Change of name?

kehittyminen · 12-14-2009

Hey everyone. Well I might be adopting a 5 month old chow mix soon and her name is Bear. I don't really think it suits a female dog so I was wondering if it would be wise to change her name? Like I know its not a good idea to do it with older dogs but she is only 5 months. This is a photo of her:

Thanks!

cigwyllt · 12-15-2009

Unless you know her background and know that she has had a great life so far it can be a truly positive thing to change her name. It doesn't matter if she is 5 months or 5 years - a new name will help her to have a new start. My husband and I adopted a Retriever who had been very badly treated. We knew what her home life had been like and it was not good. My husband really didn't like the name she came with so we decided on a new name and for the first few days we would call her with both names and we would talk to her and use the new name whenever we stroked her, made a fuss of her, showed her affection. If we spoke her new name and she looked at us we rewarded her. As soon as she started to respond to the new name we dropped the old one and kept the new. She had no problem with the change and we had a dog with the name we had chosen.

A few years ago we adopted a dog who had been picked up as a stray. She was a young adult, no background at all so we chose her name, used it in every situation we could and within 48 hours she knew that when we called "Toffee" we wanted her.

CorkyMax · 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehittyminen

Hey everyone. Well I might be adopting a 5 month old chow mix soon and her name is Bear. I don't really think it suits a female dog so I was wondering if it would be wise to change her name? Like I know its not a good idea to do it with older dogs but she is only 5 months. This is a photo of her:

Thanks!

I like the looks of this puppy! Sure am curious as to what the other part of the mix is! Do you have any clues at all--I am wondering about a golden retriever 'blend.' I have a golden/cocker mix myself. She is a pretty dog!---Meaning your dog here!-- Lol, mine is pretty too! If (and I think I would--I have a friend who named her dog Bear but it is a 'rough' male dog--lol, I still don't like the name even for this dog!)---If you change the name--Have you got any names in mind?

Lara's mom · 12-15-2009

Corky/Max: You have a good eye for breeds. I sort of wondered about the possibility of some golden in there but didn't want to say anything because I'm usually not good at guessing.

I don't see a problem with changing the dogs name.

kehittyminen · 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Unless you know her background and know that she has had a great life so far it can be a truly positive thing to change her name. It doesn't matter if she is 5 months or 5 years - a new name will help her to have a new start. My husband and I adopted a Retriever who had been very badly treated. We knew what her home life had been like and it was not good. My husband really didn't like the name she came with so we decided on a new name and for the first few days we would call her with both names and we would talk to her and use the new name whenever we stroked her, made a fuss of her, showed her affection. If we spoke her new name and she looked at us we rewarded her. As soon as she started to respond to the new name we dropped the old one and kept the new. She had no problem with the change and we had a dog with the name we had chosen.

Ok thanks! I just wasn't sure, but you do prove a good point!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

I like the looks of this puppy! Sure am curious as to what the other part of the mix is! Do you have any clues at all--I am wondering about a golden retriever 'blend.' I have a golden/cocker mix myself. She is a pretty dog!---Meaning your dog here!-- Lol, mine is pretty too! If (and I think I would--I have a friend who named her dog Bear but it is a 'rough' male dog--lol, I still don't like the name even for this dog!)---If you change the name--Have you got any names in mind?

Well the place I might be adopting her from says she is a Chow, Shar Pei, and Japanese Chin. But you are right, I used to have both a chow and a golden retriever and she does look like a mix between the 2 of them lol.

As for the name, I was thinking about Nala. I always loved her from the Lion King lol and Chows always seem to remind me lions, even though she isn't full chow lol. But I'm also still thinking of other names, but so far that one is my favorite.

dogrdogs · 12-19-2009

She has that teddy bear look. I like the name if you ask me

masini · 12-27-2009

Hey, tried Bobby. whit this name dogs are so happy.

fidobuddy · 12-28-2009

I don't think there'll be a problem changing her name. I think Bear does not fit her. She looks more of a Brandy or Charlotte.

Napoleon · 12-28-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehittyminen

Hey everyone. Well I might be adopting a 5 month old chow mix soon and her name is Bear. I don't really think it suits a female dog so I was wondering if it would be wise to change her name? Like I know its not a good idea to do it with older dogs but she is only 5 months. This is a photo of her:

Thanks!

I think changing her name is fine, I am on my fourth rescue/foster, have changed every one of their names and they have all been very successful in finding their forever homes. I think it is more in the tone/inflection that you show the pup love & stability that they respond to rather than a name. She is a beautiful dog and I wish you many years of happy, slobber kisses

mrandrei · 01-04-2010

Any decisions yet? Bear is an interesting name, but it doesn't really fit a female dog. You can choose better, more feminine names like Maxine, Jem, Goldie.

flydogs · 02-26-2010

She is very beautiful

Well when you are saying "Bear" she listen and understand you are calling her? If no, then is ok to give her a new, better in your opinion name