How to teach your dog their name

When we take home a puppy, we think for a long time about what to name him or her. We go through the names of our favorite characters, actors, and sometimes even our favorite food. We also pay attention to the dog's personality and appearance. Choosing a name is quite a responsible thing, because this is a new family member and we have to understand that this name is with him or her for life, because teaching a puppy to understand that it is her or his name is not an easy task. And when we have trained a dog to one name and then start using another and re-educating a pup, it can be very confusing for a dog and time-consuming for a pet owner, especially in the early stages. So it's best to think carefully before naming your pet.

So, the name has been decided, but how do you teach a new family member to respond to his or her own name and understand that it is he or she who is being addressed?

In this article, we will tell you:

• how to teach your dog his or her name
• the basic things to start with
• how to practice everything and how long it may take
• how to help your dog be focused
• games to help your dog learn his or her name and strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.

In order to succeed in teaching your dog his or her name and make this process fast, easy, and fun for both, you need to know an important thing. Knowing it will be critical in the beginning and will help you get started.

The basic step you need to start with

Set the stage for your dog's success by starting training in a calm, quiet environment with no distractions. This is an extremely important step. Take it seriously as it will help your dog to concentrate and relax. Make sure that your dog is not anxious or stressed, and that he or she is not overly psychologically agitated.

Practice makes perfect

You need to devote an appropriate amount of time to training. If you want to achieve the best results, you need to practice at least 10 times a day, say the dog's name (from a distance of 2 to 6 feet) and, as soon as the dog looks at you, mark this behavior with a marker word such as "yes" or a clicker, and reward with food or play, while giving lots of praise. Reward is an important part of the learning process, so have enough treats ready.

Maintain focus

Don't ask your dog to sit or do anything else. Focus on the 1 process that your dog needs to understand clearly and get accustomed to it. Firstly, be sure that your has already known his or her name perfectly. Then, you can start with other commands, such as sit, lay, and roll.

The result of teaching the dog his or her name will be achieved when you notice that your dog begins to pay attention to you without being reminded; be prepared to reinforce this with a reward to encourage your dog to interact with you regularly.

As we have already mentioned, treats are really important for achieving the goal.

 

Orientation game.

After practicing in a quiet and peaceful place with no distractions, it's time to test and practice in a real-life environment. Your dog should be used to hearing you and his or her name being called, no matter how many dogs are around. This is when the orientation game can be used.

1. Start in a place where your dog can be distracted and where he or she is used to playing with you. The dog should be on a leash, as there are many potential distractions nearby.
2. Throw out a piece of your dog's daily food.
3. After your dog finishes eating, he or she will naturally come back to you for more, confirm this with a "yes" or a click, and throw another piece.
4. If your dog is distracted, gently tug on the leash and demonstrate a piece of your dog’s daily food.
5. When your dog keeps coming back, say his or her name right before he or she comes back, then acknowledge it and reward him or her.
6. You can also play this game at home. Hence, you can consolidate what you have learned in the street. Make this game more exciting and keep your dog interested by putting treats on the floor and as soon as your dog eats the food, call his or her name and run back. When your pup returns, reward him or her with food or a toy and praise him. Put another reward on the floor and then repeat, have fun!

We hope you found these tips useful. The most important thing is a positive attitude and patience. Don't forget to have fun with your furry friend and to buy enough treats.