If you adopted a previously owned pet, did you keep it's name?

[Anonymous]

If your pet already had a name when you adopted it, did you keep it or change it?

If you kept it, was it because you truly liked it, felt it fit the pet, or you just thought it would be too hard to get the pet used to a new name?

If you changed it, did it take a while for the pet to get used to the new name?

[Anonymous]

I kept it because it was perfect for him. He was stray although clearly had been someone's pet, sp the name came from the rescue that pulled him from the shelter.

[Anonymous]

we adopted a puppy and loved the name he came with, so we kept it. but i would have had no problem changing it if i didnt like it or didnt think it fit him.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the pet.
All our pets have come from the shelter. They were usually young (6 months-1 year) and were at the shelter because they couldn't remain in the situation they were in. These less-than-ideal situations meant that they either didn't have an name, except the one "assigned" to it at the shelter, or it was a name that they didn't hear a lot because their owners were neglectful. We didn't hesitate to come up with our own names for the pets.

My parents recently adopted a 3 year old dog that had been in someone's home. They are keeping the name, and I would have also, because by that age and in that circumstance, I think the animal probably recognizes the name. (Also, it wasn't a bad name.) If it was a truly horrible name, I expect the animal could learn to answer to the new name, but in scenario 2 I wouldn't automatically change, only if I really didn't like the name.

[Anonymous]

Both our dogs are rescues and we kept both of their names. If you want to change the name, I have heard/read that you may have more success renaming the dog if the new name has the same number of syllables as the old. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I have two - kept the names. Just didn't think it right to change them. Come to think of it, changing the name of a sailboat is said to bring ominously bad luck....

[Anonymous]

Yes kept the name two times. Kids didn't want to change the names and I didn't care that much

[Anonymous]

Our cats are rescues and we changed their names. But those are cats.

Dogs -- I volunteer with a rescue and we generally suggest that if people want to change their name, try to change it to a name that at least sounds similar to the old name, so the dog doesn't get too confused. Example:

Dog was named Baby?
New name could be Sadie.

Stuff like that. . .

Hope this helps! Thank you for choosing a "previously owned" pet!

[Anonymous]

We got both of our cats from a shelter. We kept one name because it fit (although I never would have chosen it), and for the second, we changed it slightly (think Terry > Harry) so that she wouldn't notice a difference. Both respond to their names, new or old, very well.

[Anonymous]

There's a school of thought that if you adopt a dog who was abused or neglected or otherwise had a bad life previously, you SHOULD change its name because of the bad associations the dog has with its old name.

[Anonymous]

We changed our rescue's name. The old name was old fashioned and ugly. The dog had zero problems with her new name and responded within one day.

Our dog book said you should love your pet's name and like calling it and if you don't like the old name, change it.

I rescued a cat a few years ago and kept her name, which I liked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Dogs -- I volunteer with a rescue and we generally suggest that if people want to change their name, try to change it to a name that at least sounds similar to the old name, so the dog doesn't get too confused.

That's how we handled it. The nickname has the same number of syllables and similar sounds.

[Anonymous]

Three dogs. First and third came with names we liked, plus they already knew them and responded to them (one was 1.5 and the other 11 (!!) upon adoption). The middle one was named by the rescue, and he didn't know the name at all. In his case, we tried out on him every name we could come up with, and when we said one name, he looked up at us with this "You got it!" look, and that was that. we tested him a few times, and he clearly knew that name (or some version of it) so that was his new name. I also work in dog rescue (hence the three adoptees), and like other PPs have said, if you are going to change a name, it's good to rhyme it. Though, I will say, our dogs have also learned to respond to nicknames over the years so they will learn a new name if it is used enough.

[Anonymous]

We changed our cats names because we did not like them. They were 6 months. We kept our dogs name...we planned on changing it once we got him home and got to know him but it turned out the name he had was perfect for him. He was 2.

[Anonymous]

Rescued dog. Changed name to mark change in his life. He's awesome and happy.