Names are
Power
When we get a new puppy or a new adult
dog the topic of naming is right up there on the list of important things to
do. Some people already have a special
name selected even before the new addition joins the family. Sometimes, the new puppy joins the family and
after several days, all members of the household agree upon a name. After great thought and maybe some research a
name is selected or the name seems to just happen with little to no thought at
all. Either way, the new addition to the
household has a name.
The important thing about giving a
name is the power it gives to those who know the name. To quote from Dr. Seuss, “I am Sam. Sam I am” and the dog has a name. The name becomes an attention getter. We say, “Sam, come.” We say, “Sam, sit.” We may even say, “Sam, get outta here.” Sam hears his name. Sam knows who is being spoken to and so
listens and with training responds just the way we want.
However, what happens when that name
is misused? How long will it continue to
have power before all the power burns up, never to return?
It happens something like this.
Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
SamSamSam.
Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
SamSamSam Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
SamSamSam Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
Sam.
SamSamSam.
Bet you are tired of reading all about
Sam about now. Guess what, so is Sam I
Am?
Once there was a very clever Toy
Poodle pup named Bambi. That name was
used over and over again until the day came when hearing the sound “bambi” from
either of her owners caused her to try to run away as fast has she was able to
run. There were many days when hearing
the sound “bambi” caused her to franticly look for a place to hide and she
wouldn’t come out of hiding even to eat her dinner.
In desperation, her owners signed her
up for an obedience class. In class,
just as long as no one used that awful word “bambi” she was the shinning student. Show her how to do something once and then
let her practice that thing three times and she would get it right from then on. She was so good the obedience class teacher
took to calling her Little Miss Polly Perfect.
This Toy Poodle loved her new name.
She would answer to Little Miss Polly Perfect or Miss Polly or Miss
Perfect or even just plain Polly. She pranced,
smiled, and never stopped wagging her tail as she worked. Say, “Miss Polly, sit” and that sit would be
fast, straight and just right. Say,
“Miss Perfect, come” and she would race straight to you as fast as her feet
could carry her. Even “Polly Perfect
Place” got a wonderful and always correct response.
Polly Perfect had two owners. Mrs. Owner learned after only three weeks of
class to use the “new” name and so they continued to build a wonderful
relationship that lasted for 15 years. Mr. Owner never did get it. He continued to insist he owned a dog named
Bambi. The problem was he couldn’t
produce that dog and no one ever saw his Bambi dog. Every single time he looked at Polly Perfect
and said “Bambi, come” Polly would head in the opposite direction as fast as
she could travel. She refused to go for
walks with Mr. Owner because he didn’t know her real name and insisted on
yelling BAMBI, BAMBi, BAMbi, BAmbi, over and over again. As time moved on Mr. Owner simply had less
and less to do the former Bambi because of his misuse of her name.
Don’t be like Mr. Owner and throw away
all the power knowing a name can give you.
If you want your dog to do something, use its name followed by a known
command. Say, “Polly, come.” Say, “Polly Perfect, stay.” Say, Miss Polly, heel.”
When you want to talk about your dog,
use another name. For example, if your
dog barks a lot, then you might refer to him in conversation as “Barks-a-lot.” Maybe your dog is brown in color; you might
chose to call her Brown Dog when talking about something special she did
yesterday. Never use the real name in
the dog’s presence just to be using it.
Even more importantly, never chant a dog’s name with the hopes the dog
will somehow read your mind and do the thing you are thinking about as you
chant.
Remember, a name is a powerful
thing. Protect that power and in turn,
the name will protect your dog.
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