Hooligan

Our first Dobe was a rescue, who was picked up as a stray. So his name was unknown, but the folks who fostered him for three weeks called him Fred. Even though we didn't much like the name, we kept it when he came to us, figuring that he had already gone through enough upheaval.

For me, deciding whether to change a name, if a name is known, would depend very much on a particular dog's circumstances and age.

Jazi

Skoll was first Salem, then Simba, then Caesar before he came to me. I was tempted to leave it at Caesar, figuring he'd have enough to worry about, until I got the update about his previous owners screaming at him constantly with his name. So, to keep from terrifying him or having any lasting effects from them, I changed it.

I did call him Caesar a few times at first when we picked him up and he didn't even flick his ears towards me. He still doesn't quite get that his name is "Skoll", but he looks at me when I call him with that name now. I still have to add "come" but progress is progress Whatever he may have associated his name with, it wasn't "look over/come here", so it all worked out in the end anyway.

__________________

Hank

Also have renamed all my rescues. It has never effected how they respond to their new name.
Actually most of my animals have multiple names they respond to.
My cat Aragorn, was Diamond
Hank was Chief
Bronson was Bentley

__________________

lolonurse

I've always had mixed feelings about it - IF a dog is given up and they know the dog's 'real' name, I feel like that's his name... but often, when they get a rescue, they don't know much about him, and so just give him a name... who knows what the original name was... but the bottom line is, if the dog is going to have a new home, a chance for love and happiness, you could probably call him "Shoe" and he wouldn't care... all he wants is to know he has someone of his own!!

__________________

AnonymouslyYours

I did the same with my purchased dog, who I got when she was 6 months old. Tessa just didn't fit with me, and she's never had trouble responding to Roz. Doesn't even look if you say "Tessa" now.

vivienne00

I ALWAYS rename my rescues and re-homes.

I don't want any association with their prior names.

I have NEVER had a problem doing this - it is just teaching a new command that is really "Look at me and give me your attention when I say this word: [your new name here]". If I want the dog to come, I add a "come!" command since that is not always my desire - I want their attention, not necessarily their physical body next to me. In herding, I need distance; in agility I need distance; in obedience, I need distance.

Dillon became Edict
Dido - can't remember original name
Tupac --> Ralph
Meeko --> Sarah and Sally
Kelly --> Keziah
Draco --> Cato (very similar sounding)
Baby --> Daria
Willie --> Yoda
Kyra --> Enid

__________________

Cato and Emerald's Black Onyx (r.i.p.)
Owned by Enid, Yoda, Jill (kelpie) and Lana.

ZeldaRules

Try not to put that much human emotion onto the dog. I have been in rescue for a long time and have changed and given so many dog names. I can honestly say that not one rescued dog I've witnessed go through a name change has had any traumatic effects from it. I've seen so many senior dogs get name changes and they learned it with no problem. Dogs have emotional ties to food, not names. They learn the tone, they don't actually grasp the concept of being named.

I changed my dobe's name when I got him at 5 months. I changed my shepherd's name when I got her at 16 months. Believe me, they are happy dogs and respond well to their new names.

RedFawnRising

^^^This.

I think it's case-dependent, but most of the time it's perfectly fine to have a new name to go with a new life--and most of us rescuers consider it good luck, rather than bad, as someone posted.

Fresh start, and fresh positive associations with a new name.

There have been a few instances over the years when an animal knows their name very well and has had a lot of other upheaval, when I've kept the name, but for the most part, change 'em to what you feel suits 'em.

__________________

River

I changed both my dog's names, and neither had any trouble learning their new names. Logan associated his old name with being called and then punished, usually with a broom or something else. Rather than retrain his old name to be more positive, I changed it. It didn't fit him anyway.

A name's no issue when it comes to rescuing dogs. Keep it, change it, it's up to you. Most of our dogs tend to have nicknames anyway. Griffin will come to his name, pooky, squirt, hoss, and hey dogs. It's much better to find the dog that fits you and your lifestyle, as was written above, and then pick a new name that suits the dog you want. Dogs are adaptable creatures, they'll have no trouble with a new name.

dobedream

Michelle,
Since you have a few dogs already, and want to rescue a Doberman (and you indicated you want a male) PLEASE read about male to male aggression, if you have any boys already.
Rescuing is great, but the name of the dog is the last consideration...make sure you are setting up your new dog for success right from the start.
Good luck!