Imagine this: You just brought home a 10 week old puppy last week. While he’s sleeping, you're scrolling through Instagram and come across a couple famous dogs that are sniffing out cancer, doing crazy tricks, and leading the blind. You think about how your dog will one day be just like the ones you see, exceeding all expectations. Then, all your hopes suddenly distinguish as you realize your dog doesn’t even know his name yet.
This is most likely reality for many of you. But guess what? All dogs were once puppies who didn’t know their name too! No human, cat, bird, hamster, or dog was ever born knowing their name. With these simple 5 steps, your furry friend will learn their name in no time!
1. Wait for a Calm, Relaxed Moment with No Distractions
Puppies can get overwhelmed quickly, especially if you're yelling gibberish to them while your whole family is clustered in the kitchen banging pots, running vacuums, and cooking up a storm. It is important to start training your pup in a peaceful environment where both of you can focus. Try to start in a smaller room indoors where there are less distractions. This way, your pup will be able to master the skill of responding to their name in a quiet, controlled environment.
2. Play the Name Game
As implied in the name, the Name Game is a way to teach your pup their name in a fun, interactive manner. Below are step by step instructions for the game.
Go to a smaller, enclosed area.
Wait until your dog is not paying attention to you (make sure there are no other noises so your pup can focus).
In a bright, cheerful voice say your dog's name and wait for them to look at you.
Associate positive words if they listen such as “Yes!” or “great job!” Reward good listening with a treat/food. A clicker works as well!
If they don’t look at you on the first try, don’t worry! Just wait a few seconds and try again!
3. Treats/Food
This step is extremely important to enforce positive behavior and listening. Without rewarding your pup after they acknowledge their name, they will never know that they did something good. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, swap the treats for just regular food during walks and training time! You could also use toys as a reward if your pup is more focused on play time!
4. Increase Distractions
Once you get the name down inside, it is time to increase the difficulty. Head outside to a small area with limited distractions. You want to gradually make your way up to maximum distractions, but for now, you have to go one step at a time. Continue to play the Name Game as you move around to different places or until your pup has learned his name!
5. Don’t Give Up!
Practice makes perfect! I promise you will start to see progress within the first week of training. Some even say your pup can learn his name in a limited distraction environment in just two days with good training techniques! No matter where you stand, don’t worry, as all dogs are different and will learn their name at different times!
I hope these five easy steps help you teach your furry friend his name! It can take months for your dog to completely learn their name when distractions are present. I urge you to practice this skill everyday with your pup no matter how hopeless you feel, as this will lay down the groundwork for many more tricks to come! Comment what other tricks you want to teach your dog!
Keep calm and wag on!
How to Teach a Puppy Its Name in 9 Easy Steps | Loveofapet (n.d.) Retrieved May 26, 2020, from
The Name Game - Make Sure Your Dog Loves His Name | American Kennel Club (n.d.) Retrieved May 26, 2020, from
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