Kennen Hunde ihre Namen?

Veröffentlichte

Sie möchten glauben, dass der kreative Name, den Sie für Ihren Hund gewählt haben, einer ist, den sie kennen. Schließlich kommen die meisten Hunde, wenn Sie ihren Namen rufen. Sie erhellen sich auch, wenn man mit ihnen spricht; einige können sogar den Kopf neigen. Es mag auch den Anschein haben, dass einige Hunde, wie Menschen, ausdrucksstärker oder gesprächiger sind als andere. Dann fragen Sie sich vielleicht, ob Hunde ihre Namen kennen? Verstehen sie uns wirklich?

Es gibt zwar keine einfache Antwort darauf, ob Hunde ihren Namen kennen oder nicht, aber es gibt Möglichkeiten, um sicherzustellen, dass sie sich besser mit ihrem Namen identifizieren. Zu verstehen, wie Hunde ihren Namen lernen und sich merken, wird Ihnen auch helfen, ein besserer Tierbesitzer zu sein.

Gelber Labrador-Welpe vor schwarzem Hintergrund

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Wie Hunde ihren Menschen verstehen

Most animals don’t really know who they are. Unlike humans and crows, most creatures have no sense of self. That’s not to say dogs aren’t intelligent. Most breeds can bis zu 165 Wörter erkennen on average. There’s even a Border Collie namens Chaser der 1.000 Namen für verschiedene Gegenstände kennt.

But they learn differently than humans do, as well. So how do dogs know what we’re talking about?

Turns out it’s a mixture of positive reinforcement and deductive reasoning. It’s hypothesized that when you say, “Good morning, Buddy,” your dog isn’t getting excited because you’re greeting him. Rather, he’s wagging his tail and smiling because he knows that particular sounds means he’s getting fed soon.

There’s also the matter of body language. If you grab for the box of dog treats, your dog automatically knows what that means.

Yet, in terms of your dog considering themselves as an individual—as in, “mein name is Buddy”—that simply doesn’t happen. Yes, dogs know what belongs to them, when they get attention over another, what their pee smells like compared to others, and so on, but they don’t know themselves like people do.

Therefore, it’s assumed by most dog trainers and animal behaviorists that dogs perceive their names as a command rather than identification. That’s why when you call their name, they come running.

Auswahl eines Hundenamens für das Anhören von Hunden

Word recognition can be confusing for dogs, because people tend to throw a lot of words at them at once. Unfortunately for us humans, we tend to anthropomorphize our four-legged friends. Again, dogs are intelligent, but they’re not as intelligent as we want them to be.

So when you choose a name, don’t make it incredibly difficult. It’s the same as when you start teaching commands and obedience. You don’t ask them politely to sit down. You simply tell the dog to sit.

In other words, if you’re choosing a name for a dog, consider one that fulfills all the following:

  • It’s a short name
  • Ausgeprägte Stimmlaute
  • Enthält harte Konsonanten

By that definition of a good dog name, options like Max, Rover, Duke, Nike, Suzy, and Tina are all considered ideal. If you choose a name with soft sounds, like Echo, Anna, or Ollie, your dog will have a more difficult time picking out your voice from other noises. Additionally, you should avoid long names. While Penelope or Daenerys are fun names, your dog’s brain will muddle it.

Einem Hund seinen Namen beibringen

How do dogs learn their name? Through positive reinforcement. You say their name and look for the ideal response, being them coming to you. Don’t be upset if your new puppy or shelter rescue doesn’t respond right away. Names are confusing to dogs at first, because it’s a word they don’t understand. Also, avoid using negative reinforcement or punishment on dogs. They’ll only become scared of you and develop bad behaviors.

The best method for teaching a dog their name is to first choose a good name. Say their name and, if they look at you or come over, give them a treat as positive reinforcement. If your dog isn’t food motivated, play or pets work. Should the dog look away or not respond, you repeat until you get the desired result.

Don’t overload your dog. 3-5 times a day is enough to begin their name recognition.

Afterwards, you can start pairing their name with a command, such as “Fido, sit” or “Fido, lay down.” Because they think of their name as a command to pay attention or come, the secondary command is easier to follow.

Musterterrier

Wie Sie reagieren, wenn Ihr Hund auf seinen Namen reagiert

Möchten Sie den Lernprozess beschleunigen? Wie bereits erwähnt, ist positive Verstärkung, wie z. B. ein Leckerli, der Schlüssel. Hunde verstehen Lob wie Menschen, so praise them often. You want to show your dog how excited you are when they do the right thing. Saying “yay!” happily when they look at you when you say their name is a start. As your dog gets wiser to their name, add in some other words, like “Hey, you want to go for a walk, Cliff?” and see if they look at you when you say their name. If they do, give them a treat.

Here’s some more tips for teaching your dog their name:

  • Bieten Sie Zuneigung oder Leckereien an, wenn Ihr Hund etwas richtig macht.
  • Say your dog’s name the same way all the time. Avoid singsong and other melodic changes.
  • Never use your dog’s name when punishing them. You want your dog to associate his name with only happiness.
  • Don’t say your dog’s name when you don’t want a response. If you want to discuss your dog while they’re in the room but don’t want them to respond, try using a nickname. Otherwise, you could cause confusion.

Wie lange dauert es, bis ein Hund seinen Namen lernt?

To recap: Do dogs know their names? Not really. They don’t learn that their name is Fido or Frank. But they will understand that their name requires their attention. If you tell your dog their name consistently for a two-week period, they should know it within two and half weeks. Consistency, though, is crucial.

Wiederholen Sie den Trainingsprozess jeden Tag und untermauern Sie ihre gute Arbeit immer mit positiver Verstärkung.

Auch das Alter des Hundes und seiner Rasse wirken sich darauf aus, wie schnell er seinen Namen lernt. Welpen verstehen ihren Namen schneller als ältere Hunde. Arbeits- und Hüterassen neigen auch dazu, Kommandos schneller zu lernen als andere Rassen.

Zeichen, dass ein Hund seinen Namen kennt

Ihr dürft also gespannt sein. Woran erkennt man, dass ein Hund seinen Namen kennt? Welche Anzeichen gibt es? Hunde reagieren auf den Ton Ihrer Stimme und ihren Namen, selbst aus der Ferne, wenn sie es wissen. Wenn Sie beispielsweise im Hundepark ihren Namen rufen, sollten sie angerannt kommen.

You can start testing how well they know their name by creating distance. In the beginning of name training, you start face-to-face. Soon put furniture, walls, rooms, and greater amounts of space between you. Also, look for eye contact, tail wags, perked up ears, cocked heads, and other signs of excitement. Some dogs will even bark when you say their name, because they know they’ll be rewarded somehow.

Who’s a Good Boy?

Do dogs know their names? Depends. Dogs might not know the name is referring to them, but they do know that the word is associated with good things. If you train your dog well and with plenty of praise, they will come to love their name and what it means. Use their name to build a stronger bond, and they’ll come running whenever you call.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What do dogs think of their names?

While we can’t fully grasp the complex thought processes of dogs, it’s clear that they associate their names with attention, activities, and positive experiences. Using their name effectively can enhance communication and strengthen the bond between you and your furry companion.