calling a dog after a dead relative

red_devil

I know someone who has this scenario at the moment. They have given their dog their late grandmothers name. The grandad things its awful having their dog named after his dead wife and they arent speaking cos he cant accept it?

What would you think? Bothered or not!

aliasojo

I think it was tactless to give the dog the name without running it by Grandpa first. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest but everyone's different.

HannahIOW

Yes if it upsets him then change the dog's name.

tbourner

Is it a bitch?

I can understand both sides, especially non-dog people would be very offended by naming a dirty stinking butt-sniffing furry beast after their lovely wife. Also I can see it as a lovely tribute to a loved one, to keep their thoughts in the family every day through the love of an amazing pet.

jackieglasgow

I wouldn't even name a child after a dead relative, but each to his own. They should have asked the grandad first though.

Fuzzy_Duck

Did they intentionally name the dog after her, or did they simply like the name? They may not have meant any offence but I agree that if grandad doesn't like it, they should respect that and change the name.

red_devil

intentional, they arent speaking its been going on a while.

JodyBPM

I think its a nice way to honour a dead relative BUT I would have checked it out with closer relatives first. It seems a bit odd to use it if the relative is only recently deceased somehow, although sweet if its remembering a long dead family member. I have a chicken named Elsie after my great aunt who died when I was 10 (I'm late 30s now) and it reminds me of her in a nice way everytime I say the name, but all her close relatives are long dead too. I can't imagine naming a pet after someone I was still grieving IYSWIM, and grandad is probably still grieving and finds it painful.

In this circumstance I would DEFINATELY change the name of the dog, and apologize for any offence caused.

Artytarty

I know a girl who as a child named her kitten after her recently deceased sister. I dont know how her Mum coped with it. Initially I thought it was awful but then i realised it was her way of keeping her sister alive and of using her name.
Sadly, as if matters werent bad enough, the kitten died, also from cancer

Kate78

Sounds like they only did it to annoy him and it's having the desired effect.

*Louise*

Well it doesn't sound like they have done it for good reasons and more to annoy, therefore I think it is disrespectful. And also childish.


On a personal level it wouldn't bother me if it was done with the right intentions in mind.