Dad names all his dogs the same name

[dogsaremylife]

My dad has always named dogs Jack. Every dog he has ever had, boy or girl, has been named Jack. Is this something other people do? I call the dogs all sorts of nicknames, but Dad just sticks with Jack. Is there a way to introduce some other name ideas for the next pup? I feel like they deserve a name that is their own. But maybe I'm making more of it than is needed. Do dogs really understand that their name is special?

 

[Danielle DeGroot]

Do dogs really understand that their name is special?

Hi there. What an interesting question. I have a similar experience. Growing up, my grandma called all her pets by the same name. Every cat she ever had was Kitty, and she also raised birds, all named Pretty Bird. I've spent a long time researching pet names, as well as what dogs can understand. Dogs do understand that their name is special, as when they respond to it, they get praise or a reward like food or a walk. So they learn that this particular sound means something. However, dogs don't understand that a word means anything more profound than that.

I don't see anything wrong with your dad naming all his dogs Jack if that's the name he likes. Maybe it means something special to him, which is reason enough. That said, I love getting creative with dog names. Most of my pets are named after book or movie characters. We've got lots of name ideas, including unique dog names and funny dog names. Perhaps you can suggest one of these or find a perfect name for your next new puppy.

 

[Jeff Butler]

My parents did the same thing growing up. We had Nick, a Samoyed. When he passed, a few months later, my parents got another Samoyed and told us his name was Nick as well! I was pretty young, and my sister was even younger, so I'm not sure if they were trying to trick us or what. I'll have to ask them about it!

There are many ways to get inspiration for a dog's name. I would chat with your dad about his favorite things, places, sports, etc to see if you can come up with something creative that will also have a special meaning.