Do dogs know their name?
Mihika was super excited with her new puppy. She did not like the name Xena for her cute little Chihuahua Pinscher. So, she started trying out names like Sugar, Katy and Skye. She was amazed that her pet would respond to all the names. But she was in a dilemma, she wanted to know which name her dog preferred. She even wanted to know if the dog knew its name was Xena!
Well, if you are also wondering if your pet knows its name then here is what you need to know!
When a child turns a little over two years old, they develop a concept of ‘self’, that they are an individual and different from others in terms of name and personality. But do dogs have this concept of self? They don’t. They are more likely to link the name they are being called to a tasty reward or realise that they are the focus of our attention.
What does your dog understand?
Its tough to understand whether a dog understands their given name. Given the fact that people talk about the dog in their presence to friends or family members by saying stuff like ‘pepper was good today, she finished all her food’. Pepper who is listening to the conversation will look up. No one is giving her attention. So, she resumes her nap. She is desensitised to her own name. Next time when someone calls her name she will not respond. To avoid such situation, you need to have two names for your pet; one for addressing them (Pepper) and the other when you want to talk about them (like, fusspot).
Using the word ‘no’
‘No’ is the most overused word by pet parents. Unfortunately, dogs hear the word so often that the poor things think their name is ‘no’! So, try a different word which means the same thing and will make you pet listen to you. Try words like ‘stop it’, ‘leave it’ or ‘let go’.
Naming your pet
When you are naming your pet make sure it is easy to say. Short names with one or two syllables will help your dog to understand. Mostly, one syllable names may sound like other commands you give them so giving them a two-syllable name will help them respond better. If your dog is Jude, they may respond better when you call them Judie.
How do you say it?
When calling your dog, call them by their name first to attract their attention. Once they respond tell them Judie, come here. Once they come praise and reward them. Their name should be only used when you want their attention. If you use it for every command then it will eventually lose its power.
How do they learn their name?
Once you start calling their name frequently and repetitively they will get it. But try to understand that dogs do not have an understanding of self like us humans. Spoken language and communication through language is purely a human thing because our brain is programmed that way. Dogs are good at doing what they can to survive and evolve in nature. So, name calling and verbal communication is definitely not their forte. They do have a knowledge of each other through their wonderful sense of sight and smell.
