I’m assuming you already named your puppy. If not check out the article I wrote about how I named my dogs: Lessons From Marley & Me Part 2 – Naming Your Dog.
One of the most important things you can teach your dog is his name. It can save his life…literally. How you might ask? Well what if your dog was chasing a ball into the street? What if a car was coming? If your dog knows the meaning of his name he will respond and come to you when called even while in the middle of playing.
Of course, as I mentioned in my last article, How To Handle Your Puppy’s First Night At Home, training your puppy will require consistency and patience.
Teaching The Puppy His Name
From the Guide Dogs of America Handbook:
Teaching your puppy its name is important.
- Use it every time you talk to him and with every command (except NO and STAY) .
- Never associate the dog’s name with something negative.
- Never scold the puppy after he comes to you, even if it has taken a while to respond.
- Please do not change the puppy’s name or call him by a nickname.
That’s it! Short and simple. However it is much easier said then done.
My Experiences With Stetson And Linus
A few pitfalls I can warn you about are:
Not using the puppy’s name with NO and STAY - This is difficult to do when you try to use their name with every other command. Try to be consistent. I still will occasionally use Linus and Stetson’s name with the NO or STAY command. Also, you might be wondering why can’t we use our puppy’s name with the STAY command? The main reason we don’t associate our dogs name with the STAY command is because the puppy’s name should be synonymous with the COME command. When I say my puppy’s name they should COME to me. That is quite the contradiction from STAY.
It is also very difficult to avoid using your dog’s name with something negative. My biggest problem is when Linus or Stetson does something wrong I’ll say their name in a very negative voice. Sometimes I catch myself…sometimes I don’t.
Scolding your puppy when he comes to you…another bad habit that can be difficult to break. Why wouldn’t you want to scold your puppy after he comes to your? Lets say he just chewed up your new shoes and you say “Stetson Come” He comes to you as you commanded (made the correct choice). Then you scold him! Do you think he’s going to come to you next time? No! You should praise him when he comes to you. The only time you should scold your puppy is when you catch him in the act of doing something wrong.
Not changing your name or calling your dog by a nickname is more of a Guide Dog thing, but is also good for a young puppy. It can be confusing for a young puppy if your calling him by several different names. I tried hard with Linus, but my sister, my roomate, and my ex-girlfriend each had a nickname for him. I constantly told them not to use nicknames. Here are a few they used: Linie, Linikins, Linoceros, and Puppy Chow. I’ve been very strict with Stetson and people are usually more understanding since he’s training to be a guide dog.
The Name Game
The first game we always play at our Guide Dog training class is the Name Game. How does it work?
- Take your dog to the park and keep him on leash (it works a little better if you have a longer leash maybe about 10 feet).
- Give him about 5 feet to wonder away.
- When he’s not looking call his name with an excited voice and make sure he comes to you (if he doesn’t come reel him in with his leash).
- When he gets to you give him tons of praise!
- Repeat the exercise over and over again until your puppy is consistently returning to you when you call his name.
***Whenever you’re trying to get your puppy’s attention you have to be the most exciting thing in the world…more exciting then the birds, smells, other dogs, joggers…you get the picture…
Try playing the Name Game with your puppy. Be consistent and patient. Stick to the rules outlined above and your puppy will soon be consistently coming to you when you say his name.
Have you played the Name Game before? Does your puppy know his name? Do you have any other suggestions for reinforcing a puppy’s name? Check out other articles on how to train a puppy.
Related posts:
About Colby
Loading ...
Thank you so very much for this info! We have 2 puppies that are so wild. I have been going crazy taking them for walks as they are so unruly and wild. Now I can practice with them one-on-one now that I know what I am to do. Thanks again!
@Lia, I hope training is going well with you and your two puppies. If you have any questions please let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Hi I’ve recently bought 2chihuahuas. They ate about 8Weeks olds I need helpI’ve tried all of your tricks but I just can’t seem to teach them their names.their names are princton and Phoebe. Any other tips?
@brianna, thanks for visiting our blog. How long have you been working on teaching them their names? Can you tell me how you are currently training your puppies? Are you the only one working with the puppies? Do you separate the puppies when working on their training?
