New member of the family

Some of you might remember that I posted a little bit before Thanksgiving that our beloved Shelby passed away. We knew that we were going to get another dog, but planned on waiting at least a year or two. Until this big guy came along.
His owners were a sister-in-law of a son of a friend... or something like that. Something was up with the family, we don't know what, but they were moving from a million dollar house to a million dollar high-rise.... which doesn't make sense, why wouldn't you find some place to live that would let you keep the dog?
But their loss is our gain. Ralph is now ours. He is a happy dog, calm, doesn't jump and pretty much does everything right. Which is amazing considering he was never trained. And he doesn't really know his name.... So we are going to rename him, so far the leading name is Cooper. Any other car names?

mtn wrote: Any other car names?

Jack.

I read somewhere that dogs respond better to two-syllable names than one, so Cooper sounds like a decent choice. Too bad he's not a she, you'd have plenty more choices: Mercedes, Elise, Miata, etc.

Schroeder.

If dogs are to have their names changed, it helps if the new name has a similar sound, especially the first syllable.

I suggest Rally. Or Rallye. However you wanna spell it.

ReverendDexter wrote: If dogs are to have their names changed, it helps if the new name has a similar sound, especially the first syllable. I suggest Rally. Or Rallye. However you wanna spell it.

We thought about this, but the dog doesn't respond to its name at all. Its like the former owners never talked to the dog at all. That, and it isn't the smartest dog in the world.

mtn wrote:

ReverendDexter wrote: If dogs are to have their names changed, it helps if the new name has a similar sound, especially the first syllable. I suggest Rally. Or Rallye. However you wanna spell it.

We thought about this, but the dog doesn't respond to its name at all. Its like the former owners never talked to the dog at all. That, and it isn't the smartest dog in the world.

Weird, I wonder if the dog's name was Ralph, but they called it "Bud" or "Buddy" or some other nickname all the time?

Mofo?

If it doesn't come anyway, does it really matter what you call it? (ba dum ba!)

Seriously, do a basic hearing test on the dog. Sometimes, dogs that seem stupid and unresponsive had an infection in their early years that leaves them partially or completely deaf. Their excellent noses and sensitivity to vibrations help them compensate and owners are not always aware.

pinchvalve wrote: If it doesn't come anyway, does it really matter what you call it? (ba dum ba!) Seriously, do a basic hearing test on the dog. Sometimes, dogs that seem stupid and unresponsive had an infection in their early years that leaves them partially or completely deaf. Their excellent noses and sensitivity to vibrations help them compensate and owners are not always aware.

Excellent advice, I have a deaf cat, when she's asleep, I can sneak up and blow a refs whistle, she don't budge...

Did the hearing test. He hears all right. Just doesn't really respond to you, other than wag his tail a lot.

Maybe he’s part cat and cant be bothered with acknowledging you?

nice dog

Congrats on your new doggie.

On your day off you can do this little training trick to help him learn to pay attention to you. Instead of putting his breakfast in his bowl and giving it to him, put his breakfast into a plastic baggie and keep it in your pocket. You may have to use something like a fanny pack. Make sure that he knows you are doing this. Let him earn his breakfast one kibble at a time during the day by coming to you when you call. Every time he comes, give him a kibble or two, praise him and go about your business around the house, ignoring any of his requests for more food. A day or two of that and he should be good to go, at least when YOU are calling him lol.

Congrats!!!!

He is probably just not used to people talking to him.