Do Dogs Know Their Names?

Loaf, Steven, Moose, Mister Fluff–a dog’s name is more than what we call them. It’s an expression of who they are as living beings. A dog’s name can highlight their unique personality and attributes or embody your own tastes and style. But with all of that thought and feeling that goes into finding the perfect fit, do our dogs know their names the way we think they do? Let’s find out. 

Do Dogs Know Their Names?

The short answer is: Most of the time, yes. 

According to science, dogs use both sides of their brain to understand spoken communication similar to how we humans do–and more specifically to how human babies do. It’s thought that dogs have similar communication skills to those of 6-12-month-old human infants. Both our human and fur babies can’t speak, but they can whine, cry, bark, snort and even growl to get our attention. When verbally communicating, both dogs and people use body language, tone of voice, and context clues to fully understand the message.

So what it really comes down to for dogs and name recognition is not only what words are being said, but also how they are said. Take note, that dogs will focus on our physical clues and facial expressions when we talk to them. 

Does My Dog Know Their Name? 

If you have a new dog, and want to know if your pup is catching on, look for these signs when you call their name:  

• Tail wagging 
• Perked up ears
• They come to you 
• They sit in an alert posture 
• They look at you if they were previously looking at something else

Why Dogs Need to Know Their Names

Of course we want to feel connected to our dogs, and them recognizing the name you gave them is a part of that, but it’s also an important thing for them to know for other reasons. Not only will their name be their cue for communication with their loved ones, but it will also help them create and continue to build positive associations. Plus, knowing their name is essential in establishing reliable recall, a skill that’s very important if you ever find yourself in a situation when your dog is off leash or in a new environment. 

Do Dogs Reçognize Their Nicknames?

After all the thought and time that goes into naming your dog, it’s funny to think of all the other things you call them. Whether it’s a variation of their full name–like Munch for Munchkin—or a completely different moniker–Bud, Mama, Boo Bear, Angel Face–all together, yes dogs can learn and recognize their nicknames too. 

For starters, dogs can’t always distinguish the difference between like-sounding words, so nicknames that are related to their full name can be easy for them to understand. For unrelated names, dogs can learn through positive associations. If your dog knows what “walk” means and you often say, “Bud, want to go for a walk,” they may start to respond to “Bud” over time because it is a cue for “walk”.  

How Do Dogs Learn Their Names?

The best way to help your dog learn their name is to create as many opportunities for positive associations as possible. Be sure to have treats on hand and reward them for any good behaviors by saying their name along with any affirmations. And try to avoid using their name with any negative contexts or corrective commands like “quiet or down” at the start.