Your puppies are still very young. Be patient. It could take weeks/months before they have a good understanding of their names. I’d also recommend contacting your local dog trainer and ask for advice, schedule an in-home training, or sign up for a puppy kindergarten.
Thanks, I recently have been using this technique on my new boxer puppy and he seems to start learning his name..
@Jesus, I’m glad to hear that your boxer puppy is starting to learn his name. Let me know if you have any other questions as I know puppies can be a handful.
Thanks so much for the tips!! My family is thinking of getting a puppy and I am trying to learn all I can so we can be the perfect family!
THANKS!
@Samantha, puppies are a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. I’m glad you’re putting in the time and effort to find out as much information as possible before getting a puppy.
A good book that I read before getting my first puppy was the Puppies For Dummies
(this is an affiliate link). There’s a lot of great information in there from how to choose a puppy to how to raise a puppy to how to train your puppy. If there was one book I’d recommend for a new puppy owner that would be the one.
If you have any questions please feel free to email me through the contact form.
when is the best time to teach a puppy his/her name i have 2 and they are 5 weeks old noether know their name yet.
@Hanna, we start teaching our puppies their names as soon as we get them home at about 7 weeks. If your puppies are 5 weeks old and you already have names picked out I would start working on their names immediately.
I just got 2 American Bulldog / hound mix puppies…they seem to learn very quick, and got the “come” command down….though its tough to teach them name…since I do it on the walks and I got no time to separate them and have a one-o-one session…I see what I’m doing wrong, I will try to find time and get them apart, thanx for the post.
@Serge, thanks for visiting our website. I’m glad you got something out of this post. I’m sure your two American Bulldog / hounds mix puppies will pick up on their names real soon.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Hey, I recently bought two Boston terrier puppies…how do I teach them their names since there is two…
Thanks!
@Katelyn, congratulations on your two new Boston Terrier puppies! Unfortunately, I’ve never tried raising two puppies at the same time I’m sure it’s a lot of work. I would try separating your two puppies and training them in one on one sessions.
thank you for this i have 2 pit bull puppy thums up :3
@EdjG thanks for visiting our website. I’m glad this article helped!
i just got a goldne retriever puppy 3 days back and he still doesnt know his name..he s 7 weeks old..i know it takes some time..but how long on average does it take for them to learn?
also, its getting really cold here (its 3 degrees outside) and i duno if its ok to take him for walks coz its cold (i am trying to housebreak him too which has been hard coz he hates walking at this point)…i have to give hi treats just for following me on the street..he s been out only 2 times though!!
@Rima, I wouldn’t worry too much about your golden retriever at this point. He’s still very young. Just make sure your consistent and make sure he always comes to you when you call his name. Also, you want to make sure you do not associate his name with anything negative. Use a happy tone, always make sure he comes over to you, and give him praise when he does come to you regardless of whether or not your upset with him.
When I first brought home Linus it rained for two weeks straight. I basically had to carry him outside to his potty spot and then carry him back into the house (he refused to walk outside in the rain). You many have to do something similar with your new puppy.
Thank you so much! Me and my family just got a pom puppy and he is having a hard time learning his name-Twix. He’s already 3 months old yesterday and i was afraid it was already to late. But he has been responding to this techniche. thanks again!
@Kayla, I’m glad Twix is responding to the techniques mentioned in the article. Thanks for taking the time and leaving us a comment!
hey there, great article, I just have one question though, we are about to buy a greater swiss mountain/st bernard mix dog and the owner said she named the puppy Anges. I can’t even imagine calling my dog that, is it okay if I chage her name?
@Amanda, thanks for visiting our website. You shouldn’t have a problem changing her name. When we were volunteering as fosters we’d always initially name the puppies until they were adopted. The adopted family would then change the name to a name of their liking. Good luck with your new dog!
I have a husky puppy and she is very reluctant to come to her name. I am trying the excited voice and saying her name, but it isn’t working the best. Should I try the leash? We live on a farm so she likes the roaming without the leash. Thanks
@Ann one very important point is you always want your puppy to come when you call her name. If you let her slide then she will have a much more difficult time learning. I would suggest using either a long line or flexi leash to make sure she comes to you when you’re working on her training.
