This tip from the Iams website doesn't make sense. Can you explain it to me?

Typical IAMS

Bad food, bad advice.

I call my dog by all kinds of names and he knows every single one of them, or at the very least he can tell by the tone of my voice that I'm talking to him.

Not to mention I say things like "in the house" and "take a bath" and he undersatnds those just perfectly as well.

Dogs have a high enough IQ to show deductive reasoning, I'm certain they can distinguish between their name and commands.

Interesting tip. I see their point; commands do tend to be one syllable so perhaps it is important to differentiate the dog's name.

Remember dogs don't exactly know the difference between the exact words, it's more the tone of voice you use and your body language. If you yelled 'GOOD BOY' in an angry voice it'd have the same effect as yelling 'BAD DOG' - and if you said 'you terrible dog!' in a soft sweet voice you'd get a tail wag! Try it: if your dog is excellent and commands, say 'stay' in the exact same tone you say 'sit' and use the same motion and see what he does!

Anyway, I guess having more than one syllable helps dogs differentiate the different types of words.

I understand that people despise Iams and want to jump all over them at any opportunity; but the fact of the matter is, this tip has its roots in modern dog psychology.

That doesn't mean a dog MUSTN'T have a one syllable name or that everything we'll be screwed up if his name is not two syllables! It's just a tip, not a golden rule.

Chalice

Sometimes they don't pay attention or hear you when you say the first syllable, and the second is confirmation that you were actually calling them.

I don't think they confuse the actual word you are saying, just that you could just as easily be giving them a command as saying their name (which is really also a command of sorts) when it's only one syllable.

Therefore, you want to give them two for the name, so they can distinguish first and foremost if you are even speaking to them.

Some one syllable names, like Max, are gutteral sounds and more likely to be heard, while others like Sam might not be. It also has to do withthe dog, and how attentive they ar to you, and whether you will be out in the wind, or in the livingroom...

The best thing to do when trying to find a name for your dog is to ask them, and see which one not only fits them, but appeals to them that they listen for it. They can sometimes have an uncanny way of telling yo what it should be...

surprising, is not it? Fortunately, all my pampered critters get selfmade stuff, no manufacturing facility rubbish. I was once performing some study the opposite day, and discovered that many cat and puppy meals are created from animals that died from disorder or pressure within the manufacturing facility earlier than they would be became in to human meals. How unsuitable is that? If it most effective survived a different day or 2, it might come to be on a dinner plate on someones desk. Too a lot to even recollect

Well, I have had dogs named one syllable, as well as two and three syllable names. They come to whatever they are called.

Just as many sites tell us that 3 syllables are not good. Gandamak, Rochester and Basilissa sure knew their names. So did Arc, Sam and Jo...Now,you would think they might have trouble with names that sound too much alike..But, I use nicknames for two of my girls.." Tay" and "Fay". They still respond appropriately.

You're right, and the Iams website is wrong. By the way... don't buy Iams dog food. It has corn, wheat, wheat gluten, and soy among its top 5 ingredients, and your dog may be or may get to be allergic to it. Get a meat based dog food. It's more expensive, but you feed less of it to your dog, and your dog will live a lot longer. You can find meat based dog food by looking up "meat based dog food" on google.

my pap is named flutterbye spook. i call her spooky. she can sit, lay, shake. beg,come, stay, just about anything after a couple of trys. but if she's not giving attention i just say spook and it gets her attention pronto. i've had and known plenty of dogs with one syllable names. it's just that person's opinion about having more.

Thats hogwash, my pups name is Max, and he knows the difference between his name and commands! Name your dog what you like!!

Its just easier on the dogs

hmmm..... I guess I have to change my dogs name from scout to scoutero. jk. thats bullbum.