Have you just added a cute puppy to your family? Well, even before you start with their training, there is one most basic and important thing you need to teach your fur baby. That is your pup’s name. Yes, the name is as important for pets as it is for their human companions. And just like human babies, puppies need to be taught to respond to their names. Your adult adopted dog will also need training to learn their new name if you plan to change their existing name. So, how to go about teaching your canine their name? Here is the answer.

Keep reading this article to know more about the need to teach dogs their name and check out a step-wise guide for how to teach a dog its name.

Importance of teaching your dog their name

You may wonder, what is there in a name. But for your canine baby, knowing their name is necessary. Here are a few reasons why dogs should know their name:

• To start a conversation with your doggo, they should have a name. Be it the need to call them for food or play or train them for basic commands, your furry friend should first know that you are addressing them and they are supposed to respond.
• When you have more than one pet in the house, learning their name helps your dogs know that your call is for which of them and the other pets get the clarity that you are not talking to them.
• Knowing their name helps dogs stay safe during outside adventures. You can call them back when they wander only if your pup has learned to answer their name.

Steps to teach your dog their name

However difficult it may sound, teaching your furry pal their name is not actually a humungous task. With patience and by following these 4 simple steps, you will be easily able to train your dog to know and respond to their name:

1. Set the environment, speak, and reward

Stock yourself with delicious dog treats and take your dog to a quiet place. You can also take the help of a clicker. Once your furball is calm and relaxed and you have got their attention, speak the name you want to give them. Offer them a treat immediately and press the clicker. Repeat this process for 8-9 times in one session. Try to have at least two such sessions every day.

2. Train for different tones

When your dog starts looking at you when you call their name, try to speak their name in a variety of tones. This practice prepares your furry companion to identify their name even when it is spoken differently.

3. Try at different locations

When you teach your fur friend their name in a quiet place, you have their undivided attention without any distractions. Once your pooch has learned to identify their name, increase distractions gradually. Take your furry buddy to busier places like the rooms where other pets are also present, your backyard, or a park and call them by their name. This will help your dog identify their name even when there are multiple distractions.

4. Repeat: practice is the key

Practice is the key to perfection. Throw treats in different directions while calling your doggo’s name when you take them to the park. Address your pup by their name while feeding them, playing with them, or during training to appreciate or correct their behaviour. Hearing their name repeatedly will help your dog learn it and respond to it.

What not to do while teaching your dog their name

When you are teaching your dog their name, here are a few things you should avoid so that your furry friend does not get confused or scared:

• If your dog does not respond to their name when you have called it once, do not repeat the name multiple times. Be patient. Repeating their name confuses dogs as they may think that they have to pay attention only when their name is taken multiple times. Try to change the location and start the practice again.
• Always add a good cue after calling your dog’s name, e.g. ‘good’, ‘nice’, etc. Do not use negative cues like ‘stop’, ‘stay’ or ‘quiet’. This way, your furball will associate their name with good things.
• Do not get angry and scold your doggo if they do not respond to their name. This can scare them and they will start disliking their name. For any queries, Consult our Vet.

Parting notes

Dogs are one of the cutest pets on earth. No doubt about that. But for a comfortable co-living, it is required that you train your pooch to show the desired behaviour. Teaching your dog their name is the primary requirement for it. By following the steps mentioned in this article and with patience, your canine can be trained easily to recognise and respond to their name.