Some very good advice! I think this is going to work. Well I’m getting my puppy tomorrow so I’ll favorite this website and get back to you in maybe 2 or 3 weeks on how its going! Thank you.
@Kenelm congratulations on your new puppy. I hope puppy training is going well for you. Best of luck!
This is very helpful. My boyfriend and I just go our puppy yesterday and finally decided on Broly (bro-lee). I am excited to work with him with this trick!
@Rebecca congratulations on your new puppy! Broly’s a great puppy name! Good luck with teaching him his name!
Hi,
I am not sure if my puppy knows his name, he reacts to it sometimes but when i want him to come he ignores me. He’s 4mths old now and seems very distracted, I know I have let him get a way with some bad behaviour but I don’t know how to get him back under control. He’s a jack russell terrior and can’t sit still or seem to concentrate when I try to do any training. He’s a bit of a terror now.
I just got a new puppy today. She is a Black lab, Chesapeake
Bay Retriever mix. How do I teach her, her name with also having a 4 year old daughter who repeats me when calling the puppy and also my other dog (who is a german sheperd) who barks? It seems to confuse the pup and she starts to run off and I have to get her and carry her back to the house. It’s starting to become overwelming. Any advice is greatly appriciated. Thank you
@Katie the main thing is you want your puppy to successfully come to you every time you call her name. If you call their name and they run off then they are just learning that they do not need to come to you when you call their name. The best way to make sure your puppy comes every time you call their name is to make sure you only call their name when you have them on a leash, long line, or flexi leash.
Hi I’m Savannah and we got a new golden retriever puppy ( he’s looks like Marley or the bugs on me puppy.) he acts very well with my younger cousins and his name is Jax( not my choice but I like it) I’m excited to try these techniques and I can’t wait to show them to my seven and four year old cousins!
@Savannah, congratulations on your new puppy. It sounds like he looks like my two yellow labs, Derby and Dublin when they were pups. Good luck with puppy training with Jax!
I recently got a 4 week old German shepherd pup and this is my first time at raising a pup. But I am afraid coz he tends to groan and make other noises at night and sometimes his breathing is also rapid. Is this normal? Also how do I stop him from nipping at me and my friends coz his teeth are really sharp?
@apoorv, If you think your puppy is having health problems or your having training issues I’d contact your local veterinarian or dog trainer. In my experiences, my puppies have made some pretty strange noises at night. All the sounds you’ve mentioned sound fairly normal, but if you’re really concerned I would talk to your veterinarian. Nipping is fairly normal behavior when your pups are young. Two things you can try are first redirect his nipping by slowly removing your hand and replacing with one of his dog toys. Try to make sure you have many different textured toys because his preference will most likely change day to day. The second thing you can try is purchase bitter apple spray from your local pet store and spray it on your hand when he’s in a nipping mood. Most puppies don’t like the taste and eventually will learn that nipping on your hands leaves a bad taste in his mouth and will eventually stop. At around 4 months his baby teeth should start falling out and his adult teeth will come in. When all the adult teeth are in general my puppies stop nipping. Best of luck with your new puppy!
After coming across this blog, I wonder how much easier training my dog would have been from the start if I had followed the tips posted on here. I find that this blog is full of great suggestions on how to properly train your new animal and I look forward to coming to this blog in the future when I decide to get another dog of my own and have questions on the proper way of training it.
The tips posted on how to teach your puppy their name provide very good insight on how to properly get your puppy to learn their name. In my house, this was one of the hardest tasks when it came to training our latest puppy. After reading this article, I understand that calling her nicknames during training was not helpful in helping her learn only one name. This blog post gave me a chance to understand what I need to change about my habits, considering my dog is still a puppy with some room to learn and grow.
Thank you for the insight to some good tips. I am definitely going to take some of the things that I have read on this site in to consideration from this point on.
@Ashley, thanks for your nice comment. I appreciate it any time someone lets me know that the blog has helped them with their dog / puppy training. Best of luck with your dog training and I hope to hear back from you here on the blog!
I have just took ownership of a rescue dog. He’s a a Staffordshire bull terriercross aged 9-12 months. The rescue centre called him Dexter and he had been there for approximately 6 weeks. I’ve only had him home for 4 or 5 days but as yet shows no sign of knowing his name. Do your methods work with older puppies, if not is there anything else I should be trying.
