When my friend Kelsey offered to watch my golden retriever, Max, while I was out of town for a week, I was grateful. Max is my world—loyal, gentle, and full of personality. I trusted her completely to take care of him. What I didn’t expect was to come back and find my dog acting like he didn’t even recognize his own name.
The First Sign Something Was Off
When I walked into her apartment to pick him up, Max came bounding over, tail wagging—but when I called, “Max!” he didn’t respond right away. Instead, Kelsey laughed and said, “Oh, sorry, he’s used to me calling him Cooper now.”
I froze. “Cooper?”
She grinned. “Yeah, I thought it suited him better. Don’t you think it’s cute?”
The Shock
I tried to smile, but inside I was baffled. “Kelsey… his name is Max. He’s been Max for four years.”
She waved her hand like it was nothing. “Dogs adapt. Plus, all my friends think he looks like a Cooper. We’ve been telling everyone that’s his name.”
That’s when it clicked—she hadn’t just been calling him a nickname for fun. She had introduced my dog to people as if he was her dog.
The Deeper Problem
It wasn’t just about the name. The way she spoke made it sound like she’d been playing “dog mom” all week, telling people she was his owner. She even pulled up Instagram and showed me a series of posts—pictures of her and Max with captions like “My handsome boy” and “Cooper’s first trip to the park!”.
I could feel my irritation growing. This wasn’t just pet-sitting—it was pretending my dog was hers.
The Conversation
I told her, “I’m glad you took good care of him, but Max is my dog. He’s been with me since he was a puppy, and his name is part of who he is. You can’t just change it because you feel like it.”
She laughed, thinking I was overreacting. “Relax, it’s just a name. He still loves you.”
But it wasn’t “just a name” to me. It was about respect—for me, for my pet, and for the bond we shared.
Reclaiming Max
When we got home, I made a point to call him “Max” constantly, giving him treats each time he responded. It took a few days, but he was back to perking up instantly when he heard his name.
Kelsey texted me later saying she hoped I wasn’t mad, but I didn’t respond. I needed space to process how someone I trusted could so casually overstep like that.
Moving Forward
I haven’t asked Kelsey to watch Max since. I realized that even small things—like changing a pet’s name—can signal bigger issues with boundaries. If someone can’t respect the basics, they’re probably not the right person to entrust with something you love.
Final Thought: Pets aren’t just accessories—they’re family. Changing their name or claiming them as your own is more than a harmless quirk; it’s a disrespect to the bond between them and their real owner.
