Oh god, my dog has SO MANY nicknames, thanks to my SO. We went to write them all down once, and we filled an entire piece of paper and still had more to go.
The ones she responds to the best are “Black Death” and “1.4” (said ‘one point four’).
You have to explain those 
My SO calls my doggo “Farts McGee” hahahaha.
2 Likes
I totally would end up calling her “Pew Pew Pew”, you know, like Marvin the Martian’s gun sounds …
3 Likes
Black Death goes with Black Ice and Black Roach. It also goes with other names I shall not share. The dog is black, and very needy, and is effectively good for nothing. She is also a mutt while the other two dogs are VERY well bred and extremely accomplished Vizslas. It lends itself to lots of jokes with my poor dog as the butt of all of them, lol.
1.4… well, even though she’s a total idiot, we take her out hunting with us. My moron dog has NO IDEA what she’s doing out there, but is hands down the most excited to be there. Because the fields we hunt are giant and his dogs run so big, they all wear GPS collars. We were reviewing data at the end of a hunt, he gives his dogs’ average speed. “Maci averaged 18 mph, and Lucy averaged 14 mph.” Well, my collar must have malfunctioned or something, but I said the number before I thought about it. “Zipper averaged 1.4 mph” From then on, 1.4 has never died.
7 Likes
Picture spam of the dogs. Zipper is the black mutt, and the vizslas are Maci and Lucy. Maci and I are soul mates, but don’t tell my SO. 
17 Likes
Names I have changed:
Joan Phone Home (Joanie) - Emily
Skagit Boots (Boots) - Annie - suited her perfectly, little spitfire
Her daughter Judge’s Sno Boots - Ruby
Can’t remember the original name of the ugly appy gelding - Jake
Fire Brand - Beau
Woody - Woodrow
Reno - Wyatt
Fiero - Gunner
Bud’s a Flyin’ - Spud
Odion - Odin (show name Let’s Get Kraken)
1 Like
At least you got the one named Beavis, I’m laughing at the idea of having a horse named Butthead with no context! Though I did know a horse named Brat. He was probably one of the classiest horses I’ve ever known, but definitely lived up to his name at times!
5 Likes
I’ve thought of this many times over the years! I’m among the camp that rarely changes a horse’s existing name (if it is known), but Butthead is one that would have to go, for sure.
2 Likes
You could always call him Biff since that’s what Biff called Marty McFly in Back to the Future.
1 Like
I had a pony named Nuisance. She was a homebred and I lost her last year at 29. She definitely lived up to her name.She’s on the right, the pair was her, gelded, sire.
23 Likes
How do you know my horse? 
2 Likes
I can tell you, most horses, cats, dogs, and other animals that learn to respond to a name, if you change it they will eventually figure it out. Except the completely deaf ones. My deaf dog doesn’t care if you call him by his name or curse at him. Just do it with a happy voice and love on him when he wants pets.
Totally different subject. My dressage instructor told me to day “it’s great you haven’t ruined his canter yet!” I took it as a compliment (as it was intended) and got a good chuckle out of it.
10 Likes
My mom changed her adult dog’s name when she adopted him. He came with the name Murphy but she changed it to Bingley (she’s a Jane Austin fan). Her dog trainer told her to call him with both names and it finally clicked and he became Bingley.
1 Like
That’s what I did with my childhood pony (NOT that he knew his former name. He was pretty feral). But this method of transfer does work.
1 Like
I got my current dog as a 2 yr old. Previous owner called her 2 different names and I didn’t like either. I renamed her and it probably took 2 weeks for her to start responding. No special training or bribery, just used new name in a happy tone and lots of pats and praise.
3 Likes
I adopted a dog from the local pound, and he had been a stray, so no one knew his real name. I used the name I gave him, and it took a few days, and then he answered to it. The day I called him, and he realized I was calling him, this was his name, and this was his home, was amazing.
17 Likes
These are the important facts I come here for. This is amazing and I love this name so much I’m angry I didn’t come up with it.
12 Likes
If the black dog (Zipper 1.4!) shed hunts…I would say that is a useful skill! Those Viszlas are gorgeous. I’ve never wanted a hunting dog, but they are absolutely spectacular to watch.
2 Likes
Guess what I may put on my County Fair entry this year… 
Of course, if we don’t place only the office will laugh 
@shiloh What a beauty he was 
@Christa_P Beautiful pair 
2 Likes
Guys, I can’t make this crap up.
Two new horses arrive last night, I’m introducing myself and talking pleasantries with one of the new boarder’s boyfriend. He says he was at my barn a few months ago to buy a horse trailer. Turns out it was from the woman who was asked to leave with the crazy mare, who conference called with her father etc. This trailer was notable because it was a total rust bucket piece of crap, but that’s all some people can afford so I try my best not to judge.
But here’s the kicker.
The guy says he went to go get plates for the trailer. Title said “home made”, which in the state of IL where it was to be registered needs inspection and a VIN. The supposed “VIN” was on the title. They go to check the VIN… it had been ground off. The trailer was stolen!
WOW. I’m so glad that piece of crap human being is gone from my life. I feel really sorry for the guy though, as now he has a chunk of metal he can do effectively nothing with.
At any rate, the new boarders seem nice. One of them does endurance! I’ve always wanted to give that a try, so maybe she will let me tag along to one of the shorter ones.
14 Likes
