Learn how to teach your puppy their name quickly and easily. Our step-by-step guide tells you how to teach your puppy their name and why is it is so important for future training and to build the relationship between you.
Learn how to teach your puppy their name quickly and easily. Our step-by-step guide tells you how to teach your puppy their name and why is it is so important for future training and to build the relationship between you.
It’s easy to think that somehow your puppy knows what their name is – but just like everything else in their new life, this is something they have to learn, and that you have to teach them.
When you bring your new dog home – whether as a tiny puppy or a rescue dog – there are so many things you want to teach them to ensure they turn into the dog of your dreams. In your enthusiasm it’s easy to get carried away – and forget about teaching the foundations that if worked on in the early days will make everything else fall into place and help build a strong bond between you from the very start.
The very first of these is how to teach them their name – along with learning that when they hear it, they should give you their attention ready for anything else you might be going to ask them to do. This is the first step in teaching all the behaviours you are going to want them to learn during your life together, and is especially important in teaching them to come back to you when you call them and for walking on a loose lead.
In this article, you will learn how to introduce your dog to their name, why it is important, how to make sure they look at you when you say it, and how to be ready for anything else you are going to ask them to do – wherever they are and whatever they are doing.
Why should a puppy learn their name?
Your puppy’s name should be something that gets their attention – in the same way that someone calling your name does. If you teach your dog to look at you when you want them to, this is the beginning of virtually everything else. It is a key part of training a reliable recall, and it is one of the best ways to ensure they are paying attention to you and ready to do whatever else you might want them to do.
Dogs only really think about one thing at a time, and if they are not looking at you, they are not listening as they are focussing on something else. This isn’t them intentionally ignoring you, it’s just that in that moment, they can’t hear you. If you can teach them that when they hear their name, they should give you their attention, you are already halfway to a well-trained dog, plus you can distract them from things they might be excited by, worried about or potentially reactive towards.
How To Get a Puppy to Learn Their Name: Step-by-Step Guide
Teaching your puppy their name is simple and fun for you both – and is something you should start as soon as your puppy (or rescue dog) comes home. This is something that can be practised in all rooms around the house and at any time – but it is best started in a quiet room with no distractions, and when your puppy is relaxed but not sleeping. Your puppy will learn that hearing their name indicates good things and prompts them to focus on you.
What you will need:
A pocket full of small, tasty dog treats at all times
Getting started
For the first few weeks of your puppy’s life with you, always have some treats in your pocket. This is going to be important for rewarding all the good things your puppy does but is especially important when you are teaching them their name.
Choose a time when your puppy is not looking at you (but isn’t distracted with something interesting or asleep) say their name brightly and happily, and when they look at you, throw them a treat.
That is all you have to do but do it lots of different places (so when watching TV, sitting having a cup of coffee or anytime you think about it) until they will look at you as soon as you say their name every time – because you’ve taught them that it is worth their while to do so.
If they don’t look at you, don’t repeat it – they’ve missed their chance! This is most likely to happen at the beginning of teaching them their name or when they are already deeply engrossed in something else.
Practise everywhere. Once your puppy can do this reliably, you can begin to start doing this when there are distractions or other things going on but build this up slowly.
Next steps
The next steps are the starting points for teaching recall. When your puppy is reliably looking at you when you say their name, instead of throwing the treat to them when they look at you, drop it on the floor beside you so they have to come to you to get their treat.
Once again do this everywhere and at any time. You can see how you are teaching the beginning of a recall – as when you say their name, they are already going to be looking at you and coming towards you for their reward.
In less than five minutes a day, and in not very many days, you will have a puppy who recognises their name and will look at you and even come towards you every time you say it. Your puppy knows their name and you are well on your way to a good recall – and having a dog who will pay attention to you when you whenever you want them to. Even better, they have learned that you are a great person to be with and to listen to – which is the start of a strong bond that will develop and last for life.
Common Mistakes to Avoid: Why Am I having Difficulty Teaching My Puppy Their Name?
Your puppy learns to pay attention to their name because you’ve taught them that it is always positive to do so. Don't use their name for anything unpleasant, never call them to you for things they don’t like, and don’t use their name endlessly without meaning, otherwise you are just teaching them to ignore it.
To start with, choose times when you know your puppy isn’t distracted with something else
From now on, their name is always going to be something they are going to look forward to hearing and will pay attention to you when they do – as they will associate it with getting nice things from you!
Now you’re ready to move on to more advanced life skills and training exercises.
FAQs
How long does it take for a puppy to learn its name?
Every puppy is different. Some pups will recognise their name in a few days - others might take a few weeks. As long as you follow the steps above and practise every day, your puppy will know their name in no time.
Signs Your Puppy Knows Their Name
You will know when your puppy recognises their name when they reliably look at you with expectation when they hear it. Remember that the world is an exciting place for a puppy however and dogs generally only think about one thing at a time - so if they are engrossed in something really interesting, they might not be able to switch their attention to you. In these early weeks, start with no distractions.
