Updated on December 16, 2022
One day, your new puppy will become more than just a pet; he or she will be your trusted companion, best friend, confidant, and, of course, cherished family member. First things first, though: what will they be called?
One of the first things you’ll do as a new dog parent is teach their pup their name. You might even have the name picked out weeks before you bring your new pup home. Because you’ll be using this name publicly and for the remainder of your dog’s life, it’s important that it feels right and that your dog responds to it.
How do you, though, get your puppy to respond to its new name?
Let’s find out why it’s critical that your dog immediately learns his or her name, and how it will benefit you much in the long term.
WHY IS TEACHING MY DOG THEIR NAME SO IMPORTANT?
Having your dog recognise and answer to your call is crucial, but doing so can be challenging and time-consuming. To a greater extent in young puppies, they naturally explore their surroundings with great curiosity.
Calling your dog by its name is an effective approach to grab its attention, whether you need it for an immediate recall in an emergency, are practising obedience, or simply want to tell it to stop doing something annoying, like gnawing on the coffee table.
Keep your interruptions short and use a happy, rewarding tone so that your dog associates the sound of his name with positive reinforcement.
Having a dog that comes when called is a crucial first step in having a well-mannered pet, as no one enjoys living with a disobedient dog. It’s also the first major step in developing an unconditional attachment with your new puppy.
HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG THEIR NAME
Positive reinforcement training is the most effective method for teaching your dog its name, and consists primarily of rewarding your dog whenever they perform an action that you find pleasing.
Having said that, we present our comprehensive method to successfully teaching your dog its name through a combination of praise and reward. After some training, your dog won’t require you to repeatedly scream out “Alfie, Alfie, Alfieeee, come here, Alfie!” before coming dashing.
CHOOSING THE NAME
Coming up with a name for your dog is the most difficult part of the process. It should be something you enjoy, something that is both memorable and simple to say, and never something you would feel uncomfortable yelling out at, say, the dog park. In other words, you’ll want this moniker to last forever.
How to train your dog’s name recognition
Instructing your new pet on its name
However, you need not fear; we have you covered with our lists of 1,000 male dog names and 1,000 girl dog names. There must be something on there that strikes your fancy!
ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
Before beginning any form of training, it is important to take stock of your surroundings. A young dog, who will be enthusiastic and curious about everything they see and smell, will be resistant to your initial training efforts if you attempt to carry them out in a busy, stimulating setting.
That’s why it’s best to kick off your training in a serene, comfortable, and familiar environment. Your dog is very attuned to your attitude and energy level; if you’re feeling annoyed and anxious, neither you nor your dog will respond well to training. Keep a positive attitude and relax, and you’ll have better luck.
It’s also important to have a large quantity of treats available. But in the first phases of training, it is important to keep them modest because you do not want to overdo it.
Start your puppy’s training from day one, as most canines rapidly learn their owner’s name. It’s best to hold off on the pet’s nicknames until later, so as not to confuse or overwhelm him.
LOOK AT ME
At this point, it isn’t necessary to use your dog’s name; you just want to praise him or her for paying attention to you. As soon as your dog shows any interest in you, even if it’s just by looking in your direction, you should mark and reward this action. You can use a clicker or just say “yes” or “good,” and then reward them with treats, extra playtime, or high praise.
This is something that can be done frequently, whether your dog is simply being a dog—pottering around, playing with their toys, or relaxing out on the sofa—if they glance at you, you should treat them. This will teach your dog that coming to see you is rewarded favourably.
INTRODUCE THE NAME
Introduce your dog’s name when they have learned that gazing at you will result in a positive outcome (a treat, playtime with you, your praise, etc.). Hence, go back a ways from your dog and call out to them using their name; if they look in your direction or come to you after hearing their name, praise them. Don’t stop saying it several times a day.
This is the gist of how to train your dog to come when called. Your dog will need some time and practise, but he or she will eventually get the hang of it.
Make sure that these training sessions are short and frequent; otherwise, your puppy may become extremely bored and frustrated, which could hinder his or her ability to learn. While it’s natural for new pet parents to want to make an immediate impact on their new puppy, it’s important to remember that pups have a short attention span and shouldn’t be overwhelmed with information at once.
You should always do something easy, thrilling, and pleasant to end your training sessions on a high note. By doing so, you’re making it so your dog naturally develops a need for knowledge.
MAINTAIN FOCUS
Your dog will learn its name more quickly and with more success if you give it a clear and consistent incentive for each step. So, when you call your dog, don’t make him sit, lie down, or give you his paw so you may reward him with a treat.
You must teach your dog that the reward only comes when they come when you call their name, and not for any other behaviour.
LEVEL UP
Use other environments, like a garden, for practise. Increase the level of distraction gradually while being upbeat, encouraging, and rewarding throughout.
A guide on naming your dog.
A guide on naming your dog.
The more you train, the more your dog will look in your direction and eventually come to you without you having to call it. Constantly be prepared to offer a reward or heaps of praise to keep this trend of positive behaviour going. When you begin walking around outside, this becomes extremely crucial.
If your dog is conditioned to believe that checking in with you before exploring a new area will result in a positive reinforcement — say, a nice reward — then they will be more inclined to remain close you when off leash.
HAVE FUN!
Have fun while training; it doesn’t have to be a chore. Call your dog’s name and toss a treat in a random direction, making them chase after it or catch it. Your dog will be entertained as it tries to figure out where the treats are going to end up next.
If they don’t answer, you can always call their name and then quickly retreat. Since this is the case, the game of naming becomes a little bit of a chase.
MY DOG JUST WON’T LISTEN…
Do not make it a habit to call your dog “Charliecharliecharlie, Charlie, Charlieee!,” as this will just serve to confuse them and teach them to avoid your calls in the future. Or, in the future, they will only react to that specific repeat.
Rather than merely paying attention to your dog when it misbehaves, it’s important to make a habit of rewarding and praising excellent behaviour. In the absence of such instructions, they will be at a loss as to the appropriate actions to take.
To avoid confusion, you should not use your dog’s name in a reprimanding manner (such as “Bella, stop!” or “No Bella!”). You’d like everyone who hears their name to have a good impression of them. Many dogs grow to despise the sound of their own name because their owners made the mistake of punishing them with that moniker. If you must call someone’s attention in order to stop a behaviour you find objectionable, use their name alone; never follow it up with a critical comment.
Lead your dog away from the source of distraction and try again, or move your training sessions to a location where there are less potential interruptions. Only after your dog’s response is flawless in low-distraction locations should you introduce them to high-distraction regions.
Don’t ever call your dog by its name while you’re about to perform something unpleasant, like confinement, nail clipping, or bathing. If they associate you coming to their name with bad things happening, they may start ignoring you.
CAN I CHANGE MY DOG’S NAME?
The new owner of an adult dog from a shelter may wish to give the dog a different name. However, many people are reluctant to alter the name for fear of causing the dog any distress.
However, don’t fret; renaming an adult dog is still doable; it just requires some time and planning.
Be very patient with your dog as you go through the same procedures we outlined earlier. Keep your tone as upbeat as possible; it will get you farther.
RECAP
It won’t be hard to teach your puppy its name; you just need a good supply of treats. In little time at all, your new puppy’s name will be all you need to have him or her bound over to you.