Thank you
@Danny, yes! This should work with older puppies as well. Make sure you’re consistent when you’re using your puppies name and he should understand it over time. Best of luck with your new puppy!
Thanks for the information haha my 9 weeks german shepherd does not really know his name yet and do you know if you can train a puppy to poop in a certain area outdoors because we have 3 acres and i walk him in the back.i do not want him pooping at an open place where people can step on and when he does i pick it up with a big leaf or bag
@Adam, I take my puppies to the same spot every time to poop/pee when they are young and now they go to the same place every time. It’s about an 8×8 square area. So yes it is possible to teach your puppy to poop in a certain area.
I am not able to take my puppy outside yet because she jut turned 3 months and needs a few more shots before she can mingle outside. Ive had my puppy cockapoo for 3 days now and I am working with her to learn her name. she is very playful but doesnt really respond when called. what are some tips on name training in the house?
@Natasha, did you already try all of the tips I mentioned in the article? One game I don’t think I mentioned in the article was “Around the World”. We usually play this with a group of people in puppy class.
1. Sit in a circle on the floor
2. Have 1 person hold your puppy
3. Have another person say the puppy’s name. Make sure this person acts like the most exciting thing on the planet. After all you have to get your puppy’s attention.
4. The puppy should come to the other person.
Of course the puppy does not always come to the other person. In this case you can use other things to help get your puppy moving in the right direction. I like to use treats. You can also use toys (squeaky toys usually work well). You can also put your puppy on a long line (leash) to get him moving in the right direction.
It may take a while before your puppy knows her name. Just make sure you remain consistent and you will be fine.
Ah man I have question my dog 4 and half weeks old his name shadow he is a pit bull mix with a American bulldog when can I walk him
@Braulio, we don’t bring home our guide dog puppies until they’re about 7 weeks old. Until then they stay in the nursery.
i have 3 dogs an older female chihuahua a lab male puppy, and a 2 yr old male pitbull.When i take my puppy outside the pitbull gets to him and they start sniffing each other but once my puppy wants to leave the pit starts to run and jump everywhere why is that. My chihuahua is scared and bites/growls/runs away from the puppy what can i do. I just recently bought the puppy. Before that when my chihuahua would go outside and get near the pit it would throw itself on the floor and let the pit lick her up and down why is that and how can i make all 3 of them get along.Sorry about all the questions but hope for an answer
@Alex, thanks for visiting our site. It’s really difficult to understand what is going on without being there to see your dogs interact. My best advice is to see about talking to a professional dog trainer and seeing if you could get an in-home training session. This will give the trainer a chance to see your dogs interact and come up with a best solution. Best of luck with your dogs.
I got an 8 week old pitbull about a week ago. She seems to be learning very well. I’m struggling with the “come” command though. I also have two 2 year old chihuahuas. My male chi is very aggresdive to her and doesn’t seem to take to the puppy. My female is warming up and becoming playful with her but she is very territorial when it comes to me. Do you have any tips on how I can Help the Chis to accept her. My fear is that when the puppy gets bigger and one of the little Chis becomes aggressive with puppy the puppy might hurt one of them ;( Is it possible to teach the puppy to be gentle with the Chis? I’m desperate for your help.
@Cari, congratulations on your new puppy. If you’re having aggression issues it would probably be best to consult a local dog trainer and have them do an in home training session this way they can see exactly how your 3 dogs are interacting with each other and the rest of the family.
A friend gave me a dapple daschand when he was only 6 weeks old. My best friend got his brother. he is 8 weeks old today. His name is asher but he will not respond to it no matter what i do. My friends dog has already learned his name. I have 2 other dogs in the house.one is a 15 year old cocker spaniel and the other a 3 year old jrt. Is there some reason my dog is not responding to his name?
Hi LJ,
Congratulations on your new puppy. You might try working on teaching your puppy his name away from your other dogs several times a day. Make sure when he comes to his name you give him a jackpot of rewards (treats, praise, etc). I’d keep working on it and make sure you are consistent. If you say his name make sure he always responds. You can also try enrolling your puppy in a puppy kindergarten class or hire a professional puppy trainer.
Good luck with your training!
Colby