I think it's probably just fine to change the name, stick with it and reward when he looks at you and responds. Our pups name is Gandalf but people can't seem to figure it out and call him Randall, Adolf (hitler really???), Rudolph, Grindorf, and all sorts of weird stuff. Sometimes we joke around and call him those names just for fun and tease him, he usually gets the zoomies lol.

 

I think it's probably just fine to change the name, stick with it and reward when he looks at you and responds.

Thanks so much for your reply!

Our pups name is Gandalf

My personal list has Pippin and Samwise near the top! Although my wife probably has those on her reject list haha.

but people can't seem to figure it out and call him Randall, Adolf (hitler really???), Rudolph, Grindorf, and all sorts of weird stuff. Sometimes we joke around and call him those names just for fun and tease him, he usually gets the zoomies lol.

Grindorf?!? That's fantastic!

 

Yes.
Easiest way to change a dogs name if the dog responds to his name, call new name, old name, dog responds, good things happen. When the dog starts responding before you get to the old name, bingo, you're done.
My dog was Nino before I got him, he loved his name, so we started with Nino, but then would call Sonic, Nino, good boy, praise & treats. Now he loves his new name.
It sounds like your pup wasn't consistently name trained so you could probably skip the above, just decide on a name you love & start using it, especially when good things happen.
Have fun naming your pup.

 

Is it ok to start using a different name with him?

Yep. In rescue this happens all the time -- even with adults! To them it's just a word, and when you fill it with good associations, it works.

Sometimes they come into rescue without any known name. Other times the name is horrendous, and we want it to have a more adoption-friendly name. Once in a while we can tell their name had been used abusively (e.g., beating the dog and yelling it's name), as it cringes in fear and shivers when it hears its own name -- we immediately rename the dog and instruct everyone not to use the old one with bad associations.

Most of us probably have several "names" for our dogs in practice -- their real name, a shortened nickname version, and even terms of endearment the dogs have come to associate with themselves (one of mine even responds to "sweet pea" as an additional name because I often say "hi, sweet pea" before snuggling...). They're really good at adding name vocabulary!

 

Now that you mention it the rescue lady told us she had changed my dog's name to Ruger. His name before was Bruce (really??) And we said that, like that, Bruce?? And the dog looked at us with a very cold look. The name definitely had an effect on him and it wasn't good. We never said it again.

 

I imported an adult female with a horrible call name....loved her pedigree name (Fenja) and she quickly learned it....most dogs do have a couple of nicknames....even if it is just Buddy or Sweetie or Baby or a not so nice one for stubborn behavior ...and all pups seem to think their name is "puppypuppypuppy" early on!

Lee

 

My first GSD was named Lassie by her owner. [cringes] I changed it to Lili Marlene (old WWII song) with no problems. (Of course, called her Lili for short.)

My next GSD was a stray, so had no idea what her name was. Called her Tasha.

My next GSD was named Ralph by his owner. Turns out it was Quebecois slang for a marijuana joint. Changed his name to Ranger Aragorn. (Yes, another LOTR fan here!)

If I know the dog's original name, and don't like it, I try to use something that begins with the same sound or letter to make it easier. But changing names should not be a problem!

 

Thank you guys so much! Now we just need to pick a name. I swear it was easier to pick names for my human children lol!

 

I changed my neighbor's collie's name from Scout to Scooter McNougats of the Clan MacDonald....he's fine with it...comes to me every time I call him.

SuperG

 

That's hilarious.

Our female answers to her real call name, Tater, Sweet Tater, and an absolutely ridiculous man's name. I think people at the park actually assume her name is either said ridiculous man's name or Tate. Among some of my friends she is nicknamed Egg ("a good egg") and that has morphed to Eggy or Eggles, but she doesn't actually answer to those because the most frequently used nickname is the man's name.

 

I was always wondering if dogs actually understand that this is his/her name. Do they grasp the concept? Not just that the particular combination of sounds will lead to a treat coming, pet or anything similarly nice, but that the dog is being addressed.. do they?
I know my dog knows mine and my partner's names and the name of the cat. i can ask him "where is..?" and he'll go look for them. So i assume he sees a connection between a living being and the name.

 

I call my dogs out of the house one at a time by name, and address them individually like Codi sit, Shelby sit so they know who the command is for. They can also be taught certain objects are called something. Like with people who name their dog toys and can have them go get that specific toy.
I don't know how their brains and though process work though so I can't say they think, "I am so and so" or "the cat's name is Frank".

And cute name OP, no clue if Sarge is cliche or anything. Seems like a good name to me, haven't ever met any with that name personally though I'm sure there's been a few.

 

Oh, yeah, nick-names...lol! Tasha was nick-named Bat Lady for her big ears. Eska is Eska-roo, because she jumps more than a foot off the back deck when waiting to come in. She was named by her breeder (it was the E-litter) and I didn't mind the name.

Then there's the ones you use when you're mad at them for something...best not to repeat those here!

Bat lady:

 

I think we settled on a name! From now on he'll be Sarge. I know that may be a cliche name, but he looks and carries himself like a Sarge (and my wife hated all my geeky names )

Edit for his full name: Sarge VonSchnugleHausen. Sarge, Lord of House Snuggles.

I wonder if the AKC will be ok with this name lol

 

All our animals have multiple names

GSD- Zoe. Nicknames- Zoobles, Zooster, Turkey

Cats-
Milton- Milboos, Spill(ton), Tank
Emily- Beamers (pretty much what we always call her), Beams, Eemers
Vesta- Vest, Vesta the Besta