A friend adopted a shelter dog named Mr. Forsythe who does not respond to his name after being brought from Los Angeles during the fires.

That simple mismatch has prompted a wider conversation about whether owners should let dogs “choose” their names and how quickly animals can learn new ones, a topic explored in a piece published by Kinship. Interestingly, recent pet-name reports and studies indicate strong and growing trends toward human-style and culturally inspired names, which many commentators interpret as reflecting pets’ status as family members and owners’ current interests.

Mr. Forsythe arrived with a shelter-assigned name that his new owner uses with little success; the dog does not appear to share his owner’s enthusiasm for the name, shelter staff say. As naming trends evolve, classic favorites like Luna and Charlie remain popular while many new names draw inspiration from contemporary culture.

Animal behaviorists and trainers say the sounds and social context around a name matter more than the word itself. Jessica Jacobson, a New York City-based dog behavior expert and celebrity dog trainer with Dapper Dog Training, endorsed the idea of encouraging their dogs to respond to a new name by pairing the name with positive reinforcement in a calm environment.

“I think it’s a great idea. Why stick with a name your dog doesn’t like? It’s just going to make getting their attention and training them that much harder,” Jacobson said, framing the change as a practical step toward clearer communication. This process often involves using the new name repeatedly while providing treats, praise, or play to create a positive association.

Experts contributing to the Kinship article note that shelter names are often crafted to attract adopters and may not reflect a dog’s prior experience with a sound as a cue for attention. In many cases, trainers recommend pairing a new sound with consistent, positive outcomes so the animal links the word to rewards. Additionally, animal behaviorists observe and analyze dogs’ behavior to interpret their preferences and emotional states, which can be invaluable for owners navigating these changes.

The conversation raises two common points for new adopters: an assigned name does not bind an owner to that label, and a dog’s initial indifference to a name can be reshaped. Kinship, which provides expert advice and tools for pet owners, published the piece that frames the idea of letting dogs indicate preferred names and outlines practical approaches to teaching a new one. Readers can find the article on the Kinship website.

Jacobson’s view reflects the hands-on approach favored by many trainers: observe which sounds elicit attention, then reinforce any response with treats, praise or play so the sound predicts something positive. Dapper Dog Training, Jacobson’s affiliation, offers similar behavior-focused guidance for owners working to strengthen cues and bonds.

Some adopters interpret a dog’s reaction as a preference and choose a name that the animal appears to respond to more readily; others select a clear, distinct new name and teach it through repeated, reward-based interactions. The Kinship piece compiles these perspectives alongside practical examples and trainer commentary.

For Mr. Forsythe’s owner, the immediate task is straightforward: experiment with short, distinct sounds and reward any glance or acknowledgment, then extend practice across locations and people. This approach aims to convert an indifferent sound into a reliable cue without prolonging confusion for the dog or the household. A positive environment helps reinforce that training.

Additional conversation with Jessica Jacobson appears in a video interview available on YouTube that addresses training and naming in similar adoption scenarios.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.